Posting Date: September 23, 2022

Closing Date: Open until filled; Next review begins October 14, 2022

Skagit Fisheries is looking for a passionate and skilled individual to lead our Habitat Programs as our Restoration Ecologist. This position leads a talented team of habitat restoration specialists with the goal of improving salmon populations in the Skagit watershed. We are seeking a dynamic individual to continue our successful 30-year history of working with our community to develop and implement habitat restoration projects with a wide variety of partners and landowners.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Restoration Ecologist is a full-time position with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) responsible for assessing salmon habitat, planning and designing restoration projects with partners, managing project construction, and monitoring completed projects primarily in the Skagit and Samish River watersheds. This position requires excellent communication and organization skills because many projects are in progress at the same time, are at different stages of completion, and demand multiple tasks. The Restoration Ecologist’s primary task is to plan, design, acquire funds, and construct more complex projects such as re-connecting river side channels and estuary restoration. The Restoration Ecologist also oversees the restoration program, and riparian restoration and fish passage improvement projects being implemented by staff they supervise. The position is supervised by the Executive Director and supervises a team of 3-5 habitat program staff members. Funding for this position will be largely dependent upon the incumbent’s ability to generate project funds by writing successful grant proposals.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Restoration Ecologist is an applied scientist responsible for managing large scale, complex salmon restoration projects from beginning to end (completing assessments such as feasibility studies, plans, and designs; obtaining permits and funds; managing project implementation (scope, schedule, and budget); and managing monitoring from design to data collection, analysis, and reporting) of salmon, steelhead, and other anadromous fish restoration projects. The current emphasis is on Chinook recovery in the mainstem Skagit River using the approved Chinook Recovery Plan, but future efforts may involve other threatened species or species of concern. The incumbent works collaboratively with landowners and partner agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations to identify and develop salmon habitat restoration projects. This individual has the scientific knowledge, skills, and abilities to assess the current environmental circumstances and design feasible projects to restore natural habitat structure and function from riverine to estuarine habitats. The individual demonstrates a thorough knowledge of salmonid life histories and associated ecological requirements. The incumbent’s application and subsequent interview demonstrates the superb oral and written communication skills that are necessary to successfully acquire restoration project partners and funding. The incumbent is also a capable manager, supervising 3-5 staff members, as well as project implementation and effectiveness monitoring through subcontractors, habitat program staff, and volunteers.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION:

  1. Possesses a Master’s Degree in ecology, conservation biology, fisheries biology, or closely related fields such geomorphology, hydrology, and estuarine/nearshore systems;
  2. Has at least two years work experience demonstrating a scientific knowledge of salmon life histories and their ecological requirements;
  3. At least 2 years experience managing projects, contracts and staff responsible for implementing restoration

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Demonstrates management skills and work experience in successfully completing salmon restoration projects from beginning to end: habitat assessment; research; feasibility studies; design and engineering; permitting; project construction; and project effectiveness monitoring;
  • Has contract and construction management experience;
  • Ability to supervise a staff of 3-5 employees directly or indirectly, including organizing work, setting priorities, work planning, providing appropriate training, providing for employee safety, reviewing accomplishments, completing performance reviews, resolving disciplinary problems and grievances and other supervisor duties
  • Has excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  • Has experience fulfilling environmental permit requirements by submitting the necessary application(s), facilitating them through the permitting process, and securing the permits in a timely manner;
  • Demonstrates the ability to be fiscally responsible by preparing budgets, working within them, and completing progress reports in an accurate and timely manner;
  • Has experience with word processing, database, geographic information system, and spreadsheet computer software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Project); and
  • Has the ability to work as a management level team player and to supervise habitat program

Scientific Knowledge:

  • Has a thorough knowledge of salmonid life histories and associated ecological requirements;
  • Has a knowledge of geomorphology, hydrology, and / or estuarine systems;
  • Can accurately interpret research reports and data to order to apply this knowledge to proposed restoration projects;
  • Is proficient with interpreting topography maps and aerial photography, and possesses a working knowledge of GPS and GIS;
  • Develops creative ideas and project designs to improve conservation strategies; and
  • Analyzes situations, evaluates alternatives for resolving complex ecological problems, and plans, designs, and implements solutions;
  • Knowledge of the necessary project engineering and permitting requirements; and
  • Works with project partners to design effectiveness monitoring of large-scale salmon restoration projects, and supervises their implementation, data analysis, and

