Description

ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED

Trout Unlimited (TU) brings together diverse interests to care for and recover the rivers and streams on which we all depend. We are a national nonprofit organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. Our dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of restoration professionals, organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country. 

Trout Unlimited has been engaged in water policy advocacy and restoration across Montana for more than two decades. Trout Unlimited project staff are focused on instream flow and stream restoration to benefit trout populations and their habitats in the Clark Fork, Yellowstone, and Upper Missouri watersheds.

POSITION SUMMARY

Trout Unlimited’s field staff hold unique and diverse roles within the conservation community. The shortest description of the job is to “make things happen.” In that spirit, TU is hiring a self-motivated and highly capable person to advance water policy and streamflow restoration efforts in the headwaters of the Clark Fork, Yellowstone, and Upper Missouri rivers. The Instream Flow Project Manager prioritizes, plans, and implements flow enhancement projects and assist TU’s restoration project managers to improve fish passage, benefit streamflow, restore habitat, and improve water quality in watersheds heavily impacted by water and land use practices. 

Competitive candidates for this position must demonstrate strong project management skills. The Instream Flow Project Manager will work closely with TU attorneys and restoration project managers, local watershed groups, and agricultural communities to seek opportunities to reconnect and restore instream flows on priority tributaries within public and private lands and coordinate with resource agency staff to navigate and improve water policy. Competitive candidates for this position must possess experience with water rights and water law, instream flow project development and implementation, water right administrative policy and processes, and a familiarity and willingness to work in tandem with experts in stream restoration and fish passage. 

Preference will be given to candidates with background and experience in instream flow transactions, irrigation infrastructure, stream restoration, natural sciences, and partnership building in our watersheds and on our working lands in Montana. Candidates must demonstrate a strong ability to work cooperatively with diverse project partners and stakeholders. Good oral and written communication skills are required. In addition, the successful applicant will be expected to seek out and obtain grant funding along with team members to support project work and core operational costs. The ability to effectively advocate for desirable outcomes for cold water fisheries is also required.

The position will have statewide responsibilities, but may be based remotely within proximity to the Butte/Anaconda area, or housed in the Missoula or Bozeman TU offices. This position will require frequent local travel for meetings and field work.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Closely work in a team of diverse TU staff in the Upper Missouri, Yellowstone and Clark Fork basins to research and analyze water rights, collect and analyze hydrological data, and evaluate opportunities to design, implement flow and evaluate habitat restoration projects, in coordination with state and federal agencies and project partners. 
• Develop and implement streamflow restoration projects, monitoring plans, and water transactions.
• Maintain and strengthen existing partnerships with landowners, agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Prioritize, develop, and implement future projects that benefit aquatic resources and fish populations.
• Work with TU Chapters and Montana TU to assist with community outreach events, engage volunteers in project implementation, support grassroots fundraising, and coordinate restoration strategies.
• Work independently and with TU staff and volunteers to raise funds as necessary to design and implement instream flow transactions and water conservation projects. 
• Manage complex budgets with multiple funding sources. 
• Write grant proposals to local, state, and federal agencies, as well as foundations and manage grant reporting requirements.
• Manage project procurement, contracting, invoicing, budgeting, and grant reporting. 
• Monitor and maintain completed instream flow projects to ensure their long-term success.

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

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in water resource-related field required (e.g. hydrology, fisheries, engineering, etc.); graduate degree preferred. 
• A minimum of three years professional experience with water law, water rights analysis and transactions, natural resource project management, water conservation project development, and/or instream flow transactions. Applied experience with projects focused on improving irrigation systems for water conservation, fish habitat and passage improvement, and stream restoration preferred.
• Demonstrated performance or sufficient background to quickly learn to prepare water right change applications, technical reports, grant writing, and outreach materials.
• Familiarity with fisheries management integrating principles of water law, hydrology, water quality, and fish habitat restoration.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse partners, rural community stakeholders and private landowners in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner, even on contentious issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Experience with media relations and public outreach helpful. 
• Good organizational and problem-solving abilities. 
• Ability to work independently while managing complex projects as an interdisciplinary team member in close collaboration with TU staff. 
• Strong time-management and organizational skills. Ability to work independently while managing complex projects. The job requires the ability to prioritize workload, to be highly motivated and self-directed. 
• Willingness and ability to travel within the state as necessary.
• Ability to provide own transportation required, mileage reimbursed. 
• Passion for rivers, streams, and the fisheries they support. Knowledge and experience in the Clark Fork Basin or Upper Missouri basins a plus. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. The salary range is $55,000 - $65,000 for Instream Flow Project Managers and $65,000 - $75,000 for Senior Project Managers depending on experience. Title and compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications and experience level, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout, salmon and our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to read more about TU’s equity practice and values.

Please upload a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of three references with your online application. We will begin reviewing applications on July 31, 2024. The position will be open until filled.