Program Manager, Water Resources

Merrimack River Watershed Council Published: March 6, 2021
Location
Lawrence, MA
Skill Level
Mid Level
Job Type
Full-time
Categories
Natural Resources/ Restoration / Program Management

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Description

~ The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) is a nonprofit environmental organization that protects and improves the Merrimack River Watershed for all people and wildlife through science, education, recreation, and advocacy. ~

Our mission is a mandate to both protect our communities from environmental harm and to educate and engage residents in restoring our vital natural resources. We work with diverse stakeholders, decision makers and communities to address threats including water pollution, habitat loss, aging infrastructure, and climate change. We also promote public access to the river and its greenspaces. MRWC is based in Lawrence, MA but works throughout the entire 5,000 square mile watershed, which begins in Franklin, New Hampshire and flows out to the ocean at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Position Overview

The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) seeks a full-time Program Manager, Water Resources to join our dynamic and growing team.

This role is ideal for someone who is a highly organized self-starter and prides themselves on:

  1. positive leadership,
  2. technical skills in water resource issues, and
  3. program management experience. If you have a strong work ethic, passionate drive, and enduring commitment to water and climate justice in our watershed, consider joining our team.

The Program Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to expand, integrate and manage MRWC’s 1) water quality monitoring, 2) volunteer engagement, and 3) municipal partnership development, into a cohesive and enduring Water Resources Program. The Program Manager will plan and implement programing to monitor the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the Mighty Merrimack River and its tributaries. The Program Manager will build out partnerships with local municipalities and key agencies to identify and adopt science-based solutions to water quality and quantity issues.

Location: This position is based out of our Lawrence, MA office, but there is opportunity to flex a portion of the work from other locations within our watershed. Water testing and river events happen regularly throughout the watershed so regular travel should be expected.

Schedule: Full-time exempt with options for flexible scheduling. This position requires occasional early morning or weekend sampling, and occasional evening meetings and weekend events.

COVID-19 considerations: The office is currently in a state of semi-closure, with staff working primarily from home. The position requires periodic socially distanced field work with colleagues / volunteers, and occasional in-person distanced interaction with interns, trainees and project partners.

Key Responsibilities

Water Resources Program:

  • Manage and expand MRWC’s volunteer-based water quality monitoring, including regular year-round sampling, hotspot monitoring, data analysis, and technical reporting.
  • Oversee Community Science programming and volunteer engagement.
  • Identify and implement nature-based solutions to improve stormwater management and climate resilience across the watershed.
  • Build enduring partnerships with municipal staff, state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and volunteers, to advance water resource projects, policies, collaborative solutions, and investments. Focus includes drinking water quality and supply, pollution, flooding and drought.
  • Communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences about science, policy, and regulatory implications of watershed data.

Program Management:

  • Supervise MRWC’s Community Engagement Coordinator (AmeriCorps member), interns, and project subcontractors.
  • Assist Communications & Development staff to document results through writing, presentations, and data visualizations.
  • Strategically manage the program budget.
  • Write grants to support the program.
  • Manage grant contract reporting and compliance.

Qualifications

Required: 

  • Above all, we seek an individual who is motivated to take on new challenges, and believes in this work. The ideal candidate is a collaborative self-starter with drive and enthusiasm.
  • Program management and supervisory experience.
  • Communication: Excellent inter-personal, verbal and written communication skills. Able to present comfortably to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated success writing and managing grants.
  • Either a Master’s degree in water resources management, ecological restoration, aquatic biology, ecology, hydrology, civil or environmental engineering, landscape architecture or a related field + minimum two years of relevant work experience, OR a listed Bachelor’s degree + five years relevant work experience.
  • Experience in any of the following or a related specialty: stormwater best management practices, green infrastructure, state and federal regulatory programs related to water and wetlands, monitoring, watershed modeling.
  • ArcGIS proficiency.

Preferred:

  • Bilingual in Spanish (spoken and written) is not required but is a plus.
  • Familiarity and community connections within Lawrence, Lowell or Manchester is not required but is a plus.

Note: This position requires occasional field work, including on water, in boats, or on uneven terrain.

Compensation

  • Starting salary is dependent on experience, with a starting range of $50,000-$65,000.
  • Benefits package includes but not limited to health insurance contribution, paid time off, paid family and medical leave.

To Apply

  • Please click "Apply" below to email a cover letter and resume by Feb 1st at 5pm detailing your interest and qualifications, with the subject line “Water Resources – Program Manager.”
  • Please mention how you learned of this opening. 

At the Merrimack River Watershed Council, we don’t just value difference — we celebrate it and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our services, and our community. MRWC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

When you apply for this position, please say you saw this job on Green Dream Jobs!!

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