Snake River Headwaters Watershed Scientist

ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED 

Trout Unlimited (TU) brings together diverse interests to care for and recover the rivers and streams on which we all depend. We are a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. Our dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country.  TU works with federal, state and local agencies, landowners, nonprofits, foundations, chapters, research groups, and educational partners who provide expertise, funding, and collaboration.

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Snake River Headwaters Watershed Scientist will complement ongoing TU water policy and project work in the Upper Snake River Basin.  This scientist will identify, implement, and oversee various research, modeling, and data visualization projects that will provide insight into real-time and science-backed water supply forecasts and water budgets, as well as opportunities for flexible management of the water resource in ways that can benefit coldwater fisheries and their ecosystems.  The Watershed Scientist will work closely with the Wyoming Water Policy Advisor to develop communications, recommendations, and outreach related to water supply and flow management. The Watershed Scientist’s contributions will shape flow decisions, safeguard native cutthroat trout, and strengthen TU’s water policy leadership across the Upper Snake River Basin.

This work will require an individual who is action and solution-oriented, works well with diverse stakeholders and personalities, and can support the overarching policy goals of Trout Unlimited. Candidates for this position will need to demonstrate experience with and enthusiasm for using actionable science and collaboration with agency, academic, and nonprofit partners to achieve conservation goals. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Advance TU’s reputation in the region as a science-based leader in water, hydrology, and climate.
• Create and support watershed-specific tools related to surface and groundwater systems, including effects of usage demands, aquifer recharge, weather forecasting, water rights, interstate compacts, and flow augmentation within a complex reservoir system.
• Provide guidance on development of watershed-specific data dashboard for the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group (SRHWG), including input on contractor selection and scope of work.
• Serve on core team to maintain the SRHWG data dashboard, supporting requests from SRHWG member organizations.
• Identify and oversee on-the-ground research projects and monitoring.
• Engage in future water budgets and basin studies influencing water management, water storage, and fisheries health in the Upper Snake River Basin.
• Support groundwater recharge studies in the Salt River watershed to address upper Salt River dewatering.
• Work closely with state and federal agencies and nonprofit partners to implement research and data visualization projects, collect field data for project development and monitoring, and secure permits.This includes leading and participating in scientific publications, communications, conferences, and other initiatives.
• Collaborate frequently with other TU policy, project, science, and engagement staff.
• Administrative duties include grant reporting, invoicing and tracking project budgets.
• Non-supervisory position.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Ph.D. in hydrology, watershed science, geosciences, engineering, earth science or related field OR Master’s Degree in one of these fields and at least four years of post-degree experience.
• In addition to area of graduate specialty, broad knowledge of fundamentals in:
  • Stream ecology, fisheries biology, fluvial geomorphology and riparian ecology.
  • Groundwater-surface water interactions, including managed and incidental aquifer recharge.
• Demonstrated performance in working with complex datasets and statistical models, specifically related to water supply and water budgets across large river systems.
  • Competency in R programming language for statistical computing and data visualization (and associated programming languages such as C, C++, Python, and/or Java).
• Experience working with a diverse range of sensors, datasets, and statistical models.
• Experience with regional climate forecasting and process-based models.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with multiple and diverse partners in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner, even on contentious issues.
• Experience synthesizing and advancing science around complex issues into digestible outreach and guidance.
• Proven ability to collaborate or co-produce with other researchers, agencies, academic institutions, and stakeholders in applied research, process-based models, scientific communication, and publications.
• Demonstrated ability to develop field studies including study design, data collection, analysis and synthesis.
• Demonstrated performance in grant writing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to envision and independently develop strategic work goals and priorities – i.e., a productive roadmap for advancing and deepening this focus for the organization.
• Ability to work independently while managing complex projects. The job requires the ability to prioritize workload, to be highly motivated and self-directed.
• Knowledge of the region and Upper Snake River watershed.
• Ability and willingness to travel; valid driver’s license and own vehicle required.
• Passion for trout and salmon and the places they live.

This is a remote position with a preference to be based within 3 hours’ travel from Jackson, WY for occasional meetings.

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. The salary range is $65,000-$80,000, depending on experience. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.