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Associate Director, California Headwaters Conservation – American Rivers
Nevada City, California
The Associate Director of California Headwaters Conservation will help American Rivers develop and implement innovative and inspiring projects that protect and restore source watersheds in the Sierra Nevada to increase climate and water supply resilience, support natural biodiversity, and benefit local and downstream communities. The Associate Director will join a team that works at multiple levels to achieve tangible results and scale impact. Our approach is to implement on-the-ground projects that catalyze partnerships and policies to achieve river conservation at the regional and state-wide scales. The Associate Director will develop and oversee a range of headwaters projects, including restoring mountain meadows and streams, improving forest health and roads to protect rivers, and other conservation efforts in the California Region. There will also be opportunities to engage in watershed and regional-scale collaboratives, like the Sierra Meadows Partnership.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Manage river restoration projects. This will include managing subcontractors and project budgets, coordinating partners, reporting to agencies and funders, developing restoration designs with subcontractors, completing permits, overseeing construction, leading outreach activities, and identifying opportunities to scale successes.
- Identify and develop restoration projects that build capacity, accelerate progress, engage new partners, and expand the impact of the river conservation field.
- Troubleshoot restoration project hurdles and identify and implement broadly applicable solutions that advance the restoration field.
- Collaborate with state and federal agencies, Native American tribes and tribal organizations, non-profit partners, and private interests to accelerate restoration and improve watershed management policies and practices in California.
- Monitor project outcomes. Develop appropriate monitoring plans and collect and analyze data on restoration project performance.
- Communicate successes and lessons learned to diverse audiences, including state and federal decision-makers, corporate and foundation funders, rural landowners, and others.
- Contribute to project and program development. Support the development and writing of proposals for existing projects as well as new innovative and catalytic projects.
- Participate in California and headwaters program strategic planning, including authentic incorporation of DEIJ. Strive to improve the existing programs and identify new opportunities.
- Conduct outreach activities and help develop media that builds awareness about American Rivers and the value of healthy rivers to communities, funders, and decision-makers.
- Represent American Rivers at conferences, press events, and other public events.
Application review will begin on May 31, 2023, and the position will be filled as soon as possible thereafter. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter that describes how their experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications described above at this link. No phone calls, please.
Full-time and full-time equivalent employee benefits include health, dental, and life insurance, a retirement plan, and generous leave time. Anticipated salary range is $60,000 to $67,000, commensurate with skills and experience.
