Washington Water Trust

PROJECT MANAGER
JOB DESCRIPTION

Based in Ellensburg, WA

About Washington Water Trust

Washington Water Trust (WWT) is a nonregulatory, 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving and protecting stream flows and water quality throughout Washington state. We use voluntary, marketbased transactions and cooperative partnerships to create balanced solutions so fish, agriculture, business and wildlife—upon which we all depend—can thrive. The WWT team includes recognized statewide experts in the fields of water law, instream flow transactions, water banking, and funding and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects. Focused on Washington’s water basins and with offices in Seattle and Ellensburg, WWT is a nonprofit leader in river and stream flow restoration developing water management alternatives that produce environmental, economic and social benefits for Washington’s communities, while serving our mission of improving flows in Washington’s most endangered rivers and streams.

The Position

Washington Water Trust is entering an exciting period of rapid growth responding to accelerating water supply issues across Washington state. The Project Manager joins a talented technical team whose members bring many years of experience in collaborative natural resource management, stream flow restoration, and multi-stakeholder conservation projects. This full-time position based in our Ellensburg, WA office requires a person who will partner with landowners, tribes, conservation districts, land trusts, local, state and federal agencies to implement and fund innovative programs and projects with lasting benefits to endangered fish, streams and local economies. Project Management methodology must include a collaborative, consultative approach in addition to a technical and scientific skill set to deliver high quality services leveraging flexible funds for each project.

Responsibilities and Expectations

  • Develop effective working relationships that result in projects and/or proposals with water rights holders, public agencies, tribes, local governments, conservation and irrigation districts, and salmon recovery funders in WWT’s targeted basins.
  • Apply knowledge about water management, water rights, local hydrology, and ecological needs to strategically direct outreach efforts and prioritize stream restoration opportunities.
  • Research and prepare information to evaluate and advance instream flow restoration projects, including ecological and economic justifications, due-diligence reviews, legal agreements, and water right change applications.
  • Participate in WWT compliance monitoring and compliance duties; analyze, report and track project and program outcome metrics, coordinate with staff to maintain project database.
  • Develop and implement outreach strategies for water rights holders based on instream flow needs; help develop new funding and program opportunities for organization’s priorities.
  • Develop effective working relationships that result in projects and/or project proposals with local watershed groups, conservation districts, irrigation districts, public agency staff, water right holders and others facilitating stream restoration in WWT’s targeted basins.

Skills and Attributes

  • Working knowledge of western water management, water law and stream flow tools.
  • Understanding of biologically-based flow needs and flow habitat relationships, with an emphasis on targeted Pacific salmonid species.
  • Strong management skills, including task management, the ability to develop timelines and schedules, to develop and track budgets, to establish and manage project metrics.
  • Working knowledge of ESRI ARCHVIEW or equivalent GIS software cartographic, data management knowledge, and spatial analysis skills highly desired.
  • Be self-directed as well as able to collaborate and coordinate among multiple stakeholders and team members
  • Ability to develop and make persuasive presentations and influence negotiations
  • Demonstrated critical thinking and creative problem solving
  • Willingness to travel throughout Washington, primarily eastern Washington.

Experience and Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; graduate degree a plus.
  • Knowledge of western water rights laws desired.
  • Understanding of agricultural practices.
  • Knowledge of fisheries, watershed-based flow restoration techniques.
  • Working knowledge of water markets, or conservation easements.
  • Experience developing conservation markets (water banks or ecosystem service models) a plus.

Salary and Benefits

WWT offers competitive compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience. We also offer a generous benefits package which includes: 100 % paid coverage of health, vision, and dental insurance; 12 days of paid holidays; and paid vacation/sick leave, retirement contributions.

WWT is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual preference, gender identity, marital status, physical disability or veteran status.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume which addresses the skills and attributes needed for this job. The cover letter and resume can be sent or emailed to:

Susan Adams, Executive Director
1500 Westlake Avenue N, Ste 202
Seattle, Washington 98109
susan@washingtonwatertrust.org

Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2019 or until filled