Local recruitment: River Project Manager

Position Title: River Project Manager Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt, Salaried Reports To: River Program Director

Office Location: 1225 Ken Pratt Boulevard, Suite 232, Longmont CO 80501

Salary Range: Project Manager ($47,000 to $80,000)

General Description

Under the general direction of the River Program Director, this position serves as the Project Manager for The Watershed Center’s River Program. The Project Manager’s main responsibilities include (1) watershed science, including monitoring, statistical analysis, and reporting and (2) managing planning, design, and implementation of river restoration projects. Responsibilities may also include organizational or cross-program support, education and outreach, and supervising program staff and volunteers, as assigned by the River Program Director or the Executive Director. The position will require excellent communication, technical watershed science skills, data analysis skills, interpersonal skills, and project management skills.

Supervision Received and Exercised

The Project Manager shall work under the general direction of the River Program Director in carrying out the activities and functions of The Watershed Center. This position may also supervise The Watershed Center employees or volunteers.

Examples of Duties

Primary duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as Project Manager of river restoration and river program projects and maintains responsibility for project procurement, outreach, planning, progress, and execution. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Managing, implementing, and/or overseeing the procurement process to ensure compliance with Watershed Center’s procurement policy and grant and/or funder compliance.
  • Ensuring compliance with the grant requirements, applicable laws, and permit requirements (as necessary).
  • Managing, implementing, and/or overseeing and implementing any necessary outreach activities, partner communications, and landowner communication;
  • Managing and/or overseeing consultant or contractor activities to ensure compliance with contract and scope of work.
  • Managing and/or overseeing technical experts, as needed, to ensure contractor’s work products meet technical expectations outlined in the scope of work.
  • Serving as a technical advisor on projects by providing direction and review to consultants and stakeholders on topics including but not limited to: process-

based river restoration, mines, water quality, revegetation, beaver, and Prebles meadow jumping mouse.

• Serves as a lead scientist/ecologist for river program and manage all aspects of the river monitoring program (including long-term andproject-specific monitoring) and research.
  • Organizing and maintaining databases and collaborative monitoring maps.
  • Implementing database management and data analysis standard operating procedures.
  • Leading statistical analysis and interpretation of large/complex datasets such as 10+ year water quality monitoring.
  • Obtaining, tracking, and ensuring compliance of monitoring permits and access permissions for monitoring/research activities on public and private lands.
  • Managing and tracking field work needs and logistics including budgeting and scheduling in coordination with grant budgets and program capacity.
  • Procuring, managing and/or overseeing field consultant activities to ensure compliance with contract and scope of work.
  • Managing and training field staff, volunteers, and contractors in accordance with standard operating procedures for all field monitoring/research activities including, but not limited to: water quality, floodplain connectivity (via drone imagery); instream habitat, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, riparian vegetation, soil carbon, and sediment.
  • Maintaining and developing new collaborative monitoring efforts by engaging with partners and working groups to identify priorities through organized meetings.
  • Developing scientific reports, including maps and visualizations, that incorporate partner feedback for both practitioner and community audiences.
  • Supporting community outreach and education related to watershed science or related topics.
• Supports strategy and performance of River Program. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Supporting development of program objectives and ensures that the program meets objectives identified in annual work plan.
  • Developing and/or executing program plans such as strategic plans, adaptive management plans, evaluation plans, monitoring plans, communication plans, outreach plans, restoration plans, stewardship plans, and/or fundraising plans.
  • Supporting management of program expenditures and reporting in accordance with the program budget and reporting requirements.
  • Developing, maintaining, and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with organizations, governments, agencies, and individuals affiliated with our work.
  • Developing and supporting grant and/or funding requests by actively pursuing grant and/or funding opportunities and writing grants and/or funding requests.
• Leads or supports outreach and education events such as preparing and attending teaching days, community events, and outreach presentations.

• Represents The Watershed Center at conferences, public events, and meetings.
• Contributes to and/or edit organizational reports and presentations.
• Carrys out administration tasks and day-to-day management activities.
• Other tasks as assigned by the River Program Director or Executive Director.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree and five or more years’ experience working in a professional environment or equivalent.
• Natural resource, process-based river restoration, river science/ecology, restoration ecology, water quality, or watershed science background.
• Technical and demonstrated experience with watershed and river concepts.
• Excellent skills in interpersonal relationships, organizational effectiveness, and community outreach.
• Experience working with people with diverse and sometimes conflicting opinions.
• Ability and willingness to work in outdoor conditions and travel to project and field sites.
• Experience with project management, grant compliance, and overseeing consultants.
• Well organized, self-starter, detail-oriented, and adaptable with the ability to manage both routine and complex tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work well in a flexible and collaborative team environment.
• Excellent writing, presentation, outreach, marketing, and public relations skills.
• Ability to work independently, establish work priorities and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Word and Excel, and data analysis and mapping tools such as R, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS online, as well as ability to learn new computer applications.
• A valid Colorado Driver’s License and ability to pass background check including a good driving record.
• Must have own vehicle, mileage reimbursement available.

Working Conditions

Work is performed inside and outside both day and night, under varying and extreme weather conditions, and could include frequent driving of employee’s personal vehicle. Field conditions will include steep, unstable terrain, proximity to fast-moving water, proximity to highway traffic, and typical conditions associated with travel in the foothills and plains of the Rocky Mountain region. Work may include working weekends. Work includes but is not limited to exposure to sun, noise, dust, fumes, smoke, gases, and oils, moving vehicles, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, bending, stooping, squatting, crawling, kneeling, pulling, pushing, reaching overhead and above shoulders, use of both hand and fingers, climbing stairs and ladders, walking, standing, and sitting for extended periods of time. Coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and body is needed. Must have correctable near and far vision, ability to hear, speak, and write.

Work also includes the ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, and the ability to utilize communication equipment.

It is the policy of the Watershed Center to provide equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, expression, age, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital status, disability, religion, military status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law in any of its activities or operations.

Salary and Position Details:

The Watershed Center is offering a full-time salaried position. This position is funded for through 12/31/2026, but it may be extended based on funding availability and the organization’s needs. Please note that candidates should not expect to be toward the top of the salary range unless they bring exceptional experience and qualifications. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Generous paid vacation (nine paid holidays, two discretionary holidays, and paid office closure between 12/24 and 1/1 each year)
• 12 days of health leave per year
• 3% company match on an IRA
• Outstanding health insurance (medical, vision, and dental) fully covered by The Watershed Center for the employee, with 55% coverage provided for dependents

The position will be based at The Watershed Center office, located at 1225 Ken Pratt Blvd., Suite 232, Longmont, CO 80501.

How to Apply

Please email your cover letter and resume combined into a single PDF labeled: “Lastname_Firstname_RiverProjectManager” to: applywatershedcenter@gmail.com with the subject line “River Project Manager Application.” The cover letter should clearly demonstrate the applicants’ ability to fulfill the stated duties and meet the qualifications of the position.

Review of applications will be on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. The Watershed Center reserves the right to modify this timeline as needed.