Local recruitment: Watershed Ecologist

Clinton River Watershed Council

Rochester Hills, MI, USA 🇺🇸

Title: Watershed Ecologist

Full-time/Exempt

Reports To: Executive Director

**If applying using form below, please be sure to include cover letter and transcript (official or unofficial) in attachments.

About the Organization:

Located in Rochester Hills, MI and serving the entirety of the Clinton River watershed, the Clinton River Watershed Council’s mission is to protect, enhance, and celebrate the Clinton River, its watershed, and Lake St. Clair for the benefit of communities, the environment, and our future. For 50 years, CRWC has worked to improve watershed management practices alongside local municipalities, provide educational programming for communities and children of all ages, and work to restore and enhance the Clinton River to become a place folks want to work, live and play.


POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Watershed Ecologist is responsible for leading the organization’s ecological and biological project work, including facilitating project development and implementation needs through partnership building, data collection, and field research. The Watershed Ecologist utilizes their expertise in ecological restoration to foster project development with local and regional partners across the watershed and serves as the public facing representative of CRWC’s ecological expertise. This includes building and maintaining strong relationships with partner organizations, agency staff, volunteers, and academic partners as well as contributing to communications, events, and interactions with the public and partner communities. The Watershed Ecologist works with partners to design, implement and manage ecological riparian restoration projects throughout the watershed. The position is responsible for grant prospecting, writing, reporting, and management related to all ecological restoration work. The Watershed Ecologist leads the ecological restoration team, including supervising the Environmental Scientist and summer intern positions, working closely with volunteers on a consistent basis, supporting the scientific needs of CRWC programming where appropriate, and leading the Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Partnership.

The Watershed Ecologist will be a part of the staff team at CRWC working to uphold the organization’s mission and will be expected to function as a collaborative team member, including contributing to organization events and team needs as they arise; production of high-quality work in a timely fashion; courteous, service-oriented behavior towards volunteers, partners, and coworkers at all times; and ability to work collaboratively with partners and colleagues.

Primary duties include:

Ecological Applications and Assessment

  • Manage and coordinate CRWC’s Ecological Application and Assessment Program which includes developing project ideas, assessing and prioritizing restoration projects, implementing all field work, and ensuring completion of stream habitat assessments, restoration and design, green infrastructure, stream geomorphic surveys, woody debris management, ecological data management and evaluating the impact of projects. This will include:
    • Assessment and prioritization may include road/stream crossings, small dams, erosion sites, invasive species, stormwater management and others;
    • Provide on-site construction oversight and observation of field crews, construction contractors and volunteers as needed;
    • Coordinate and assist member communities through education offering technical assistance to meet their needs for stream ecology and bioengineering;
    • Provide technical support to the CRWC Watershed Planner and other staff for native plantings, restorations and other green infrastructure projects;
    • Produce technical documents including restoration plans, project reports and outreach articles; and,
    • Secure environmental permits on occasion and assist with scientific experiments.

Partnership Building

  • Build and maintain critical partnerships with state, local, and federal project partners within the watershed including identifying and leading project objectives, timelines, surmounting obstacles and generating new ideas where appropriate.

Scientific and Volunteer Program Leadership

  • Coordinate Adopt-A-Stream volunteer science research, data and training; and,
  • Coordinate CRWC’s Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Projects through education and stewardship activities, public forums, workshops, conferences, presentations and recreation activities.

Fundraising and Scientific Leadership

  • Responsible for grant project development, writing, management and reporting;
  • Assist CRWC staff in the promotion and coordination of volunteer participation in CRWC education and stewardship events;
  • Assist in the development and facilitation of presentations, site visits, and implementation of best management practices in cooperation with other staff; and,
  • Assist in providing content for CRWC’s website, press releases and other publications as it relates to technical knowledge.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • MS in biology, aquatic ecology, environmental science, or related field (completed or working toward MS degree).
  • A minimum of 3 years’ professional experience managing ecological restoration projects, working in partnerships, and collecting, analyzing and synthesizing data.
  • Demonstrated ecological expertise and effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders including local, regional and federal organizations/entities, landowners and resource agency personnel.
  • Experience using field sampling tools and equipment including survey tools, in stream water quality monitoring meters, microscopes and biological sampling techniques. 
  • Knowledge and experience in GIS mapping software.
  • Proficient in research data entry, assimilation and management.
  • Able to synthesize and interpret results to a variety of audiences.
  • Requires strong project management, supervisory skills, and budgetary skills.
  • Production of timely, high-quality work and courteous, service-oriented behavior towards customers and coworkers.
  • Possesses strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills as well as the ability to present in a public forum for both adult and student audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to track and manage multiple tasks, must be skilled in planning and prioritization, and highly organized.
  • Working familiarity with word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet and database programs.

The following skills are preferred:

  • Experience in planning events and working with educators and volunteers preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT INCLUDES:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

  • Project work will involve all-weather physical activity, including in-water work, and the use of hand and field tools
  • Some evening and weekend work required
  • Must maintain a valid driver’s license
  • Candidates are subject to a background check

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary Range: $53,000 – $58,000

Salary commensurate with experience. Medical, vision, dental and retirement benefits, vacation, sick and holiday pay.  Compensation is recommended by the Executive Director and approved by the Board of Directors.

To apply, please visit www.crwc.org/join-us/jobs or email a cover letter, resume and transcript (can be official or unofficial) to: contact@crwc.org.

**If applying using form below, please be sure to include cover letter and transcript in attachments.

Download PDF

CRWC Watershed Ecologist Posting_Feb2023.pdf


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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