Seed Coordinator

Overview Summary

Ecostudies Institute (ESI) is hiring a Seed Coordinator to provide seed planning, support, and coordination to increase the availability of and access to the appropriate native seed for habitat restoration. This position will work with partners to develop regional strategies for assessing and tracking short- and long-term seed needs, evaluating and implementing approaches to optimize seed production and purchase, and building an economic model that ensures long-term plant material availability for the diverse set of regional partners in the South Sound. Numerous conservation partners, including federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, and non-profit entities have identified the value of regional seed coordination. With increasing restoration, mitigation, and other habitat enhancement opportunities occurring throughout the south Puget Sound region, including on tribal and private lands, an adequate and equitable supply of plant materials is essential. In addition to developing need assessments, the coordinator will also support and guide land managers in selecting and producing genetically appropriate plant materials, including developing site-based seeding plans, based on the best available science and integrating climate resiliency and adaptive management. This position will also lead the development of an Implementation Plan for the Washington Native Seed Strategy and facilitate the Washington Native Seed Coalition in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

This position requires a high-level of initiative, responsibility, interpersonal skills, sound work ethic, and positive attitude. Seed coordination is a complex, cooperative endeavor, requiring significant coordination with commercial and non-profit growers, Tribal governments, and multiple federal, state, local and private partners including WA Dept of Natural Resources, WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Thurston County, Thurston jobshiringnearme.org District, and the Department of Defense.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a regional needs assessment to provide short- and long-term plant materials and funding projections.
• Meet with regional land managers, restoration planners, and other individuals to advance short- and long-term plant material needs and objectives through goal setting and consensus building.
• Initiate and lead meetings/workshops aimed at increasing growing capacity and investment and buy-in around regional seed coordination strategies.
• Develop/maintain relationships with current and potential growers to increase the regional capacity for native seed production, including by local agricultural producers.
• Develop and implement regional strategies to expand seed collection and build infrastructure (seed storage and cleaning, equipment sharing), and create data systems that support coordinated seed production, purchase, and inventory tracking.
• Support restoration managers internally and regionally to develop site-based seed plans.
• Initiate and administer service contracts, ensuring contract compliance and fulfillment of deliverables, including expanding use of bulk ordering/contracting across longer time spans.
• Support cooperative conservation efforts including leading the Washington Native Seed Coalition and developing the Washington Native Seed Strategy Implementation Plan.
• Seek novel funding opportunities and contribute to collaborative grant proposals to support seed coordination activities including project scoping, grant writing, budgeting, and communications.
• Communicate successes and lessons learned to partners, staff and the public through written reports, presentations and other methods, including performance and grant reporting.
• Maintain respectful, reciprocal relationships with government, tribal, and other partners.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Three years related experience in horticulture, agriculture, and/or ecological restoration as well as a BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Demonstrated project management, planning, and/or partnership development experience.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and lead complex discussions with partners from multiple entities and backgrounds and with varying priorities.
• Experience with developing initiatives with input from a wide breadth of partners.
• Excellent communication and written documentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical staff.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Access, Web browsers).
• Demonstrated cultural competence with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities, and economic backgrounds and/or interest in advancing knowledge or contributing to this work.
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Ability to pass a federal background check to qualify for a military base pass as a contractor.
• Willingness and ability to work in the field occasionally; comfort with remote/rural access conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of ecological land management principles and agricultural production systems.
• Experience with commercial seed production and native species cultivation.
• Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems, ideally Coast Salish prairies.
• Knowledge of current trends in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
• Experience building and facilitating lasting partnerships across a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Experience with business management, government purchasing and contracting, and grants and government funding requirements.
• Experience with conflict resolution.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro, AGOL, and other data systems.

Working Conditions

• Regularly works indoors in an office setting, occasionally outdoors in natural and agricultural areas – hikes across uneven ground.
• Occasionally visits natural lands and agricultural production areas (valid driver’s license required).
• Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Responsible for some evenings and weekends including travel.

About Ecostudies

Ecostudies Institute is a 501(c)(3) scientific non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of native species and their ecosystems. We achieve our mission through effective partnerships, sound scientific research, strategic land management, and ecological restoration. At the core of our mission is a cooperative conservation model that strives to realize improved conservation outcomes by developing shared goals and vision through partnerships. These partnerships, in turn, encourage information transfer, advances in cutting edge restoration techniques, and the development of integrated rangewide conservation approaches. The organization is headquartered in Olympia, Washington with field offices in Boardman and Eugene (OR). Ecostudies currently employs over 40 permanent and seasonal staff.

Hiring Equity and Justice

ESI values and seeks diversity and equity within the organization, and we encourage applications from all groups of people. We recognize that the strength of the organization is in our people, and we believe that every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Ecostudies does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices, and our commitment to equal employment opportunity applies to every aspect of the employment relationship.

It is well-documented that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), queer and transgender folks, women, and other marginalized groups often do not apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification listed in the job description. We are most interested in finding the right candidate for the job and our organization. We encourage all passionate and interested candidates to apply and think broadly about your background and qualifications that could be transferable for the position. We are committed to working against the structural biases that continue to keep marginalized people excluded from the conservation, restoration, and wildland fire/prescribed fire fields, and to making sure our hiring practices are not reproducing those biases.

Ecostudies Institute is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Ecostudies Institute management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. 

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Ecostudies Institute and the employee and is subject to change by Ecostudies Institute as the needs of the Ecostudies Institute and requirements of the job change.