Utah Riparian Restoration Project Manager

The Nature Conservancy•Moab, UT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Utah Riparian Restoration Project Manager plays a vital role in restoring important riparian and wet meadow ecosystems throughout southern Utah. Working closely with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), local partners, and conservation organizations, you will lead large-scale watershed restoration projects that improve ecosystem health, increase drought resilience, and deliver lasting benefits for public lands. As the Utah Riparian Restoration Project Manager, you will help advance The Nature Conservancy's conservation goals by planning and implementing impactful riparian and wet meadow restoration projects as part of a six-state partnership between TNC and the BLM. From watershed assessment and project design to implementation and monitoring, you will guide complex, science-based restoration efforts to address Utah’s high-priority riparian restoration needs. In partnership with federal agencies, local partners, and conservation organizations, you will develop restoration plans, secure permits and environmental clearances, oversee project implementation in the field, and coordinate field crews and contractors. You'll have the opportunity to translate ecological science into on-the-ground conservation outcomes while building strong partnerships that advance long-term stewardship and restoration of public lands. You will also collaborate with restoration practitioners across the West through an active TNC Community of Practice, sharing lessons learned, solving complex challenges, and advancing innovative approaches to watershed restoration. In addition, you'll help deliver trainings and foster partnerships that build local capacity and durable restoration outcomes. This is a unique opportunity for a motivated and collaborative conservation professional to lead meaningful restoration work on iconic western landscapes while contributing to the mission of the world's leading conservation organization. This role will involve travel from 25-50%. Most of this will be day travel meeting with partners and visiting project sites. There will be a couple of longer, overnight stays as well. This is a hybrid role, and you will work in the Moab office 2-3 days/week.

Requirements

BA/BS, law or business degree and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience negotiating complex agreements.
Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
Experience designing and implementing restoration projects.
Valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
Completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
Experience working with federal land management agencies, especially Bureau of Land Management in the Intermountain West.
Experience implementing scientific monitoring protocols, specifically the BLM’s riparian, rangeland, and stream assessment, inventory, and monitoring procedures.
Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and riparian restoration or ecology.
Experience in training, curriculum design, or workplan or strategy development.
Experience working with community-based or collaborative settings to create shared outcomes for various populations.
Experience designing and implementing low-tech and process-based restoration projects, especially riparian or aquatic restoration.
Experience working in remote locations with reliable internet and minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

Lead large-scale watershed restoration projects that improve ecosystem health, increase drought resilience, and deliver lasting benefits for public lands.
Plan and implement impactful riparian and wet meadow restoration projects.
Guide complex, science-based restoration efforts to address Utah’s high-priority riparian restoration needs.
Develop restoration plans.
Secure permits and environmental clearances.
Oversee project implementation in the field.
Coordinate field crews and contractors.
Translate ecological science into on-the-ground conservation outcomes.
Build strong partnerships that advance long-term stewardship and restoration of public lands.
Collaborate with restoration practitioners across the West through an active TNC Community of Practice, sharing lessons learned, solving complex challenges, and advancing innovative approaches to watershed restoration.
Deliver trainings and foster partnerships that build local capacity and durable restoration outcomes.
Complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
Explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
Write grants to help landowners and land managers implement restoration projects.