Title: Restoration Program Manager
Reports to: Restoration Director
Location: Olympia, Oregon
Position: Full-time, exempt; salaried with benefits (health, dental, vision)
Compensation: $66,310.40 – $72,946 / Yr.
Period: Permanent

OVERVIEW SUMMARY
The Restoration Program Manager will work to conserve the rare prairie, oak and aquatic habitats of the Pacific Northwest with an emphasis on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the South Puget Sound region. This position will focus primarily on managing lands that support regional conservation goals. This integrated cooperative program will work closely with Ecostudies’s avian conservation, prescribed fire, partnerships and science programs as well as multiple partners in the regions (e.g., Department of Defense, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife). Responsibilities include: developing, planning, implementing, and coordinating multiple ongoing restoration projects involving habitat enhancement, invasive species treatments and fire management. This position will be based in Olympia, WA. This position could be hired at the Project Manager level with opportunities to advance.

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 range-wide conservation approaches. We maintain an office in Olympia, Washington with a permanent and seasonal staff of over 30 individuals.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Support and coordinate collaborative planning efforts that integrate priorities across multiple project areas (species, habitats, etc.).
• Provide oversight and leadership for restoration staff and support scheduling, logistics and implementation.
• Oversee and manage budgets and cooperative agreement deliverable tracking and provide timely progress reports.
• Identify gaps in technical knowledge and direct resources to investigate new techniques and refine knowledge of habitats and their response to management.
• Initiate and administer service contracts, ensuring contract compliance and fulfillment of deliverables.
• Communicate successes and lessons learned to partners, staff and the public through written reports, presentations and other methods. Suitable results should also be communicated through published reports or other appropriate means.
• Provide a variety of information to staff and others, contributing to conservation projects and assisting workflow throughout the organization.
• Interacts with preserve visitors, conveys basic preserve information and leads field trips
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information.
• Conduct on the ground field-work including herbicide application, seeding, and vegetation monitoring Hold commercial pesticide operator license.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• B.A./B.S Degree (M.S. preferred) in science-related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum six years’ experience and/or education related to ecological restoration and at least one year’s experience in program management, including planning, staffing, reporting, and budgets.
• Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems; ability to recognize plant and animal species as required to complete management activities. Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation
• Background in managing complex budgets to support project implementation
• Familiarity with federal grants
• Demonstrated competence managing complex collaborative projects, balancing priorities and providing leadership to integrated teams across multiple project areas.
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; ESRI-ArcGIS, Word, Excel, etc.)
• Understand principles of effective communication in support of effective teams and partnerships
• Strong foundation in program safety
• Background and interest in ecological fire management.

COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING/DISCRETION IN DECISION MAKING
● Coordinates multiple projects with several variables, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes.
● Interprets guidelines, evaluates information and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances.
● Compiles data, resolves disparities and modifies processes to generate plans.
● Resolves complex issues independently, consulting and engaging support from partners, staff and supervisor to develop plans for resolution as needed.
● Cultivates and develops creative ideas to improve program strategies.
● Promotes proactive dialog with partners to reach collaborative agreements to address complex challenges.
● Assures program accountability and regulatory compliance.
● Manages multi-disciplinary teams with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
● Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the program while controlling costs and administering budgets.

WORKING CONDITIONS
● Regularly works indoors in an office setting, as well as outdoors in natural and wildland areas. Frequently visits natural lands and other areas – hikes across uneven ground and conducts work within native habitats, including those accessed by boat/ferry. Field work is performed in all weather conditions and often in rough terrain.
● Works in conditions involving pesticides or prescribed fires.
● Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
● Responsible for some evenings and weekends including travel.

OTHER:
● Full vaccination for Covid-19 is required for employment at Ecostudies Institute.

HOW TO APPLY
See the webpage for a full Position Description: https://ecoinst.org/about-us/work-with-us/

Qualified applicants should provide a detailed letter of interest, current résumé or curriculum vitae, and three professional references (names, affiliations, and contact information only).

Application package should be combined into one file.

All applications will be acknowledged.

Email these materials to: mmckinley@ecoinst.org, with Restoration Program Manager Application in the subject line

Ecostudies Institute is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of suitability 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.