What are the responsibilities and job description for the Octoraro Watershed Restoration Coordinator position at Chester County of Pennsylvania?
Summary
The Octoraro Watershed Restoration Coordinator (“Coordinator”) will provide technical and administrative assistance to stakeholders (e.g., county conservation districts, NGOs, local governments) in the Octoraro watershed to accelerate Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) progress. The Conowingo WIP is a partnership among the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York that takes a two-tiered approach to implementation:
This position will build capacity in the Conowingo WIP targeted watershed in partnership with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Maryland Department of the Environment, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation. An important aspect of the position is effective engagement with key stakeholder groups, with a particular focus on communities with environmental justice concerns, in cross-jurisdictional sub watersheds to identify priority capacity and technical assistance needs. The coordinator will use Environmental Protection Agency’s most-effective basins and disadvantaged communities tools (see Octoraro story map) and mapping applications to screen candidate communities/geographies, work with the jurisdictions and local partners to ground-truth and refine, and conduct listening sessions with priority stakeholders to assess capacity and technical assistance needs and barriers to implementation.
- The first tier consists of state-wide pay-for-success programs in MD and PA to implement the most cost-effective restoration projects in the Susquehanna Basin.
- The second tier uses a more traditional technical assistance and grant application approach in targeted interjurisdictional watersheds (e.g., Octoraro Creek, Deer Creek, NY/PA upper Susquehanna River watershed).
This position will build capacity in the Conowingo WIP targeted watershed in partnership with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Maryland Department of the Environment, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation. An important aspect of the position is effective engagement with key stakeholder groups, with a particular focus on communities with environmental justice concerns, in cross-jurisdictional sub watersheds to identify priority capacity and technical assistance needs. The coordinator will use Environmental Protection Agency’s most-effective basins and disadvantaged communities tools (see Octoraro story map) and mapping applications to screen candidate communities/geographies, work with the jurisdictions and local partners to ground-truth and refine, and conduct listening sessions with priority stakeholders to assess capacity and technical assistance needs and barriers to implementation.
Essential Duties
- Partner with local watershed groups to help identify communities that are experiencing heightened environmental impacts related to water quality impairments, flooding, and other environmental hazards.
- Attend and contribute to collaboratives and work groups, e.g., Octoraro Source Water Collaborative (OSWC).
- Identify and define technical and administrative challenges and work with stakeholders to recommend solutions.
- Identify funding opportunities appropriate for the needs of the communities and develop grant applications to submit to eligible funding.
- Identify and engage with communities that are historically underserved and have environmental justice concerns.
- Engage with underrepresented groups and watershed stakeholders to expand partnerships and input on needs and challenges.
- Conduct outreach to local leaders, soil and water conservation districts, and others who have existing connections to communities to begin building relationships.
- Conduct listening sessions with local communities to help identify their greatest capacity and technical assistance needs.
- Conduct educational workshops to provide information on grant opportunities and provide grant writing assistance to those interested in pursuing funding for capacity building, additional technical assistance, and water quality project implementation.
- Assist with and participate in plain sect farmer education, e.g., working with Pennsylvania State University and pesticide credit meetings, OSWC Ag Liaison program, etc.
- Summarize findings of outreach efforts and report back to CWIP leadership team on a regular basis.
- Track progress and resources (staff, funding, informational, coordination, etc.).
- Develop resources to fill identified technical gaps or coordination needs within the watershed.
Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, two years of job-related experience, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with building coalitions, community organization, and tracking resources.
- Comfortable when speaking with diverse stakeholders, including farmers.
- Knowledgeable of farm conservation to encourage farmers to engage in the process with other organizations.
- Skilled in organizational strategy and stakeholder management to connect the dots with NGOs, volunteers, and stakeholders while also having a good understanding of the current work across the watershed and water use sectors (agricultural and otherwise).
- Knowledge of aquatic biology/ecology, wetlands, and natural stream channel design.
- Ability to work outside in adverse conditions and traverse difficult terrain.
- Easily adapts to changes in the work environment.
- Accurate and detail oriented with strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team and proceed with objectives.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
- Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
- Flexible, with an ability to carry multiple projects and tasks to completion
- Able to use common sense judgement to carry out written or verbal instructions.
- Exhibits a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn new tasks.
- Professionalism, integrity, and honesty with an ability to handle confidential matters.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the environmental or natural resources field.
- Three or more years of job-related experience.
- Experience writing grants, budgets, and reports.
- Experience with water quality monitoring equipment and methods.
- General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.
Additional Information
Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:
- Intermediate Office Suite Skills, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Explorer).
- Basic Outlook Skills (email and calendar)
- Digital photography skills
- GIS and GPS skills
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach above shoulders; work with arms above shoulder height; bend at the waist or work bent at the waist; kneel, stoop, crouch or squat; climb stair; climb ladders; twist or rotate at the waist; lift and carry items; drive a vehicle; talk or hear; and taste or smell. Occasionally, the employee will need to crawl; push items; and work with machinery. On rare occasions, the employee will need to work while on a ladder and work with an uncommon level of noise.
The special vision requirements listed for this position are:
- Close vision.
- Distance vision.
- Approximately 40% of the time will be spent in the field, exposing incumbent to inclement weather.
- Ability to work extended hours, as necessary.
- May need to attend evening or early morning meetings.
