UT Watershed Resilience Project Coordinator-Bear River

Pheasants Forever AND Quail Forever

The Habitat Organization

JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

 Watershed Resilience

Project Coordinator

Location: Negotiable within Watershed

Application Deadline:  Open until filled

Anticipated Start Date: October/November 2024

Overview: PF and partners are seeking a passionate and skilled person for an innovative conservation effort. The role is designed for someone to forge strong productive relationships built on trust and respect with a diversity of partners, explores innovative ways to deliver conservation, and producing tangible on-the-ground results for working landscapes and the people, communities and wildlife that depend on them. This position will be responsible for delivering these core principles by implementing conservation efforts in the Bear River Watershed. The position will provide technical assistance to landowners, managers, the community, and state and federal partners on range, forest, wet meadow, and upland restoration projects. The position will be an employee of Pheasants Forever Inc. with daily supervision, instruction and leadership provided by PF and local partners. The position will be located within the Bear River Watershed and will travel throughout Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The incumbent is expected to work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Trout Unlimited, Anabranch Solutions, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (FS), Intermountain West Joint Venture, Utah State University, state fish and game agencies, private landowners and other stakeholders in the region. 

Strong candidate will be able to inspire the community, landowners, and partner to participate in process-based restoration aimed at developing and enhancing resilient watersheds. This position is a critical first step in a broader conservation strategy aimed at benefiting the Bear River Watershed bioregion and will play a key role in the expansion of these efforts.

Duties:

• Desire to learn and explore innovative and creative ways to support working landscapes.
• Coordinate conservation efforts to use Farm Bill, NFWF grant and other funding avenues to ensure “seamless” and integrated implementation across the landscape.
• Outreach, coordination and relationship-building with area ranchers, private landowners, local business-economic interests, non-governmental organizations, and local community groups (e.g., soil and water conservation districts, local area working groups, coordinated resource management groups, etc.). May include workshops, field tours, group presentations and conferences.
• Promote conservation programs and practices to stakeholder in increase the pace and scale of conservation delivery.
• Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences within the conservation programs in cooperation with the local partners.
• Coordination assistance with state and federal agencies and local governments.
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits, and develop contracts/plans for projects and participants.
• Work with agencies and partners to develop, facilitate, and coordinate local contracts and agreements.
• Complete project management through data creation, gathering, tracking and dissemination through frequent updates and reporting.
• Facilitate information and awareness on conservation opportunities to partners.
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits for wildlife field clearances (surveys, inventories, monitoring) on identified fuels projects.
• Provide landscape-level conservation planning, technical assistance and project prioritization support to the NRCS, FS, BLM and partners in out-year planning efforts.
• Serve on field level interdisciplinary teams.
• Work with various state and local agencies to coordinate success stories and leverage support for future years of partnership projects.
• Showcase information from past and current projects to the public (i.e. presentations showing pre and post data for vegetation and wildlife populations, kiosk displays, social media posts, etc.)
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A general qualification guideline for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rangeland Science, Wildlife Biology/Management, Forest Ecology, Agriculture, Social dynamics or Restoration Ecology from an accredited university. Experience or knowledge of collaborative conservation and management and/or integrated wildlife management is preferred.
• Understanding of habitat management at various scales.
• An ability to learn and adapt to new ideas, technologies, and local cultural values.
• Experience in knowledge and principles of project management, concepts of project constraints, and ability to manage and apply those principles.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology and habitat management objectives.
• Excellent verbal/written communication, coordination and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license and skillset to drive at high elevation, and often remote locations, on a regular basis and occasionally during inclement weather.
• Knowledge of computer skills is required, and applicant should be familiar with ARC GIS, Word and Excel.
• Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.
• Basic understanding/knowledge of the BLM agency, policy, planning, clearances, regulations, etc. is preferred
• Able to obtain federal Security Clearance.

Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities.  A general qualification guideline for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience.

Salary Range: Up to $60,000 (based on experience) + Health Benefits and Retirement Package                

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.