Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan (CWIP) Coordinator

Susquehanna River Basin Commission•Harrisburg, PA

13d•$74,000 - $94,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is hiring a full-time contracted term employee to coordinate the Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan (CWIP) across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. The three-year position will strengthen interstate coordination, build implementation capacity, align and secure resources, and advance nutrient-reduction projects that support Chesapeake Bay restoration beyond existing state Watershed Implementation Plan commitments. Participating jurisdictions are pursuing approximately 6 million pounds per year of additional nitrogen reductions. The Coordinator will work under SRBC management and in collaboration with the CWIP Steering Committee and CWIP leadership representatives. The role combines ongoing coordination, administration, milestone tracking, reporting, and partner communication with developing new strategies, partnerships, funding opportunities, and projects. CWIP implementation includes state-wide pay-for-success programs in Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as technical assistance and grants in targeted interjurisdictional watersheds. The work involves building partnerships and helping move restoration projects from planning toward implementation; identifying funding and supporting proposals; assessing partner capacity needs; organizing meetings, technical exchanges, and field tours; and documenting progress and results. The position combines office work, remote work as authorized, field and partner travel, and in-person meetings. Regular travel within the Pennsylvania–Maryland–New York portion of the watershed is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, natural-resource management, water resources, environmental planning, conservation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Professional experience in environmental protection, watershed restoration, resource conservation, water quality, or a closely related field.
Strong project-management skills, including managing multiple priorities, tracking commitments and deliverables, and advancing work across multiple organizations.
Established outreach mechanisms and strategies.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including meeting facilitation, public speaking and presentations, report writing, stakeholder engagement, and communicating technical information to varied audiences.
Working knowledge of water-quality restoration and ability to help advance nutrient-reduction projects from planning toward implementation.
Ability to build productive relationships with governmental, nonprofit, technical, agricultural, academic, and community partners.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly within the Pennsylvania–Maryland–New York portion of the Susquehanna/Chesapeake Bay watershed and attend in-person meetings as required.
Valid driver's license.
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Chesapeake Bay restoration programs and/or Chesapeake Bay Program processes.
Experience in watershed implementation planning and execution.
Experience with agricultural conservation and nutrient-reduction practices.
Experience in interstate or multi-jurisdictional collaboration.
Experience in government, nonprofit, or watershed program coordination.
Grant writing, funding strategy, or proposal development experience.
Experience with conservation implementation partnerships and on-the-ground project delivery.
Working knowledge of GIS.
Three to five years of experience in a related field.
Advanced degree in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

Strengthen existing partnerships and cultivate new relationships in priority watersheds to advance agricultural conservation, stream and floodplain restoration, wetland restoration, and other water-quality improvement projects.
Help partners identify restoration opportunities, coordinate technical expertise, address implementation challenges, and move projects from planning through implementation.
Connect partners with funding opportunities and assist with project concepts, funding proposals, implementation strategies, and collaborative delivery approaches.
Serve as a central point of contact among Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, SRBC, EPA, and other CWIP partners; maintain communication, align priorities, and facilitate collaborative implementation.
Identify and advance innovative or high-impact nutrient-reduction approaches and help move selected projects toward implementation where feasible.
Lead gap analysis of partner needs, including developing and distributing surveys, leading workshops or meetings, and preparing recommendations.
Organize partner meetings, technical exchanges, field tours, and other opportunities to share successful approaches, build capacity, and encourage CWIP participation.
Prepare annual progress reports, outreach and implementation summaries, and tracking tools such as project or practice spreadsheets and infographics.
Maintain regular communication among SRBC, the three jurisdictions, and implementation partners.
Work with jurisdictional partners to communicate accomplishments, identify opportunities and challenges, and support progress reporting.
Contribute to CWIP communication strategies, including developing newsletter content.
Lead outreach and serve as a public-facing and partner-facing point of contact.
Identify and coordinate funding sources for local implementation and capacity building, including state pay-for-success programs, grants, and potential matching opportunities.
Assemble or support funding proposals and implementation partnerships.
Compile and analyze implementation information to inform strategy, document results, and communicate benefits.