Resilient Water/Watersheds Director

About YVSC

Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Steamboat Springs, CO (Routt County) (www.yvsc.org).  Established in 2009, YVSC is guided by the mission, “to serve as a leader, resource and catalyst for building a sustainable and resilient Yampa Valley region.”  Recognizing the urgent need to address climate change, YVSC is focused on serving as a regional hub for climate mitigation and adaptation actions that put Northwest on track to a lower-carbon and more resilient future. YVSC works to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience to current and project changes through our four Priority Areas: Energy, Transportation, Resilient Land and Water and Waste/Circularity. We use a range of approaches to advance action on the ground, including: programs, partnerships, planning, policy development and advocacy, project implementation, trainings and educational workshops, conferences and speaker events. 

Position Description

Climate change in the west is water change in the west, and now is an essential time to advance practices, policies and learning that ensure the people and places of NW Colorado continue thrive in a changing Colorado climate. The Resilient Water/Watersheds Director will be a leading member of the Resilient Land and Water Priority Area at YVSC, reporting to the Executive Director and working collaboratively with a range of program staff to support, establish, manage, monitor and communicate about science-driven actions that increase adaptive capacity and resilience to a warmer and drier future.  The Resilient Water Director operates at the interface of science, policy and society and will serve as a technical expert, trusted leader and thought partner to regional, state and federal efforts to build watershed resilience and water conservation successes in NW Colorado. 

The Opportunity 

The Resilient Water/Watersheds Director serves as a regional leader for developing, supporting and advancing solutions, policies, programs and partnerships that connect an increased understanding of how climate change is impacting water resources in NW Colorado to solutions that build water conservation and resilience moving forward. Principal Director responsibilities will include: 

• Regularly work with the Executive Director and YVSC Directors to strategically grow the Resilient Water program activities in relevant and impactful ways.
• Develop and expand existing relationships and multidisciplinary collaborations with key partners and water users in the Yampa River Basin and beyond to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing and scaled impact.
• Develop and support research partnerships and initiatives that increase data and monitoring of water resource changes (e.g. the YBASIN Soil Moisture Monitoring Network).
• Oversee and support regional water conservation program initiatives and projects, such as YVSC’s urban/built environment water conservation program, turf replacement tools and resources (e.g. Yampascaping), etc.
• Initiate and direct the planning and implementation of conferences, workshops and training sessions that increase research-practitioner collaboration, learning and water and watershed resource conservation in the Yampa Basin and beyond.
• Engage in and actively contribute to regional, state and Colorado River and/or federal planning and management meetings and efforts as relevant.
• Have a strong understanding of Colorado water policy and strategically develop and grow regional-state efforts to increase resilience and drought planning and pathways, testify on legislation, connect funding to local/regional opportunities and serve on appropriate water policy and planning boards (e.g. Yampa-White-Green Roundtable, etc. ).
• Build and maintain strategic program partnerships.
• Evaluate relevant data and monitoring and direct necessary protocol adjustments in order to ensure the success of the program and related partnerships.
• Develop and oversee clear reporting of program activities for grant reports and key deliverables.
• Regularly integrate relevant scientific literature and research findings into program communications and outreach for both technical and public stakeholders.
• Manage program staff and mentor research fellows and interns, as relevant.
• Develop trainings and educational materials that integrate relevant science and research into project guidelines, toolkits, dashboards, and/or best practice for the organization and the broader conservation community.
• Develop and oversee education and outreach initiatives that support and advance program and organizational goals.
• Work with YVSC communication staff to develop materials for YVSC events, media and advertising in order to accurately convey program successes and relevance.
• Participate in monthly YVSC community meetings and other events as needed for program development and outreach.
• Participate in and support other YVSC activities, events and community engagement opportunities to ensure the success and growth of the organization.
• Serve as a professional spokesperson and ambassador for YVSC and the organization’s mission.

Qualifications 

• B.S./B.A. degree and fifteen years of professional experience in environmental studies, sciences, sustainability, geography or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of experience in higher level management.
• Fundraising and grant-writing experience.
• Experience managing complex and/or multiple projects.
• Experience cultivating and maintaining purpose-driven partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including non-profit partners, water users, educational institutions, funding partners and/or government agencies and municipalities.
• Understanding of Colorado water policy and experience working with legislative processes.
• Experience influencing, developing and implementing water resource conservation, basic or applied research, conservation/restoration projects and/or strategic plans.
• Demonstrated results in developing and implementing creative, collaborative strategies to address complex conservation challenges.
• Self-motivated worker capable of being productive when working independently.
• Knowledge of freshwater resource conservation practice and conservation science.
• ArcGIS training and experience analyzing field and remotely sensed data preferred.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to work independently, creatively and proactively to solve problems.
• Strong team player who can build productive relationships and work collaboratively across the organization, with local, state and federal partners, and community members.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this FT Resilient Water/Watersheds Director position is $72,500-$87,796 to start, commensurate with education and experience. Yampa Valley Sustainability Council offers a competitive benefits package, including full medical, dental, long-term disability, life insurance coverage and retirement savings contributions, as well as paid time off, paid holidays, holiday bonuses and professional development funding. YVSC offers a flexible work schedule, as this position may require attendance at evening and weekend events, but the position will be based at the YVSC office in Steamboat Springs. This is not a hybrid/remote position. Flexible start date between January 2025 and June 2025.