The Aquatic Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator will facilitate efforts of the St. Lawrence and Eastern Lake Ontario (SLELO PRISM), a partnership program working to protect the St. Lawrence and Eastern Lake Ontario region from the negative impacts of non-native invasive species. The Aquatic Coordinator will develop, coordinate and advance conservation programs and implement aquatic invasive species prevention and management programs. This position is funded through a five-year Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) grant with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The Aquatic Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator plans and implements SLELO aquatic invasive species management programs and projects. The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator is a team member of the SLELO PRISM, a partnership program working to protect the Eastern Lake Ontario Region from the negative impacts on non-native invasive species. The Aquatic Coordinator develops, manages and advances conservation programs, coordinates and implements aquatic invasive species prevention, management and restoration programs and provides technical leadership and support.
Duties may include:
- Coordinating the SLELO PRISM’s AIS spread prevention efforts in collaboration with contractor and NY State Boat Launch Steward Program.
- Conducting early detection searches for priority species within priority conservation areas and identifies ways to enhance invasive species prevention, early detection, and management strategies.
- Assist the PRISM Coordinator with the development of Annual Work Plans as related to AIS activities.
- Identifying AIS restoration areas and management needs and coordinating the implementation of best management practices for increased site resiliency.
- Coordinating high impact, ecologically sound removal efforts such as hand-pulls or aquatic invasive species mitigation efforts.
- Developing and delivering presentations to PRISM partners and stakeholder groups at local, state, and regional levels
- Participating in education and outreach events.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Collaborates with and serves on New York TNC conservation teams as needed.
- May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns, and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.
- May supervise seasonal and/or volunteer projects.
- Networks with diverse groups, including land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to recruit support for SLELO and the Conservancy.
- Works under minimal and distant supervision; must make independent decisions based on experience and judgments.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- 2 years’ experience with natural systems.
- Experience in ecological land management principles.
- Beginner level swimming ability.
- Experience using common software applications (e.g. PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Web browsers).
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Ability to recognize and identify invasive aquatic plant and animal species.
- Experience in aquatic invasive species project coordination and management, data collection and processing.
- Knowledge of current trends, concepts, and practices in conservation, ecological restoration, limnology, and natural resource preservation and site restoration.
- Experience with geographic information systems and global positioning systems.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means. Experience with public speaking.
- Understanding of the New York State Watercraft Inspection and Survey Program (WISP) including boat launch stewardship.
- Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.