Coordinator – North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative

North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative Coordinator

The Opportunity

Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) is looking for a passionate and skilled individual to work with members of the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative (NCWFHC) to help coordinate their work to support forest and aquatic restoration projects in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest located along the east slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington.

The NCWFHC, launched in 2013 with support from the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, is a diverse group of local stakeholders representing the timber industry, conservation groups, community members, tribal government, elected officials, and local, state, and federal land managers. Members of the NCWFHC work together to obtain resources and community support to accelerate landscape-scale restoration on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF) in Chelan and Okanogan counties.

This position will coordinate and support the capacity of the NCWFHC by providing key administrative and meeting related tasks and through developing and maintaining relationships.

Position Summary

The North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative Coordinator provides administrative guidance and support for the collaborative. The position coordinates meeting schedules, provides agendas, notes for monthly meetings, and logistical support for field trips, as scheduled.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree recommended with experience in natural resource/environmental management/forestry, collaborative governance, or social sciences.
• Experience and skills in coordination, meeting management, public outreach, and working with land management agencies.
• Passion for collaboration and the ability to coordinate meetings with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills; ability to communicate and build relationships with diverse collaborative members including U.S. Forest Service personnel, partner organizations, community representatives across the political spectrum, elected officials, and the public.
• Strong organizational and planning skills; ability to work independently.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate 8 steering committee meetings and 4 quarterly meetings annually, prepare meeting materials and agendas, invite guest speakers with input from NCWFHC co-chairs, and ensure minutes are recorded and distributed.
• Plan, coordinate, and support field trips, ensuring a diverse group of parties have a chance to participate, including collaborative members, work group members, and Forest Service personnel, as appropriate.
• Consult frequently with co-chairs for guidance and approval of meeting agendas and any other collaborative activities.
• Communicate regularly with USFS personnel on the Methow Valley, Entiat/Chelan, and Wenatchee Valley Ranger Districts to coordinate information delivery for meetings and field tours.
• Maintain timely communications with the collaborative members through an email list, including notification of meetings and circulation of agenda at least two weeks prior.
• Ensure written records of all collaborative discussions and any decisions, next steps, and timelines are retained and accessible for members.
• Coordinate with the UCSRB regarding all budget, fiscal reporting and billing needs and activities
• Act as a representative for NCWFHC at monthly Washington Forest Collaborative phone calls held by Sustainable Northwest.
• Update NCWFHC website and social media accounts with meeting and project information.
• Track the progress of work groups and subcommittees; ensure milestones and deadlines are met.
• Demonstrated ability to set up and run hardware and software commonly used for virtual and hybrid meetings.
• Maintain collaborative email lists.
• Maintain and coordinate membership lists and renewal process.
• Act as a knowledge base of collaborative operating protocols and process

The NCWFHC Coordinator position will be based in Wenatchee, with the option to be housed within the UCSRB office. The role requires extensive computer work; other duties may be assigned. The position has a flexible schedule, however, some meetings will require in-person attendance and, at times, evening and weekend work may be required. The candidate must have a current driver’s license and be able to drive.

This is a two-year grant funded position, from January 2024 to June 2025. There may be the opportunity to increase hours, based funding availability and the skill set of the individual.

Compensation

Compensation range is $25-$35/hour, depending on experience. This position will likely entail between 30-50 hours a month. This position is not eligible for a benefits package.