Salmon Habitat Recovery Program Manager

Organizational Background

The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) is a nonprofit corporation formed to serve as a regional salmon recovery organization and to coordinate and implement the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan. One of eight regional salmon recovery organizations in Washington, the UCSRB is directed by a five-member board with representatives from Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Yakama Nation. The UCSRB staff work to support partner organizations, tribes, governments, industry, and other interests in collaborative efforts to enhance ecological restoration processes for salmon recovery and advocate for Upper Columbia regional needs and resources that provide economic, cultural and social benefits to our regional communities.

Job Summary

The Salmon Habitat Recovery Project Manager is a full-time position reporting to the Executive Director of the UCSRB. The position will support the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Upper Columbia Programmatic Habitat Project and maintain effective processes and discussions among partners and stakeholders involved in salmon habitat and watershed restoration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary point of contact within the Upper Columbia region for technical, funding, policy, and process questions related to BPA’s Upper Columbia Programmatic Habitat Project.
• Work directly with BPA representatives to schedule, coordinate, and help guide reoccurring meetings with Programmatic sponsors to track project status and timelines.
• Track the $2 million Programmatic portfolio contracts and associated budget: conduct annual budgeting and forecasting and manage the Programmatic response to changes in project timelines and implementation needs.
• Coordinate with the Regional Technical Team (RTT) and project implementors to ensure the required design reviews are completed.
• Review BPA Programmatic project metrics and other data entered into the Salmon Recovery Portal (SRP).
• Complete and/or contribute to monthly, quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
• Advocate within the BPA Fish and Wildlife Program for additional non-Accord funding to support strategic salmon recovery implementation.
• Work with UCSRB team to develop outreach strategies for effective engagement of Board, staff and/or partners on key issues.
• Track emerging salmon recovery issues, policies, funding and key initiatives and disseminate to key partners as appropriate.
• Track and maintain key information pertaining to regional, state and federal permitting needs and requirements for salmon habitat restoration projects.
• Support and assist the UCSRB team with other regional programs, outreach and other key priorities as needed and assigned by the Executive Director.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in natural resource, fisheries, aquatic or environmental sciences, or related field and at least three years of direct salmon recovery related experience, or five years of equivalent experience in a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in natural resource, fisheries biology, fish and wildlife management or closely related field.

• Knowledge of state, federal and regional planning and policies pertaining to salmon recovery.
• Knowledge of WA State permitting requirements.

A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate and facilitate groups effectively.
• Ability to engage effectively with multiple entities, from state and federal agencies and sovereign tribes to community groups and private landowners.
• General knowledge of data collection, data synthesis, monitoring and evaluation.
• Ability to work under tight timelines with multiple and overlapping tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with standard office software applications such as MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Willingness to work a flexible hybrid schedule that includes occasional evening/weekend events and travel within the UCSRB service area, to Olympia and other locations where regional salmon recovery meetings are held.