The Finger Lakes Water Quality Specialist will work with partners to advance watershed-wide efforts to improve water quality for Owasco and Skaneateles Lakes.
The Finger Lakes Water Quality Specialist will motivate and coordinate watershed stakeholders and decision makers to implement source-water protection, build innovative watershed-wide water quality improvement plans, and implement the highest priority strategies and projects in the eastern Finger Lakes. Primary responsibilities will include: working with partners to 1) understand barriers, challenges, and needs of local communities and identify tactics that will work towards shared water quality goals, 2) promote local buy-in and use of science and watershed plans to maximize implementation, 3) translate science-based plans into on-the-ground actions to achieve local conservation results, 4) with Conservancy staff, help raise public and private funds to implement priority strategies both locally and across NY, 5) harness Conservancy resources and expertise and collaborate for the benefit of related Conservancy strategies and projects, and 6) promote locally appropriate model governance structures and recommendations that will lead to increased conservation efficacy.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manages complex projects that involve coordinating with multiple partners, assisting with budget development, managing budgets, and negotiating and contracting with vendors
- Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context
- Builds relationships across a wide range of potential partners that includes local governments, watershed and water quality groups, lake associations, county, state and federal agencies, and funders
- May help ensure that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs
- Informs development of a map of land protection focal areas and works with staff and partners to acquire high priority lands
- Attendance at occasional night and weekend meetings will be required
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances
- Experience developing and building partnerships and relationships (community, government, academia)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; adept at explaining conservation concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Office suite
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
- Negotiation, facilitation, conflict management, or similar skills
- Knowledgeable of current trends and practices in one or more of the following: conservation, land management, freshwater science and ecology, and natural resource preservation
- Demonstrated experience securing public and/or private grant funds
- Evidence of successful engagement of communities in community planning with a focus on freshwater water quality issues and strategies
- Familiarity with diverse, inclusive and innovative best practices for community engagement
- Experience using ArcGIS
- The ability to be innovative, flexible, and empathetic
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English
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.