Upper Salmon River Project Specialist

About Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with more than 150,000 volunteers and approximately 400 chapters nationwide. This dedicated grassroots army is matched by an expert conservation staff working out of more than 30 offices wherever trout live, who ensure that TU is at the forefront of cold water fisheries restoration and protection work at the local, state, and national levels. Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore North America's cold water fisheries and their watersheds so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.

Providing adequate stream flows is a critical issue for native and wild trout protection in the West. Developing innovative strategies to restore stream flows and eliminate fish barriers to reconnect and restore critical habitat has been the focus of Trout Unlimited's Western Water Project (WWP) since 1998. The WWP is TU's largest conservation program and has six state programs (CO, ID, MT, UT, WA, and WY) and over 30 professional staff.

The WWP's Idaho Water Project was created in 2002 and has helped achieve a variety of conservation gains including the Bear River Hydroelectric Settlement, Drought Management Planning on the Henry's Fork River, and the development of place-based programs to restore stream flows and reconnect priority parts of the Upper Snake, Big and Lost, and Salmon River drainages. Emphasis has been placed on working in rural communities and developing creative partnerships with the Idaho ranchers and farmers. The Idaho Water Project currently has four full-time staff working out of offices in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Salmon, and Boise.

Position Summary

Trout Unlimited seeks a project specialist to plan and implement on-the-ground projects that preserve and improve salmon, steelhead and trout habitat in the Upper Salmon Basin. Projects will include removal of fish barriers, irrigation improvements, water rights transactions, channel and riparian rehabilitation and other cooperative activities that protect or restore fish habitat. Project work in the Yankee Fork will be an initial priority.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specialist will work closely with water users, private landowners and federal and state natural resource agency staff. Primary responsibilities are to:

• Develop partnerships with water users, the agricultural community, and agency staff.
• Plan and oversee projects.
• Raise funds as necessary to design and construct projects.
• Manage grant application and reporting requirements.
• Make recommendations regarding stream flow restoration priorities and potential water right transaction opportunities;
• monitor project results, including fish usage of improved habitat; and
• represent Trout Unlimited and its mission with the local community and media

Qualifications:

The job requires:

• A degree in biology, ecology, hydrology, engineering, or a related field;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Knowledge of irrigation systems and experience working with water users;
• Ability to manage project construction and project budgets
• Practical skills and a proven track record in accomplishing project goals.
• The project specialist will be located in the upper Salmon River Basin and will report to the TU's Upper Salmon Project Manager. This is a two-year position with the potential, depending on funding, for an extension.

Salary: DOE. Excellent Benefits.

How to Apply

Please send a letter of interest and resume to:

Jerry Myers, Upper Salmon Project Manager, at jmyers@tu.org.

Position is open until May 31. No phone calls.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

TU is an equal opportunity employer. This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the employee might differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job. Relocation assistance is not included.