Project Management and Decision-Making:

  • Prepares, markets, and manages grant applications and contracts;
  • Consults with the Executive Director and coordinates with the Restoration Program Managers and Coordinators; and
  • Provides staff support and leadership to the Habitat Committee

Supervision:

  • Clearly communicates scheduling expectations to Restoration Program Managers and Coordinators; convenes formal quarterly planning meetings with Restoration program staff and meets informally as needed to ensure contractual and permit deadlines are met;
  • Identifies training needs with habitat staff and seeks training opportunities;
  • Mentors habitat program staff and interns to create a capable and diverse staff;
  • Has the ability to work as a management level team player and to supervise and mentor interns and volunteers
  • Encourages habitat program staff to offer suggestions and feedback;
  • Ensures the efficient use of staff;
  • Compliments habitat program staff, offers constructive criticism, and conducts annual evaluations;
  • Approves vacation requests, timesheets, reimbursement requests and other

Financial Management:

  • Writes grant applications, markets and tracks their progress, and manages the acquired funds;
  • Works cooperatively with Executive Director and Finance Manager to ensure that the monetary requirements of grants and projects are fulfilled in an accurate and timely manner;
  • Develops annual Restoration program budget including projected expenses, staffing, contract and equipment
  • Negotiates and contracts with partners and subcontractors; and
  • Complies with all SFEG purchasing policies and
  • Proficient with computers and the use of Microsoft Office

Communications and Interpersonal Contacts:

  • Attracts partners and coordinates projects with lead entities and other project stakeholders;
  • Provides advice on technology and training needs to keep the SFEG staff up-to-date;
  • Documents and prepares monthly reports on project activities for the Executive Director and Board of Directors;
  • Works with the Outreach Manager to support the SFEG community education program and gain strong public support for the long term recovery of salmonid species;
  • Works with Outreach Manager to match volunteer opportunities with projects;
  • Oversees the coordination of volunteers and interns with habitat coordinators;
  • Strong ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary
  • Ability and willingness to follow direction and take initiative while maintaining a positive
  • Performs other tasks as directed by the Executive

REQUIRED LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid Washington State Driver’s License
  • As per SFEG’s personnel policies, SFEG will conduct a background check on any volunteers or employees who will work with children and other vulnerable populations
  • SFEG is a fully vaccinated employer, so the successful candidate must show documentation of full vaccination against COVID-19 before beginning Reasonable

accommodation may be made for medical or religious reasons.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.):

  • Able to perform physically demanding work, outdoors, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain in all types of
  • Frequently required to work in or cross streams and rivers with calm to moderate currents and depths of up to several
  • Indoor office work requires sitting at a desk and computer for several hours or attending meetings
  • Ability to operate four-wheel drive

DESIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES FOR POSITION:

The following qualifications are preferred/helpful for an employee who has these skills/knowledge or abilities for this position.

  • CPR and First Aid Certified preferred; if current certification is lacking, must demonstrate ability to obtain certification within 6 months of
  • Certificate in Project or Construction Management

SFEG provides equal opportunity for employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, sensory, physical or mental disability, veteran status, protected genetic information or any other status protected under state or federal law.

 

Position Title:            Restoration Ecologist

Supervised By:            Executive Director

Supervises:                 Riparian Restoration Manager, Stewardship Coordinator and Habitat Restoration Coordinator

Classification:            Regular Full-Time, Exempt

Work Schedule:           Generally works four 10 hour days (Monday through Thursday) with flexibility to work some remotely from home, as well as flexibility to work 8 hour days (Monday-Friday).

Pay Range:                 $63,000-$85,000 (DOE, depending on qualifications and experience) plus benefits (medical, vision, retirement, vacation (3 weeks to start), sick and holiday pay)

 

TO APPLY:

A complete application includes: a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional reference contacts.

Send application materials to:

EMAIL-preferred (as one pdf document) to: astudley@skagitfisheries.org with Subject Line: Restoration Ecologist position

This position is open until filled. Review of applications will begin October 14, 2022

For more information please visit www.skagitfisheries.org or contact Alison Studley at 360-336- 0172 x300 or astudley@skagitfisheries.org