The NC Water Program Practitioner manages and advances work for North Carolina rivers enlisted in the Sustainable Rivers Program with the US Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps). Additionally, s/he navigates partnerships with federal and state government programs to increase floodplain conservation and restoration in hurricane prone watersheds to build system-level resiliency.
The NC Water Program Practitioner is responsible for advancing the Cape Fear and Roanoke Rivers within the Sustainable Rivers Program with the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). This includes advancing environmental flows work, organizing stakeholder meetings, writing background documents, summarizing data, and staying in regular communication with the Corps. The Water Practitioner is also responsible for helping to implement floodplain restoration projects in hurricane-prone locations. S/he actively works on resiliency issues, tracks disaster relief funding opportunities, and makes connections to organizations such as the US Coast Guard, the USDA NRCS, the relevant branches of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, the NC Department of Agriculture, and more. S/he works with the water team to identify restoration locations, initiates municipal and landowner outreach, and assists with implementing conservation and restoration projects on-the-ground. S/he will assist with fundraising to support water projects. This is a part-time position of approximately 19 hours/week and has limited benefits. This is a time-limited position of 1 year, possibly longer depending on funding.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Develops or furthers strategic relationships with the Army Corps of Engineers, military partners, and other relevant government agencies.
- Enhances the work of environmental flows in the Cape Fear and Roanoke River basins.
- Assists with floodplain restoration projects, including scoping sites, conducting landowner outreach, conducting municipality outreach, and identifying project opportunity sites.
- Assists securing funding for restoration projects.
- May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns, and external partners covering a wide geographic area.
- Works within a budget, negotiates and contracts with vendors, assists with budget development and fundraising targets.
- Networks with diverse groups, including land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to promote Conservancy water program goals and projects.
- May work under minimal and/or distant supervision; makes some independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- 1 year related working experience in ecological systems, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with ecological restoration programs and principles.
- Experinece with hydrology and water concepts.
- Experience with common software applications (Word, Excel, etc)
- Must have a valid driver's license.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to complete tasks independently, on time, and within budgets.
- Master’s degree or 2+ years experience in project management, ecology, water management, or related field.
- Experience working with the Army Corps, the military, and other parts of the federal government.
- Knowledge of federal and state grants programs that can be used for conservation and restoration practices.
- Knowledge of disaster relief programs and processes.
- Familiarity with North Carolina, especially hurricane-prone locations, the Cape Fear River Basin, and the Roanoke River basin.
- Ability to write successful grants.
- Working knowledge of common hydrological software analysis tools.
- Experience negotiating and managing contracts.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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.