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. Through TU’s Potomac Headwaters Home River Initiative (PHHRI), staff work with public and private landowners to restore riparian and in-stream habitat, stabilize eroding stream banks, mitigate barriers to aquatic organism passage, and monitor projects for success. The PHHRI is spearheaded by TU, however, a variety of partners are actively engaged in the effort, including TU council and chapters, state and federal agencies, landowners, industry, land trusts, and watershed groups. This professional level position puts you on the front lines of restoring WV’s cold-water fisheries, requires the articulation of that vision to everyone from students to senators, and provides an opportunity to become engaged in a cutting-edge restoration initiative working amongst a diverse group of partners and stakeholders. The position is broken up into three basic components: fisheries biology, outreach, and technical assistance. The staffer will focus on the identification and acquisition of funding to implement cold-water restoration to the benefit of WV’s trout fisheries. This position will oversee the collection, analysis and utilization of fisheries, land cover, geological, and temperature data to prioritize focal watersheds and assist with the development and implementation of landscape-scale conservation initiatives. The position then collaborates with local landowners and partners to fund and design conservation projects that meet the needs of the landowner and the biota that inhabit these streams. A significant portion of the conservation efforts in the Potomac are implemented through federal financial assistance programs available to private landowners through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). Therefore, the PHHRI Program Manager will work closely with staff from TU, NRCS, and FSA to facilitate the implementation of riparian and in-stream restoration projects and monitor such projects to evaluate success. This position provides an opportunity to restore trout streams and the watersheds they inhabit on a full-time basis. It provides both an opportunity to spend time in the field and in an office setting, as staff regularly conduct site visits, collect and analyze fisheries data, and assist in the implementation of conservation projects.

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.

Qualifications:

• General knowledge of cold water fisheries biology
• General knowledge of conservation techniques and best management practices in agricultural settings
• Project or Program Management experience
• Supervisory Experience
• Stream habitat assessment and restoration experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Enjoy working in a collaborative environment
• Ability to foster relationships with agricultural producers and partners
• Ability and willingness to travel to remote project locations with a valid driver’s license.
• Experience with grant writing and management
• Strong leadership skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Self-motivated and highly energetic, with excellent time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously

Additional Preferred Skills:

• Experience with federal Farm Bill financial assistance programs (EQIP, CREP, CSP, etc.)
• General knowledge of NRCS Practices and Standards (Alternative water, riparian buffers, rotational grazing, etc.)
• Passion for the outdoors
• ARC GIS
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively to achieve a conservation mission