Salmon Habitat/Fish Passage Project Manager

Reports To: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Restoration and Culvert Assessment Technicians, Interns, Volunteers

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

Compensation: $28-$36 per hour (DOQ), plus medical, dental, vision, life insurance,

3% Retirement match, 12 holidays, and 3 weeks paid time off years 1 and 2, and 4 weeks years 3+

Work Location: Primarily Snohomish County, Occasionally South Island County and NE King

Position Summary:

We are seeking a motivated, positive, and collaborative person to identify and implement new stream restoration projects from start to completion in the Snohomish and Stillaguamish River Watersheds and the South Island County Watershed. This new position at Sound Salmon Solutions will manage projects such as fish passage assessment and construction, nutrient enhancement, and mainstream, side-channel, and riparian restoration projects. The selected candidate will be responsible for carrying out all aspects of habitat restoration by identifying new opportunities, writing grants and permit applications, supervising technicians, coordinating the procurement of materials, equipment, and contractors, and monitoring and reporting as well as overseeing some existing riparian projects.

Project Manager Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identify, develop, and pursue funding for salmon habitat restoration projects.

• Manage the design of restoration projects – coordinate with stakeholders, regulatory personnel, engineers, and other technical disciplines. Review designs and ensure compliance with stakeholder and resource objectives.

• Implement the techniques and principles of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration whenever possible.

• Develop and manage project timelines and budgets in cooperation with the Executive Director, staff, and Board. Ensure projects are on schedule and within budget.

• Grant management and reporting.

• Supervision of culvert assessment technicians, restoration technicians, interns, and volunteers

• Develop scopes of work, conduct competitive bid processes, execute contracts, and supervise subcontractors (engineers, construction contractors, etc.).

• Construction management and inspection.

• Acquire all necessary regulatory permits, landowner agreements, utility access, etc.

• Coordinate fish removals and other project elements with state and federal permits.

• Coordinate (gather agenda items, set meeting dates, take notes) facilitate, and attend meetings of partners and stakeholders.

Administrative Duties & Responsibilities:

• Track billable hours, miles traveled, purchases, and other items and report regularly to the finance manager and funding entities.

• Assist the Financial Manager by providing grant reporting required for invoicing.

• Participate in Staff meetings and outreach events. Participate in board meetings as needed.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of the riverine environment as it relates to native fish and their habitat requirements.

• Experience with techniques and principles of fish habitat restoration and Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration.

• Experience collecting and evaluating ground and surface water information.

• Experience writing and managing salmon habitat restoration grants.

• Experience with ArcGIS Pro.

• Ability to effectively communicate and cooperate with stakeholders including private landowners.

• Experience managing professional service, construction, and associated contracts.

• Ability to develop and track project budgets and schedules.

• Experience with local, state, and federal permitting processes.

• Proficiency in written and oral communication with diverse audiences.

• Ability to work effectively alone and in a collaborative environment.

Education/Experience Required:

A bachelor’s degree in fisheries, natural resources, construction management, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, engineering, or a similar degree, and a minimum of two years of work experience that closely resembles the duties and responsibilities of this position.

Special Requirements:

A valid Washington State driver’s license. A valid First Aid and CPR Certification is preferred and is required if supervising interns or volunteers. (We will arrange class and testing if needed.) A Washington State Patrol background check is required for all personnel working directly with children.

Working Conditions:

Sound Salmon Solutions’ main office is in downtown Mukilteo, WA; however, staff are working hybrid. Remote work could be an option; however, this position is expected to meet frequently with Sound Salmon Solutions staff, project partners, and landowners in our service area. Much of the work is spent on the computer and phone coordinating stakeholders and resources necessary to advance habitat restoration projects. During the field season, from May to October, Project Managers are typically in the field three to five days per week. Work is performed outdoors, in inclement weather, and around dangerous construction equipment. Some projects are in remote and rugged terrain with limited to no cell phone service. This position is expected to be capable of walking small streams, planting trees, and doing physical labor associated with restoration activities.

To Apply:

Please send an electronic version of your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Mary Brueggeman at mary@soundsalmonsolutions.org.

Fish Passage Outreach Coordinator

Position Title: Fish Passage Outreach Coordinator

Supervised By: Habitat Project Manager

Classification: Full-Time, Non-permanent, Non-Exempt (hourly) 

Anticipated End Date: August 2028, with possibility of extension based on available funding 

Work Schedule: Four 10-hour days (Monday through Thursday) or five 8-hour days, negotiable, based on project needs.

Pay Range: $21.00 to $23.00 per hour, depending on experience, plus employer-provided health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, PTO, paid holidays, a 403(b)-retirement plan. (If you elect to decline medical benefits, your rate of pay will increase by $1.00 per hour; i.e., the pay range would be $22.00 to $24.00 per hour).

