Stream Restoration Field Specialist – Northeast Oregon

DEPARTMENT:  Western Conservation – Western Water & Habitat Program

REPORTS TO: Levi Old, NE Oregon Program Manager

POSITION TYPE/HOURS: Seasonal -40 hours/week

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 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, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country. Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore North America’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.

Position Description:

Trout Unlimited in Northeast Oregon is looking for an energetic, hardworking, and motivated individual to join our team in 2024. TU is working with the U.S. Forest Service Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests, the Bureau of Land Management, and private landowners to conduct stream restoration that supports native trout, salmon, and ecosystem conservation.

We are looking to fill a temporary position with a start date of June 17th, and an anticipated end date of August 30th. Dates may be flexible depending on the applicant’s circumstances. Seasonals may choose to work a second, optional field season from September 23rd – November 13th.

The successful candidate will receive training and experience in multiple stream restoration activities. The summer field season will involve physically demanding restoration work adding large woody material and beaver dam analogues to headwater streams. The optional fall field season will consist of planting, thinning, and fence construction. Teams work 40-hour weeks (with primitive camping) that require traversing difficult terrain while carrying field gear and supplies in all weather conditions. Successful applicants must be team-oriented with a positive attitude. The position will be based out of NE Oregon (Baker City, La Grande, or other local area), with travel and camping at multiple sites. While a variety of conservation activities may be encountered, the primary duties are listed below.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enhance fish and meadow habitat in headwater streams using tools including grip hoist, winch, hand tools, chainsaws, pulleys, levers, and muscles
• Transport heavy gear daily over difficult terrain
• Work in a close-knit team with a high degree of coordination and communication
• Keep a positive attitude and follow directions while conducting physically demanding work
• Maintain equipment and report maintenance/equipment needs to TU staff
• Design and implementation of restoration actions to enhance stream morphology – this training will be provided
• Perform all duties with safety as the top priority. Maintain situational awareness and manage risk in a remote field environment
• Additional duties in support of the watershed program may be required and include, but are not limited to planting riparian areas, fence maintenance, habitat assessment and monitoring, stream surveys, and education/outreach
• Maintain a high level of integrity throughout the season

*The above is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• Leadership and teamwork experience
• Working knowledge of watershed health and function
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to quickly acquire skills and learn new techniques
• Willing to work long days in challenging environments doing physically demanding work.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to pass background checks for employment
• A strong passion for native fish, wildlife, and watershed ecology
• Wilderness/remote camping experience
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team with varied skills, abilities, and perspectives
• Ability to keep an open mind, and take constructive feedback
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to pass background checks for employment, personal vehicle is required

Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following: 

• Chainsaw experience (U.S. Forest Service Certification Preferred)
• Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder Certification/First Aid and CPR
• Trail maintenance and/or construction experience
• Previous field work in remote environments
• Knowledge of basic mechanical repair
• Knowledge of hydrology, ecology, fish, riparian, and/or floodplain habitats

Salary and Benefits:

$23 per hour. Meal stipend provided when overnight camping is required. Mileage will be reimbursed at the 2024 federal rate of $0.67/mile if the use of a personal vehicle is required.