Sagelands Heritage Program Coordinator

position Details
Employment type: Full time; non-exempt
Compensation: $52,000-$57,500 (dependent on qualifications and location)
Benefits: Includes employer-paid medical/dental/vision insurance, 3% Simple IRA match, 12 sick days per year, and vacation starting at 3 weeks per year (increasing to 5). Sabbatical after 8 years.
Location: Remote, preferably based in or near Twisp, WA
Physical and travel requirements: During the field season, the employee should be prepared for physical work outdoors approximately one to three days per week or more during peak implementation. Occasional travel to other fieldwork or meetings is also expected with some overnight stays. 

Position Summary: The objective of this position is to develop and implement strategies that protect and restore wildlife habitat, increase habitat connectivity across barriers, and foster scientific, social, and political networks to assist the Sagelands Heritage Program.

This position will develop and implement on the ground projects through contacts with a wide variety of partners – local landowners, private and public organizations, state and federal agencies, Tribes, etc. –  for habitat connectivity work in the Columbia Basin’s Connected Backbone Region in Okanogan and Douglas Counties, including the Colville Confederated Tribal Reservation and transboundary efforts in Canada. These responsibilities include providing direct funding to an ongoing effort bringing capacity and resources to partner’s projects, independently initiating and delivering on a priority actions or projects, recruiting and coordinating volunteers to support work efforts, providing feedback on conservation actions or process, engaging with local communities, providing educational opportunities for students, planting or removing fences, installing native plants, managing invasive species, and supporting virtual fence Application. This person will serve as spokesperson and ambassador, representing jobshiringnearme.org Northwest in collaborative groups and the media.

Responsibilities:

Lead CNW assistance to the Twisp Upland Ecological Restoration Project (30%)  

• Assist the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF)/Methow Okanogan Beaver Project (MOBF) staff with field projects including fence removals, habitat plantings, Beaver Dam Analog and Zeedyk structure installations, floating wetlands, virtual fence tower installations and ongoing assistance to those involved (ranchers, WDFW, DNR, USFS).
• Work with groups of volunteers from local schools, Mule Deer Foundation, Master Hunters, Back Country Hunters and Anglers and others to implement field work on the project.
• Maintain records on activities, hours worked, projects completed, volunteer hours provided, etc., to aid in necessary reports to the major funder (National Fish & Wildlife Foundation)
• Work closely with the MOBP project manager to implement all aspects of the project as asked to cooperate on. Work with all landowners involved to keep them informed of progress work or other activities as requested by MOBP project manager. Keep detailed and organized digital records of time and monitoring photo data in collaboration with MOBP.

Partner Relationships & Implementation (20%) 

• Create and develop regional partnerships and projects, including public outreach, searching for funding, technical assistance, support letters, field assistance, etc.
• Work with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Burrowing Owl Team to assess the status of, protect, and conserve this species. Share information on virtual fence technology and help implement projects in Douglas and Okanogan Counties. Using partnerships with Mule Deer Foundation, Pheasants Forever and WDFW, organize volunteers or hire contractors to remove fences in Douglas and Okanogan County Wildlife Areas.
• Support the Okanogan Trails Mule Deer Foundation Chapter with Safe Passage 97 projects including wildlife fence maintenance, underpass monitoring, and maintain the project website.

Solar Siting (15%)

• Attend Solar meetings including PHS, Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council, BLM, WDFW, DNR, or other efforts. Provide short reports or updates to the SHP team.
• Assist with locating counties, developers, and landowners willing to implement community and Tribal benefit agreements, build-ready solar initiatives, Least Conflict Solar Siting (LCSS), Mitigation Banks or other programs to better site utility-scale solar projects.
• Work with partners to inspire legislative language for better policies and procedures regarding renewable energy and our state’s net-zero goals. As the CNW representative, attend meetings of the Tribal Committee of the Uncommon Dialogue solar siting program. Keep updated on WSU’s Pumped Storage Hydropower Information Study.

