Eastern Conservation Planner

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country. Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.

POSITION SUMMARY

Since 2005, TU has been working in the headwaters of the Potomac River watershed in West Virginia to protect, restore, and re-connect native brook trout resources. TU’s Potomac Headwaters Home River Initiative (PHHRI) staff works with public and private landowners to restore riparian and in-stream habitat, improve water quality and monitor success. TU is actively engaged with a variety of partners in the project, including TU council and chapters, state and federal agencies, landowners, industry, land trusts, and watershed groups. This TU professional level position is on the front lines of restoring WV’s cold-water fisheries, is responsible for articulating that vision and provides an opportunity to become engaged in cutting-edge and meaningful restoration initiatives. The position is responsible for three basic components including fisheries biology, conservation outreach, and technical assistance to private and public landowners. The conservation efforts in the Potomac are implemented through a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). Therefore, the position will be based out of an office in the WV Eastern Panhandle (TBD). This position provides an opportunity to restore trout streams and the watersheds they inhabit and will result in an equal opportunity for office and field work. The position has stable funding, is full time, with a full suite of benefits including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b), and paid time off.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assisting in the identification, prioritization and implementation of cold-water restoration opportunities and efforts to the benefit of WV’s trout fisheries;
• Collection, analysis and utilization of relevant data to prioritize focal projects;
• Conducting structured field assessments of properties and watersheds to identify resource and on farm needs to develop quality conservation projects;
• Collaboration with local landowners and partners to design and fund conservation projects meeting landowner fishery needs for these streams;
• Coordination of field visits with landowners and agency staff to support Farm Bill Programs;
• Assessment and maintenance of installed conservation projects;
• Outreach to meet re-enrollment objectives for Farm Bill Programs;
• Leading monitoring efforts on pre- and post -restoration project locations for biological and physical parameters, analyze and summarize data in scientific and popular terminology.
• Identification of resource concerns to facilitate the installation of targeted conservation practices in focal areas.
• Manage landowner relations for projects with funding awards - up to and including project management tasks;
• Provide technical assistance for the implementation of select conservation practices;
• Assist District Conservationists/NRCS staff in contract development;
• Coordination, assistance and management of grants and funding requests.

* This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher. Preference given to candidates with a major of Biology, Agriculture, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, Environmental Sciences or other related degree. Preference will be given to advanced degree holders.

• General knowledge of conservation techniques and best management practices in agricultural settings. Knowledge of USDA Conservation practices preferred;
• Stream habitat assessment and restoration experience;
• Experience with federal Farm Bill financial assistance programs (EQIP, CREP, CSP, etc.) a plus;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Self-motivated
• Passion for the outdoors
• Enjoy working in a collaborative environment
• Ability to foster relationships with agricultural producers and partners and willingness to provide guidance to landowners in the conservation planning process.
• Knowledge of federal and statewide conservation programs;

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Holly Smith at holly.smith@tu.org. No phone calls please. Open until filled.

TU is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer pursuant to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act & Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistant Act.

TU hires staff without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

Please fill out this voluntary form and submit it as an attachment to this email address.