Project Coordinator (Watershed Restoration )

BACKGROUND:

The Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) is a Special District established through the County by popular vote in 1987. The HCRCD is a highly collaborative and dynamic organization; its interdisciplinary team of employees plan for and implement a range of watershed restoration, forest health and wildfire resilience, and agricultural programs and projects. HCRCD has a close working relationship with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Eureka Field Office and private landowners to implement climate-smart agriculture and landscape‐scale watershed restoration and forest health and wildfire prevention projects and programs. The HCRCD is funded primarily by grants and contracts. 

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Watershed Restoration Project Coordinator will work with landowners, land managers, agency representatives, tribes, and other stakeholders to advance estuarine, riverine, and landscape-scale watershed projects to promote climate resilience, drought response, and native habitat restoration. The Project Coordinator will work collaboratively with HCRCD staff, landowners, contractors, consultants and others to assist with environmental compliance and permit coverage, implement, obtain grant funding for, coordinate, and monitor HCRCD’s watershed projects. The position includes a combination of project development and management; technical report development; fieldwork; consultant and contractor coordination; grant writing and grant management; coordination and communication with landowners and agencies; and computer communications and reporting. The position is full-time, hourly working under the supervision of the Program Manager. The position is full-time, hourly working under the supervision of the Program Manager.

The main HCRCD office is located in Eureka with a satellite office in McKinleyville. The Project Coordinator may work out of either or both offices, depending on staffing and project requirements. The Project Coordinator also works in a variety of field locations and private properties throughout Humboldt County and in other offices and locations as needed such as the local Eureka NRCS Field Office.

The full job announcement can be found here: https://humboldtrcd.org/about/employment-opportunities/.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works cooperatively and respectfully with HCRCD staff, landowners, contractors, and tribal and agency personnel to plan for, implement, and monitor watershed restoration and habitat enhancement projects
• Works with landowners and others to conduct resource inventories and assessments, responds to requests for information and assistance, provides construction oversight, and assists with monitoring a wide variety of natural resource conservation, soil health, erosion control, and water quality improvement projects.
• Develops technical documents, such as annual monitoring report; provides technical review of environmental compliance documents, permit applications, design plans, and construction-related documents; and oversees implementation of practices to ensure that all work meets technical standards and specifications.
• Conducts field surveys and monitoring, sampling and testing of water, and other substances as required and in conformance with established testing protocols.
• Understands, interprets, applies and explains technical guidance documents, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as needed.
• Performs a wide range of professional and administrative duties associated with grant management in coordination with Program Manager
• Maintains regular communication and coordination with NRCS staff as needed and coordinates HCRCD work with NRCS activities and technical assistance, as appropriate.
• Identifies funding opportunities, coordinates the development of project proposals, and writes grant proposals for future project work.
• Establishes and maintains complete project files including correspondence, reports, data, etc. to comply with HCRCD systems and program audit requirements.
• Exercises good judgment and maintains confidentiality in all communications.
• Coordinates and assists with outreach activities and educational workshops.
• Attends trainings or other meetings as required or directed.
• Prepares documents, as needed, for District meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with focus on environmental studies, agronomy, natural sciences, resource management, watershed science, conservation planning, or related field.
• Three or more years professional experience; advanced education beyond a Bachelor’s degree may be considered as additional work experience.
• Knowledge of:
  • principles and methods of natural resources, fish and wildlife habitat, ecology, watershed restoration, and related fields;
  • techniques and equipment to conduct resource inventories;
  • local working landscapes and associated natural resources (e.g. soils, plants, carbon, air, water, fish, forestry, wildlife).
• Experience working with agricultural land managers, partner agencies, and other conservation organizations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with developing technical reports, and/or grant applications.
• Demonstrated proficiency with ArcGIS; GPS systems; Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and familiarity and experience with a variety of office machines and equipment including computer and printer, calculator, fax, copier and other equipment as assigned.
• Experience and familiarity with habitat and water quality assessments and other field monitoring protocols.
• Excellent communication skills including speaking, listening, and writing. Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain cooperative, respectful, and effective working relationships with a variety of people with diverse interests and temperaments.
• Highly organized and motivated self-starter with the ability to prioritize and work independently as well as part of a team.
• Physically able to work in the field (hiking across farms and rangeland, lifting, carrying supplies and equipment, planting, etcetera) during all seasons.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in all communications.
• Ability to drive off‐road vehicles.
• Ability to pass a federal background check.
• Valid California driver’s license, clean driving record, and current auto insurance.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of local flora and fauna and/or soils.
• Experience planning or implementing watershed and/or habitat enhancement projects.
• Experience working on multi-stakeholder collaborative planning processes.
• Experience supervising heavy equipment contractors and work crews.
• Experience with grant writing.
• Experience writing technical reports.

SALARY, HOURS, AND COMMENCEMENT OF WORK:

Final compensation will be commensurate with applicable experience, between $26 – 30.87 to start. This is a full-time, hourly position and expected to be up to 40 hours/week with some flexibility possible in the work schedule. Benefits package includes health plan and generous PTO and Sick Leave. Position is subject to a 3‐month introductory period.

The HCRCD is an equal opportunity employer.

Please see the full job announcement at https://humboldtrcd.org/about/employment-opportunities/.