Spokane Restoration Project Manager

Trout Unlimited (TU) is a national organization with 350,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, restoration specialists, project managers, and scientists, who work out of more than 25 offices across the country.  Our mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams, so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.

Position Summary

This position is an exciting opportunity to implement impactful habitat restoration projects to improve habitat for native fish, including reintroduced salmonids, in the Spokane River basin and elsewhere in the region. This Project Manager will steward projects from start to finish developing project concepts, securing project partnerships, obtaining project funding, and managing project implementation. This includes a reach-scale floodplain restoration project in the Hangman Creek watershed and an abandoned mine restoration project in the Kettle River watershed. The Project Manager will also work collaboratively with The Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited Chapter, which was founded in the 1970’s and has engaged its 500 plus members to actively work on conservation and protection of the Spokane River watershed and its native Redband trout for decades. 

TU has secured two years of grant funding for this position. The successful applicant will work with their TU supervisor, other TU staff, and program partners to secure additional funding for project activities and to cover core operational costs to sustain the program through future years

The location for this position is flexible within or near the Spokane area. The Project Manager will be required to travel throughout the Spokane River basin and nearby areas and to occasional meetings and conferences outside the region. The successful applicant must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, as company vehicles are not provided. Travel reimbursement (mileage, lodging, & per diem) is provided for all qualifying work-related travel. The position is currently 100% remote (work-from-home or in the field); a stipend for in-home office or co-work option will be made available

Duties and Responsibilities

With support from their TU Supervisor, the successful candidate will:

• Manage on-the-ground watershed restoration/reconnection projects, including project planning, permitting, implementation oversight, and monitoring.
• Perform project-specific administrative duties, including drafting RFPs/RFQs/bid documents, contracting, grant reporting, invoicing, and budget management.
• Manage and collaborate with hired consultants/construction contractors on technical design, development, and implementation of projects.
• Attend regular Lead Entity meetings, Spokane Salmon Restoration Collaborative (for salmon recovery and other meetings related to habitat restoration in the Spokane River basin).
• Participate in WA TU Council and Spokane Falls TU Chapter meetings and collaborate with TU grassroots on projects.
• Execute media work to highlight project success, including collaboration with TU’s Communications staff and coordinating with partner organizations.
• Work with local/regional partners and TU staff to fundraise for both program and project support, including identifying potential funding sources, drafting grant proposals, and developing relationships with funders.
• Participate in WA TU Council meetings and periodically participate in regional WA TU Chapter meetings or events with grassroots volunteers.
• Coordinate with TU staff and TU members to support science-based advocacy for salmon and steelhead conservation, as needed.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in fisheries, natural resource management, or ecological habitat restoration
• At least 2 years of professional experience managing projects from concept through implementation
• Strong understanding of natural resource management issues related to conservation of salmon and steelhead in Washington State.
• Experience with river restoration principles, methods, and practices, including a solid understanding of engineering design and construction concepts is required.
• Experience with project permitting related to aquatic restoration projects and in-water work windows (i.e., federal and state permits) desired.
• Experience managing project budgets.
• Demonstrable success working with diverse suites of landowners, agencies, and project stakeholders
• Demonstrable success building new project partnerships
• Experience working with non-profit organizations is preferred.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills are required. Grant writing experience desired.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to solve problems and think creatively.
• Self-motivated; effective working independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrable ability managing multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the Spokane region, and occasionally farther across Washington for field visits, project implementation oversight, staff meetings, conferences, etc.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable personal vehicle
• Extensive experience with MS Office Suite required; additional software experience (e.g., ArcGIS, R, Canva, mobile data collection apps, etc.) preferred.

Salary and Benefits

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, year-round position with a generous benefits package. The salary range is $31.25 – $38.54 per hour, plus benefits. Title and compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications and experience level, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

At TU, we value a diverse representation of staff, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to fostering inclusivity and encourage all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean water.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to read more about TU’s equity practice and values https://www.tu.org/equity/.