Working For Wildlife, Wilderness Recreation Team, and Program and Project Outreach (15%) 

• Coordinate with our Working for Wildlife program partners to implement habitat projects, including   conducting wildlife translocations, surveys, monitoring, and physical projects. Participate in the CNW group discussing and developing strategies for issues related to the outdoor recreation community advocating for wildlife interests.
• Outreach to, coordinate with, and build relationships with area ranchers, private landowners, local businesses, NGO’s and local community groups. Prepare monthly reports for the program lead, attend monthly team meetings, CNW retreats, and produce various communications pertinent to our members, supporters, and the public on arid land conservation, successful projects, and volunteer opportunities.

Support Indigenous Led jobshiringnearme.org (10%) 

• Work closely with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and BC First Nations, to identify where our support would be welcome and needed. This may include Burrowing Owl or Badger reintroduction, Sharp-Tailed Grouse and Pronghorn populations, virtual fence, native plant restoration, Culturally Significant Foods stewardship, and wildfire resiliency including on the Twisp Uplands Project.
• Assist the Colville Tribal jobshiringnearme.org District with the roll out of virtual fencing on the reservation, contributing to successful implementation while enabling the removal of derelict fencing or retrofits necessary for wildlife-friendly standards.
• Actively learn and respect the wealth of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) held by First Nations and Tribes. Interweave learnings and practices to support First Foods, wildlife stories and recovery, land access and connectivity into all aspects of SHP work.

Student and Community Engagement (10%) 

• Work with local students to provide experiential education about shrub-steppe habitat, conservation career opportunities, and participate hands-on with habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring projects. Including the Twisp Uplands project. Promote respect for wild places and wildlife to last generations.
• Manage the Bighorn Sheep Monitoring Station on Mt. Hull to assist with critical species recovery and mentor local students through the Oroville High School’s Wildlife Monitoring Internship.
• Explore and initiate ways to engage with the region’s underserved populations and local communities to expand interest and appreciation in ongoing or new approaches to wildlife conservation projects.
• Encourage learning through outdoor experiences such as hiking tours or volunteer days to increase awareness and involvement in conservation and our organization.

Desired Qualifications:
jobshiringnearme.org Northwest recognizes that applicants that could be successful in this role may have a variety of backgrounds that do not perfectly match the desired qualifications. Interested candidates that align with a majority of the job description and have an aptitude and interest in acquiring new skills or experience are encouraged to apply. Applicants from marginalized or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. 

• 3+ years of experience in habitat or species conservation, partnerships, field work or similar work.
• Undergraduate degree in a conservation related field or equivalent experience.
• The Twisp Uplands & Virtual Fence work will involve use of basic tools, lifting materials up to 50 pounds, walking 2 miles or more over rugged terrain, operating equipment such as fence removal apparatus, hydraulic, pneumatic, or gas powered post pounders, fence pullers, completing shrub planting and grass seeding, manual work placing rocks for stream structures, floating wetland work from a kayak, and working in various outdoor weather conditions.  Driver’s license required.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical, leadership and team building skills with the ability to closely follow specific instructions.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment without direct, in-person supervision; good self-starting skills.
• Ability to effectively plan and set priorities, manage several projects simultaneously.
• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with Microsoft suite, project management software, etc.

jobshiringnearme.org Northwest is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace that represents the diversity in our communities. Veterans and people with diverse social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without preference given to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, social background, or disability status.

Who we are: jobshiringnearme.org Northwest has a 30+ year track record of success protecting and connecting wildlands in Washington and British Columbia, and recovering our region’s iconic wildlife including wolves, wolverines, fishers, lynx, and grizzly bears. We recognize that for long-term progress, conservation must go hand-in-hand with healthy, prosperous and equitable communities.

Our M.O. is simple: connect the big landscapes, restore the most vulnerable wildlife, and protect our natural heritage for future generations. We have an annual budget of $3-$4M and 28 staff working across Washington. Our conservation community also includes more than 15,000 activists, supporters, and online followers.

Our Mission: We protect, connect and restore wildlands and wildlife from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies.

Our Values: Adaptability, boldness, collaboration, empathy, equity, integrity, pragmatic idealism, rationality, tenacity