Flow Restoration Project Manager

Job Title: Flow Restoration Project Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to join Trout Unlimited (TU) and lead work to restore adequate instream flows in the John Day Basin to support ongoing efforts to conserve and recover Oregon’s native salmon, trout, and riverine ecosystems.  

TU is seeking a candidate with diverse skills and knowledge including water right transactions, water law, hydrology, agriculture, restoration ecology, and project management. The Flow Restoration Project Manager will support TU’s presence as a leader in working on project-oriented streamflow and habitat restoration. The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of restoration project management including outreach to landowners, project development, grant writing, developing strategic approaches to meet TU’s mission, participating in regional partnership efforts, providing fiscal oversight for project budgets, and coordinating with other TU staff and contractors.  

TU’s staff work in a highly collaborative environment, with a diversity of partners including landowners, tribal partners, state and federal resource management agencies, private and public funders, and other NGO’s.  

The Project Manager will be located in John Day, Oregon (or outlying communities) and will be required to travel occasionally throughout Oregon and to conferences outside the state. This is a full-time position, occasionally requiring evening and weekend hours.  The person selected for this position will need to live in the John Day Basin however, there is not currently a TU field office in John Day so this position will work remotely.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with local stakeholders to develop and implement instream flow restoration projects

• Evaluate feasibility and value of potential instream flow restoration projects with private landowners and other stakeholders, both independently and in group settings

• Identify funding sources, prepare budgets and proposals, and secure funding for water transactions

• Complete state requirements for transacting water rights, including leasing and transfer applications to the Oregon Water Resources Department

• Manage project implementation including budgeting, scheduling, partner coordination, contractor selection and oversight, and reporting

• Coordinate and develop communications materials

• Consolidate, manage, and share hydrologic data to inform flow restoration needs and priorities

• Prepare grant deliverables including quarterly, annual, and final progress reports

• Monitor projects including tracking instream flow, compliance with instream water rights, and ecologic outcomes

• Follow all TU policies regarding federal and state grant compliance, including procurement processes

• Foster and maintain positive relationships with landowners and other stakeholders with varying political and social backgrounds

• Collaborate closely with partners, including federal, state and local government agencies, academic institutions, and other non-profit organizations

Additional duties may be assigned as necessary, including programmatic work in the region on other restoration and habitat improvement efforts

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in hydrology, water resources, ecology, fisheries, or a related field. Master’s degree or higher preferred.

• Knowledge of and experience working with western water law and water rights.

• At least 2 years professional experience preferred.

• Grant and project management skills

• Experience working or collecting data under potentially adverse conditions in the field.

• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work constructively with diverse partners and private landowners.

• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites, with occasional multi-day trips. Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Excellent problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to work independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside TU.

• Ability to manage complex projects and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.