Position Summary:

The Fish Passage Outreach Coordinator conducts outreach to and coordinates site visits with landowners. Additionally, the coordinator works closely with the Habitat Project Manager to schedule and oversee the work of the Fish Passage Assessment Technicians. This position also maintains the SSS inventory dataset and partner coordination dataset and assists the Fish Passage Field Lead with fish passage field assessments as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct initial outreach to landowners through letter mailers, door-to-door visits, email, and by phone to determine their willingness to enable site access for fish passage assessments on their property.

• Maintain fish passage outreach materials for distribution to landowners during project outreach activities and at community events.

• Under the direction of the Habitat Project Manager, represent SSS with landowners, partners, and volunteers on behalf of the Habitat Project Manager when they are unable to meet.

• Delegate day-to-day operations of the Fish Passage Technicians as directed by the Habitat Project Manager, such as assigning individual culverts for assessment, identifying relevant site features (e.g., parking, hazards), and reviewing site reports with technicians.

• Meet with the Fish Passage Field Lead and Habitat Project Manager weekly or as needed to discuss project scheduling and deliverable expectations for the Fish Passage Crew to ensure work completion is on schedule and within budget.

• Meet with the Habitat Project Coordinator regularly to discuss restoration crew scheduling.

• Assist the Habitat Project Manager with ensuring that landowners and partners are contacted within an adequate time frame, following the Landowner Agreements and contracts, before mobilizing the Fish Passage Crew.

• Participate as needed in fish passage assessments in the field to standardize data collection procedures, including Level A and B data collection and habitat surveys.

• Maintain the FP Tulalip Inventory Map to reserve assessment sites within the designated project area and identify unmapped culverts using LiDAR imagery.

• Maintain the internal SSS Fish Passage map and mobile data collection forms on Field Maps Designer.

• Conduct QA/QC inspections of data collected on the SSS Fish Passage Tulalip Inventory Map forms to ensure consistency with WDFW and the Tulalip Tribes standards, and submit inspected data to Survey 123.

• Analyze Level B data as needed using WDFW Fish Passage Level B Protocol: Qfp, StreamStats, and FishXing.

• Maintains data collection records necessary for Tulalip Tribes and WDFW reporting.  

• Help the Fish Passage Crew with timesheets, ensuring they know the correct billing codes before the Habitat Project Manager reviews and approves them before payroll deadlines. 

• Follow SSS purchasing guidelines to obtain equipment and materials required to complete fish passage work. Work with crews to mobilize materials to worksites.

• Oversee the application of equipment, ensuring all laws and rules are followed by SSS staff and crews.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, environmental sciences, natural resources, or a similar field. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field paired with applicable natural resources experience will be accepted. Four years of relevant work experience may substitute for a Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed.

• At least 2 years of relevant working experience, including demonstrated landowner outreach experience. 

• A valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both in verbal and written formats.

• Experience directing complex public outreach campaigns, including managing landowner databases, communicating with landowners, and creating and deploying outreach materials.

• Proficient with computers, including the use of Microsoft Office (Word/Excel), ESRI ArcGIS, and Google Workspace software.

• Experience overseeing and providing leadership to field crews.

• Ability to effectively communicate with project partners and contractors.

• Knowledge of WDFW Fish Passage Inventory, Assessment, and Prioritization Manual (2019) protocols.

• Experience using field survey equipment such as ArcGIS Field Maps, laser survey equipment, digital cameras, GPS, clinometers, compasses, and stream morphology measuring tools.

• Experience conducting data collection and Level B data analysis techniques in barrier determination of human-made in-stream water features.

• Ability to interpret aerial imagery and topographic maps to identify relevant features, and to navigate using available resources and accurately measure features on maps.

• Skilled in safely operating hand and power tools such as hedge trimmers and hand snips.  

Able to maintain/complete minor field repairs.

• Comfortable working around heavy equipment such as excavators and tractors.

• Ability to operate a four-wheel drive truck. 

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):

• Ability to work (usually sitting) for long periods of time in an office environment.

• Frequently required to work in or cross streams and rivers with calm to moderate currents and depths of up to several feet.

• Able to perform physically demanding work, in the outdoors, at remote locations, on difficult terrain in all types of weather.

• Must be able to lift 40 lbs. into and out of trucks.

• Walk up to 5-miles over steep or uneven terrain.

To Apply:

Please send an electronic version of your resume, cover letter, and three professional references with “Your Name – Outreach Coordinator” as the subject line via e-mail to Matt Distler, Senior Habitat Project Manager at matt@soundsalmonsolutions.org.