Job Title: Project Manager (Klamath River Dam Removal Science)

Office Location: Mt. Shasta or in proximity to Iron Gate Dam (Ashland, Yreka, Klamath Falls)

Function Area: Program

Classification: Full-Time Exempt

Compensation: $66,560/yr. to 72,000/yr.

Position Summary: The removal of four Klamath River dams is a hugely significant event and is arguably the world’s largest river restoration project. For anadromous fish, habitat and ecological processes not available for over 100 years will be accessible. This project provides a critical learning opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of large-scale dam removal to restore anadromous fisheries and inform future dam removal and restoration efforts. California Trout and its partners are embarking on an ambitious and large-scale study to address the fundamental questions related to the effectiveness of dam removal as a restoration tool including how many fish return to newly opened habitats and where do they go.

California Trout seeks a motivated individual to play a central role in coordinating and implementing a large-scale scientific study on salmon response to dam removal. The Project Manager will lead a diverse multi-disciplinary team of researchers including tribes, state agencies, federal agencies, universities, and technical experts to develop and execute this comprehensive study. The team will be leveraging technologies such as SONAR, radio telemetry, environmental DNA, and other techniques to address study objectives. The findings from this project will build our understanding of dam removal, how fish repopulate newly opened habitats, adult salmon and steelhead population response to landscape level restoration, and act as a guide to focus future restoration efforts.

The Project Manager will join a highly motivated and experienced team committed to leading with science, improving water management, and restoring fish populations in the Klamath River. With an emphasis on the Klamath River and CalTrout’s Dams Out Campaign, this position offers an exciting opportunity to develop and implement science and monitoring projects to evaluate the effectiveness of the world’s largest river restoration project and to shape approaches for future dam removals. The successful candidate will have strong project management skills, data quality control and analysis skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to work with a diverse set of regional partners including tribes, state and federal agencies and universities.

Roles & Responsibilities: This position will coordinate a team responsible for implementing complex environmental assessments designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Klamath Dam removal. The primary study components include execution of a SONAR fish counting station and a radio telemetry study. Primary responsibilities include the following:

1. Project Leadership: Provide overall leadership and direction for the study, ensuring that project objectives are clearly defined and successfully achieved within established timelines and budget constraints.
2. Team Management: Recruit, assemble, and manage a diverse team of scientists, researchers, field technicians, and other stakeholders involved in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
3. Research Design and Implementation: Collaborate with experts to design a scientifically rigorous study methodology, including sampling protocols, data collection techniques, and statistical analysis procedures.
4. Data Collection and Analysis: Oversee and engage in fieldwork activities, data collection efforts, and laboratory analyses to gather relevant information on fish populations, habitat conditions, water quality, and other key variables. This will include working in and along rivers and in occasionally adverse conditions, managing SONAR and radio telemetry equipment and other field activities.
5. Stakeholder Engagement: Foster effective communication and collaboration with project partners, government agencies, tribal communities, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure their input is incorporated into the study design and findings are disseminated appropriately.
6. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and permitting requirements governing research activities in the study area, including environmental impact assessments and protection of sensitive habitats.
7. Reporting and Documentation: Prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and scientific publications summarizing study findings, methodologies, and recommendations for policymakers, resource managers, and the broader scientific community.
8. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the project and develop strategies to mitigate these risks while maintaining the integrity and quality of the study.
9. Budget and Resource Management: Manage project budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and monitor expenditures to ensure that financial objectives are met and resources are utilized effectively.
10. Quality Assurance and Control: Implement rigorous quality assurance and control measures to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and validity of research findings and methodologies.

The Project Manager should demonstrate competence and dedication to CalTrout’s mission, initiatives, and conservation issues. This primarily includes science and monitoring, watershed and fisheries habitat restoration and conservation, recovery and protection of endangered species, and protection of water resources and their beneficial uses. This role requires a high-level understanding of executing environmental studies, resource management, and resource agencies and their mandates. The Project Manager is expected to work independently, using professional knowledge and judgment in ensuring that duties and responsibilities are carried out in a timely manner and that policy, and procedures are followed, but also be able to work collaboratively as part of a team with diverse backgrounds and interests.

Requirements & Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years related experience or a master’s degree in natural resource management, conservation, biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries biology, geomorphology, hydrology, environmental science, environmental engineering, or other related fields.
2. Demonstrated leadership including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and direct subcontractors that are executing complex environmental restoration, planning, and assessment projects.
3. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
4. Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write successful grants, author scientific reports or publications, present scientific studies at professional conferences, and articulate complex conservation issues to a wide range of audiences.
5. Demonstrated ability to implement environmental studies; experience managing the design, implementation, analysis, and supervision of multiple complex projects, setting deadlines, and ensuring program accountability and legal and financial compliance.
6. Experience working with state/federal agencies and knowledge of government workings, and of federal and state laws that affect California’s fisheries and watersheds.
7. Ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders, often with differing viewpoints, to find commonalities.
8. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and inform decision-making processes aimed at restoring and preserving the ecological health of the Klamath River Basin.

Physical Demands

1. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
2. Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
3. Ability to operate a motor vehicle to commute to/from remote work sites.
4. Ability to occasionally tolerate uncomfortable outdoor working conditions (rain, cold temperatures, hot sun) and navigate uneven terrain.

Benefits: California Trout offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience; health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan with matching, generous holidays, PTO benefits, and sabbatical leave.

California Trout (CalTrout) is a highly recognized and effective 501(c)3 conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco. For over 50 years, CalTrout has championed a remarkable number of initiatives focused on solving complex resource issues that balance the needs of fish and people. CalTrout has six regionally based offices located in key geographies where wild fish influence local communities. Our professional staff drives innovative, science-based solutions that work for the diverse interests of fish, farms, commerce and the community. CalTrout is backed by a passionate Board of Directors, along with highly committed donors and a strong membership base.

Diversity: CalTrout does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.