Southwest Oregon Program Manager

~ Wild Salmon Center (WSC) is looking for a highly motivated person to manage our watershed planning and habitat restoration work  in southwest Oregon. ~

If you are interested in a fast-paced job working with a diverse group of dedicated partners to protect and restore some of the healthiest remaining wild salmon and steelhead watersheds in Oregon, we invite you to apply.

Position Overview

The Southwest Oregon Program Manager leads WSC’s conservation program in the south coast, Klamath-Siskiyou, and southern Cascade eco-regions. Project locations will include work in the Umpqua, Upper Rogue, and Upper Klamath river basins, as well as selected direct coastal tributaries south of the Umpqua River.  The position will primarily focus on advancing watershed planning and habitat restoration priorities initiated under the organization’s Coastal Program.  The position will be based in southwest Oregon and report to the Coastal Program Director in Portland, OR.

The Southwest Oregon Program Manager will be responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of the organization’s conservation work in the region.  In the near term (2018-2021), the position will focus on an initiative that WSC is managing aimed at the recovery of coast coho in Oregon.  Called the “Coast Coho Business Plan,” the program teams with regional conservation partnerships to prioritize and coordinate habitat protection and restoration projects benefitting independent populations of coast coho.  In close partnership with a steering committee comprised of state and federal agency partners, WSC facilitates an 18-month prioritization process that generates a “Strategic Action Plan” (SAP) for population recovery.  Upon completion of the plan, we work with public and private funders to finance implementation of the plan’s highest priority habitat protection and restoration projects.

In partnership with the Business Plan team and the Coast Program Director, this position will be responsible for the facilitation and production of selected plans, leveraging funding for implementation, and the management/oversight of sub-awards supporting locally-led project implementation.

In addition to these functions, the position will also be responsible for identifying long term conservation priorities and opportunities in the Southwest Oregon region and refining WSC’s role in the region as needs and opportunities arise.

Responsibilities

This position will work closely with the Coast Program Director to:

• Produce the Upper Rogue and/or Coos River “SAPs”, which are currently under development and anticipated for publication in late 2019;
• Partner with local teams to facilitate and develop the next round of SAPs that are tentatively planned in the region;
• Leverage and coordinate funding for the implementation of high priority projects contained in the SAPs in current (Upper Rogue, Elk River) and future SAP watersheds;
• Develop and administer sub-awards for habitat restoration project implementation in current and future SAP areas in SW Oregon;
• Support the establishment of long term outcomes for the Program in the SW region and assist with the development and implementation of the Coast Program’s annual workplan and budget;
• Build strategic relationships and partnerships with key regional stakeholders including Tribes, angling communities, community leaders, NGOs, and state and federal government leaders;
• Identify priorities for policy and management reform in SW Oregon and promote wild fish conservation through the integration of new and existing science into management decision-making; and
• In partnership with the WSC Development team, support fundraising activities to secure funding for the program; and
• In partnership with the WSC Communications team, develop strategic communications and media plans to support and advance programmatic goals and initiatives.

Qualifications

• The desired candidate for this position will possess a far ranging understanding of wild salmon conservation needs in the region, including a thorough understanding of the watershed processes that generate healthy wild salmon habitats; 
• The land use and management systems which can limit watershed health; and
• The habitat restoration and policy priorities needed to protect and restore wild salmon and steelhead strongholds in SW Oregon.

Preferred qualifications include: 

• 4 or more years of professional experience managing watershed planning and restoration projects in wild salmon ecosystems;
• A B.S. in natural resource science or related field. A Masters degree in a natural science or related resource management /policy program may substitute for two years of  experience;
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; an effective, diplomatic, and friendly communication style;
• The discipline and commitment to be self-directed in the absence of day to day oversight; and
• Flexibility to travel (mostly in-region; periodically out-of-state).

The ideal candidate will also possess one or more of the following:

• Experience facilitating group processes;
• Experience with state/federal grant programs and grant-writing/reporting experience;
• Experience in water management and/or policy;
• GIS experience; and/or
• Experience working in the SW Oregon region. 

Compensation

• The compensation package includes a competitive salary and excellent fringe benefits including vacation, retirement plan match, medical and dental plan, life insurance and disability coverage;
• The Project Manager salary range minimum is $50,000, and the salary offered will be commensurate with experience and qualifications; and
• This is a full-time regular position that is exempt from federal Fair Labor Standard Act overtime rules.

To Apply 

• Please click "Apply" below to upload your resume and cover letter by September 7, 2018;
• This job description is not an employment agreement or contract; and
• Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. 

~ Wild Salmon Center is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer ~