Regional Job Board

Monitoring Coordinator – Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA)

Central Sierra Nevada Region

Background:

The Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA) is a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) comprised of six water agencies and the counties of Amador, Calaveras and Alpine. The Authority is engaged in the stewardship of the Upper Mokelumne’s natural resources, with a mission of developing partnerships, formulate plans, execute projects, and leverage federal and state investments for widespread regional benefit. UMRWA serves as lead partner for forest project planning and contracting fuel reduction and restoration projects within the two National Forests that span the watershed, including the Eldorado and Stanislaus National Forests.

The Mokelumne Amador Calaveras Forest Health & Resilience Project (MAC) is a collaborative multi-phased, large landscape forest health effort between UMRWA, with the U.S. Forest Service and the Amador Calaveras Consensus Group (ACCG)—a community-based local collaborative that works to create healthy forests and watersheds, fire-safe communities, and sustainable local economies. UMRWA led the January 2023 completion of Phase 1 which addresses immediate fuels reduction treatments on more than 26,000 acres, and is leading Phase 2 of the process to formulate a plan and associated NEPA/CEQA to achieve sustainable and resilient forests on approximately 250,000 acres within the two the National Forests.

The MAC team is currently embarking on developing and executing a long-term monitoring program (10 years) for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, in collaboration with the ACCG’s Monitoring Work Group. The Monitoring Group is a collaborative multi-party effort to provide ecological, economic, and social monitoring oversight to meet the objectives of the ACCG, and translate the benefits and lessons learned from restoration efforts to future management activities.

In addition to the development and execution of the MAC long-term monitoring program, the ACCG Monitoring Group has also identified several needs, gaps related to continued implementation of ACCG’s monitoring efforts, gathering and processing of long-term ACCG monitoring data, reviewing, modifying their current Monitoring Strategy, and assistance with managing the work group.

The ACCG Monitoring Coordinator will report to the Project Manager at UMWRA and will perform tasks under the direction of the ACCG Monitoring Work Group and the MAC Project team and in coordination with field supervisors and field technicians and data management staff, when funding becomes available. This would be a 2-year, part-time (approximately 40 hours per month, will vary) contracted position with UMRWA. Pay is competitive and based on experience.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Monitoring Programs and Strategy Development: Lead the development of the initial execution of the MAC Monitoring Program and Strategy. Lead continued execution of the ACCG Monitoring Program, including efforts to update the current strategy, incorporating funding of the ACCG Monitoring Groups into long term monitoring efforts.
• Monitoring Funding Plan Development: Lead development of long-term funding plan to maintain MAC monitoring program.
• Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting: Facilitate gathering of long term ACCG monitoring data. Participate in data entry, record keeping, data sharing, and report writing tasks and activities in the pursuit of finalizing ACCG monitoring data collected to date.
• Field Coordination and Project Management: Assist in developing and implementing ACCG Work Group monitoring projects to meet program goals and objectives in collaboration with contractors. Develop and oversee the implementation of standardized field protocols. Develop and coordinate monitoring schedules and communication with staff and other participating entities.
• Administrative Support: Assist with work group management. Attend and facilitate monthly 2-hr ACCG Monitoring Work Group meetings. Develop meeting summaries for reporting to the ACCG collaborative. Maintain the Monitoring Work Group webpage.
• Program Outreach: Occasionally participate in other workgroups, and/or technical user group meetings as well as ACCG general meetings. Development of tools to disseminate information to the team and the public (e.g., AGOL tools).
• Additional task may be included depending on funding, guidance from the Monitoring work group or based on input from funders.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS in natural resources management, ecology, biology, or related field;
• One to two years of relevant work experience;
• Knowledge of ecology and fieldwork, including vegetation monitoring;
• Proficient with data evaluation and analysis, including experience with detailed database management using Excel, Access, and data visualization tools such as AGOL Experience Builder;
• Excellent project management, time management, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Must be detail-oriented and able to manage projects and responsibilities with varying requirements and timelines;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS in natural resources management, ecology, biology, or related field;
• Three to five years of relevant work experience;
• Knowledge and experience conducting statistical analyses of environmental data;
• Experience in the technical areas of monitoring in the Sierra Nevada;
• Experience coordinating teams and facilitating meetings;
• Knowledge of the Central Sierra region and watersheds.
• Additional skills related to fieldwork and crew supervision would be preferred if funding leads to in field monitoring;
  • Experience with fieldwork in inclement conditions with a strong focus on safety protocols;
  • Ability to adapt and troubleshoot in the field;
  • Ability to walk/hike and work outside in all types of weather, able to carry 20-50 lbs. of equipment over rough terrain to remote field sites;
  • Ability to supervise field crews composing of a crew lead and one to two crew members.

Work Environment:

This is a fully remote position. However, you’ll occasionally be expected to participate in inperson meetings and to perform field work, as needed.

Learn More:

Visit UMRWA’s website (https://www.umrwa.org/) to learn more. For more information about the ACCG, visit the collaborative’s website (https://acconsensus.org/), including the ACCG Monitoring Program webpage (https://acconsensus.org/monitoring/).

To apply submit cover letter and resume, including three professional references, or portfolio to the UMRWA Project Manager (megan.layhee1@gmail.com). Initial review of applications will begin on October 16th, 2024. This position is open until filled.

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