The Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce (CREST) is a council of governments serving communities in the Columbia Pacific region of Oregon and Washington.  CREST is seeking an individual to serve as Habitat Restoration Project Manager.  This position is responsible for the development and implementation of habitat restoration projects that focus on recovering juvenile salmon rearing habitat through reconnection of historic tidal floodplain to the Columbia River Estuary.  Project types may include culvert removals, dike breaches, tidegate retrofits, wetland channel enhancement, and levee setbacks.

 

This position works under the supervision of the CREST Habitat Restoration Program Manager and collaborates with other CREST project managers to investigate, develop and implement projects on specific sites.  Key responsibilities include restoration project management actions such as project development, landowner outreach, funding acquisition, permitting, subcontracting, construction oversight, data management and reporting, and communications with partner organizations and agencies.

 

This position will be housed at the CREST offices in Astoria, Oregon and requires frequent field work and travel to meetings throughout the lower Columbia River and estuary region.

Skills and Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree required. Areas of interest include ecology, fisheries, coastal sciences, botany, riparian and wetland restoration.  Master’s Degree or advanced training preferred.

 

Preferred Experience: This position requires a broad range of skills.  Preferred experience includes a background in natural resource management and a minimum of three (3) years experience developing and implementing on the ground habitat projects.  This experience should include proposal development (grant writing), direct project management responsibilities, and coordination with contractors and project partners.  The employee should have broad experience in natural resource management issues and land management practices in the Pacific Northwest, including salmon recovery efforts.  The employee should understand federal and state regulatory permitting requirements, have solid professional skills, be able to communicate and work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders, and be flexible and responsive to unforeseen project demands.  The employee should be able to manage multiple projects within deadlines, be comfortable speaking publicly, be able to work independently, and be comfortable in a broad range of environmental conditions, including rugged terrain and adverse weather.  The employee must also offer computer proficiency in office software (Word, Excel, Power point etc.) and familiarity and use of GIS/GPS technology.

 

Position Responsibilities

• Work with local jurisdictions, watershed councils, state and federal agencies, and landowners to identify habitat restoration opportunities and develop restoration concepts.
• Write grants and collaborate with funders to develop grant agreements, scopes of work, deliverables, timelines and budgets for potential projects.
• Manage multiple grant budgets and contract requirements.
• Facilitate and oversee technical engineering design and construction professionals through all phases of restoration projects.
• Work with natural resource agency regulatory staff to ensure projects are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations and all permits are obtained for projects.

 

Position Details

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), salaried/exempt position requiring ability to communicate clearly in technical writing and public speaking to diverse audiences and ability to manage multiple projects within deadlines.  The position requires travel throughout the lower Columbia River and estuary region for regional coordination meetings and field work conducted in all weather conditions.  CREST offers a competitive salary depending on qualifications and an excellent benefit package (medical, dental, vision, deferred compensation).

 

To Apply

All applicants must submit a CREST Job Application form available on our website, a cover letter detailing why you want the position and how your background and experience meet the skills and qualification requirements, and resume to Paula Gerttula at pgerttula@columbiaestuary.org.

 

Application deadline is 12:00 AM on Sunday, April 5, 2020.