Watershed Coordinator

East Central University•Ada, OK

About The Position

The Watershed Coordinator supports the mission of Oka’- The Water Institute at East Central University, by leading producer-focused outreach and beginning-level conservation support that primarily advance water quality and long-term water sustainability in southern Oklahoma. The position emphasizes engagement with farmers, ranchers, tribes, and rural communities to encourage adoption of land management approaches that protect and enhance water resources through improved soil and plant health. The Watershed Coordinator advances the Land Stewardship Focus Area’s central focus on water quality and long-term water sustainability by helping producers in southern Oklahoma implement traditional and regenerative land management practices that protect soils, strengthen plant communities, and support resilient habitats and rural economies across the Southern Plains. This position is a grant funded position. The coordinator focuses on relationship-building, coordination, and communication, while progressively developing technical skills in conservation planning, grazing and vegetation management, watershed function, and field-based monitoring through structured training and mentorship within the Land Stewardship Focus Area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, environmental science, rangeland management, animal science, communications, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated interest in working with farmers, ranchers, tribes, and rural communities on water-focused land stewardship or agricultural issues.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with producers and partner organizations.
Willingness to progressively develop technical skills in conservation planning, grazing and vegetation management, watershed processes, and prescribed fire through training and mentorship.
Ability to work independently in the field and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
Understanding or strong interest in learning how soil and plant health, grazing management, and habitat practices influence water quality, runoff, infiltration, and watershed function.
Ability to facilitate meetings, producer visits, and small-group learning settings, including listening carefully and translating technical concepts into practical, water-focused management options.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including balancing outreach, fieldwork, training, and reporting responsibilities
Competency with standard office software (Word, Excel, Outlook); familiarity with GIS, mapping, and basic data management tools preferred.
Must have a strong work ethic and lead by example
Must be a professional, credible and respected representative of the institution internally and in the community
Demonstrated willingness and ability to act ethically and socially responsible
Ability to communicate in a courteous manner
Regularly required to walk and traverse uneven terrain, stand, bend, or climb over natural features
Ability to tolerate exposure to heat, smoke, dust, insects, and variable weather conditions for extended periods
Frequently required to sit, speak, and operate field instruments or computers
Frequently required to communicate effectively with diverse populations
Regularly performs tasks that involve repetitive wrist and finger movement
Regularly operates a computer and other standard office equipment
Ability to perform fieldwork, including walking over uneven terrain and working in heat, cold, smoke, dust, insects, and variable weather conditions.
Ability to lift and carry moderate loads; operate basic field equipment and vehicles as needed for site visits, monitoring, and prescribed fire activities; and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
Mix of office work and frequent field visits to farms, ranches, burn sites, and partner locations in southern Oklahoma, with regular regional travel.
Occasional evening or weekend work to accommodate producer schedules, field conditions, and community events.

Nice To Haves

Field experience in grazing systems, livestock management, range or pasture monitoring, or prescribed fire operations.
Familiarity with traditional and regenerative agricultural practices that link soil and plant health to water quality, watershed resilience, and habitat conditions.
Basic skills in GIS, GPS, and field data collection methods relevant to natural resource and watershed projects preferred or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

Outreach and Producer Engagement (Primary)
Develop and maintain relationships with agricultural producers, producer groups, conservation districts, tribal partners, and other organizations to increase awareness of OKA’ Institute’s water-focused land stewardship and watershed initiatives in southern Oklahoma.
Coordinate and schedule on-farm and ranch-based meetings, workshops, and site visits to discuss producer goals, water-related resource concerns, and opportunities to participate in stewardship programming.
Clearly communicate available services and resources within the Land Stewardship program, including technical assistance, planning support, water-conscious grazing strategies, and demonstration projects.
Assist in organizing and delivering producer field days, peer learning events, and community presentations that highlight how soil and plant management, grazing, habitat practices, and prescribed fire contribute to water quality and watershed health.
Maintain records of outreach contacts, meetings, events, and follow-up actions to support internal program tracking, reporting, and grant obligations.
Beginning-Level Conservation Planning and Technical Support
Under supervision, assist landowners with basic conservation planning focused on water quality and watershed function, including initial resource inventories, identification of water-related concerns, and documentation of current land use and management.
Support development and refinement of grazing and forage management approaches, in both traditional and regenerative systems, that improve soil and plant health, reduce erosion, and enhance water infiltration and retention on cooperating operations.
Participate in vegetation and ground cover observations, simple carrying capacity assessments, and basic soil and habitat condition checks to inform adaptive management for water, soil, and ecosystem outcomes.
Progressively develop skills in watershed processes, rangeland and pasture ecology, and wildlife habitat relationships so that technical guidance increasingly reinforces water quality and watershed sustainability goals.
Prescribed Fire and Land Stewardship Fieldwork
Participate in prescribed burns and local prescribed burn association activities as part of integrated land stewardship, carrying out fire crew tasks, equipment operation, and safety practices under appropriate supervision.
Assist with planning and logistics for prescribed fires used to improve plant communities, manage woody encroachment, and support habitat conditions that, in turn, benefit watershed function and water quality.
Support field demonstrations that integrate grazing, vegetation management, and prescribed fire as complementary tools to protect soils, reduce runoff, and enhance ecosystem resilience.
Applied Research, Monitoring, and Collaboration
Assist with applied research and demonstration projects related to water-conscious grazing, watershed management, and habitat practices in southern Oklahoma by recruiting cooperating producers, coordinating field access, and collecting basic field data following established protocols.
Contribute to summarizing observations and monitoring results for internal reports, producer feedback, and outreach or extension-style materials developed by the Land Stewardship team.
Maintain awareness of other OKA’ Focus Areas (e.g., water science, sustainable communities, and water policy) and collaborate as needed to connect producer-facing work with broader water quality, monitoring, or sustainability initiatives.
Engage, as appropriate, with state, tribal, and local water quality and conservation programs to align outreach and practice adoption efforts with applicable goals and opportunities.
Other duties as assigned by Supervisor or designee. Omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.