Ecologist/ Project Manager

About Great River Greening
Great River Greening (GRG) is Minnesota’s leading environmental restoration nonprofit with a mission to inspire, engage, and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the land and water that enrich our lives. Our services extend throughout Minnesota in partnership with local communities, governmental agencies, conservation and agricultural organizations, individuals, and businesses. We offer flexibility, a friendly work culture, supportive Board of Directors, hybrid work options, and opportunities to grow. 

Great River Greening values Science, Community, Partnership, Education, and Environmental Justice. Great River Greening is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates of all backgrounds, including women, candidates of color, LGBTQ+, or candidates with non‐traditional work or experience backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Position Description

Great River Greening is looking to expand our team with an Ecologist or Project Manager, depending on the qualifications and experience of the chosen candidate. This position was created to support our growing portfolio of ecological restoration projects throughout Minnesota. Reporting to our Associate jobshiringnearme.org Director, the selected candidate will join a passionate team of conservation staff, each of whom executes and manages individual projects, as well as collaborates on larger projects and events. Guided by our mission, projects may include natural area restoration, management plans, native plantings, working lands, pollinator monitoring, survey analysis, climate adaptation, and carbon storage/sequestration. This position will conduct independent field and site reviews and must have access to a car. 

The duties and responsibilities are similar between an Ecologist and Project Manager, as described below. The differentiating factor is in the degree to which ownership of responsibilities is undertaken. Ecologists are routinely promoted to Project Manager within 6-18 months of hire.

The Ecologist position has a salary range of $52,000-59,000, while the Project Manager position has a salary range of 58,000-65,000. In addition, Great River Greening offers a generous benefits plan that includes health, dental, 401k, LTD, Dependent Care and Health Care FSA, life insurance, 14 paid holidays, and a PTO plan. Emphasizing our flexible workplace, staff are currently working hybrid-remotely. 

Ecologist  –  Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Implementation and Management (80%)

• Conduct ecological inventories and analysis utilizing GIS mapping software.
• Perform project management tasks under the supervision of the program manager including site evaluations, project specification development, requests for proposals, and partner communications with assistance from other staff as needed.
• Conduct oversight of contractors and Great River Greening’s crew in the implementation of natural resource management tasks.
• Provide ecological training and education to volunteers, clients, and partner organizations when necessary.
• Assist the organization in its climate and carbon sequestration/storage objectives.
• Represent Great River Greening at volunteer events, public meetings, and in interaction with public and private landowners.
• Write and review ecological restoration, stewardship, and management plans and oversee those produced by Greening staff, contractors, and partners, where applicable.
• Survey plant communities on public and private lands with occasional faunal and soil surveys; manage data from those surveys.

Mission Specific Work (20%)

• Attend and participate in conservation and volunteer planning meetings.
• Participate in fundraising functions under the direction of the Development and jobshiringnearme.org teams.
• Perform other related tasks as required.

Project Manager  –  Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

These responsibilities are in addition to those listed above for the Ecologist role.

Project Implementation and Management (80%)

• Prepare and maintain project scopes, budgets, and timelines based on evaluation of the financial feasibility and technical requirements from the award date to project close.
• Conduct ecological inventories and analysis and oversee those produced by Great River Greening staff, contractors, and /or partners.
• Develop and implement ecological restoration, stewardship, and management plans; as well as support those produced by GRG staff, contractors, and/or partners.
• Coordinate project workflow amongst contractors, GRG staff, and landowners.
• Identify and build collaborative and diplomatic relationships with landowners, funding entities, local/state/federal agencies, and other organizations to accomplish GRG’s objectives.
• Make recommendations for on-site stewardship actions and education events, promoting post-project success and awareness.

Mission Specific Work (20%)

• Attend and participate in conservation and volunteer planning meetings.
• Participate in fundraising functions under the direction of the Development and jobshiringnearme.org teams.
• Perform other related tasks as required.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong familiarity with native plant community types of the Upper Midwest and excellent plant identification skills.
• Experience managing and conducting field surveys.
• Proficient in ArcPRO (preferable) or ArcMap. Aerial photo interpretation a plus.
• Conscientious, collaborative, and reliable.
• Project management experience with budgets >$25,000.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Experience performing pollinator and other wildlife surveys.
• Possess an understanding of current climate adaptation techniques and/or carbon storage/sequestration practices and approaches.

Qualifications

• Degree in ecology, conservation biology, or related field (natural resources management, environmental science, botany, or related field) and 2 years of related work experience. Extensive field knowledge and experience can be substituted for formal education.
• Experience with a variety of land management and data management software (ArcPRO & Microsoft Suites).
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to transportation to conduct site visits and meetings with partners.