Northwest River Restoration Director

Northwest River Restoration Director

TITLE : Northwest River Restoration Director
CLASSIFICATION : Director I or II
DEPARTMENT : Conservation
WAGE CATEGORY : Full-time, Exempt
REPORTS TO: Northwest Region Director
LOCATION: HYBRID. Oregon/Washington preferred. The work of this role may be conducted remotely with full access to the needed operating systems and technology. There are times that the work will need to be conducted in-person in Washington and Oregon, with travel estimated 3-5 days per month. Other occasional regional and national travel to meetings and training may be required.

ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS

American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers℠.

American Rivers centers the ongoing work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all that we do. The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities, and we seek to build and embody this diversity in our organization and throughout the conservation field.

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of River Restoration will support American Rivers’ efforts to restore riverscapes through dam removal in the Northwest Region. We are looking for candidates who can lead coalitions of land managers, State and Federal agencies, other NGOs, and Tribal Nations to further develop the Northwest Dam Removal Program through process-based river restoration approaches that balance ecological, social, and cultural values as well as feasibility considerations.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead dam removal and related river restoration efforts in the Northwest Region.
• Work with Tribes, agencies, practitioners, and communities to assess enabling conditions for removing dams and develop strategies to overcome existing barriers likely to include funding and policy bottlenecks, workforce development, and other community of practice support needs.
• Support dam removal trainings for project managers.
• Regularly respond to requests for technical and strategic project planning assistance to advance multi-benefit dam removals and river restoration in the region.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to advocate for and advance multi-benefit dam removal projects and associated river restoration policy.
• Effectively communicate dam removal approaches and benefits to a wide array of audiences including Tribes, scientists, community-based organizations, landowners, and the public.
• Advocate for and incorporate the perspectives and solutions presented by frontline BIPOC communities and Tribal Nations into regional strategies and project plans.
• Develop funding applications and manage grant awards for the Program.
• Be an active teammate with the American Rivers’ Northwest Region Team and the National Dam Removal Community of Practice.
• Work will involve travel in Washington and Oregon for partnership meetings, site visits, etc., as well as traveling nationally for conferences, trainings, and retreats as needed.
• This position may supervise others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Holistic understanding of Northwest rivers and riverscape restoration.
• No less than 8 years of relevant experience in river restoration project or program management.
• Demonstrated ability in the evaluation of tradeoffs to identify and prioritize multi-benefit river restoration projects.
• Experience developing funding applications and managing grant awards preferred.
• A team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work well with a diverse range of people.
• Strong project and contract management organizational skills, with demonstrated experience meeting challenging project deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking.
• Demonstrated strength in critical thinking, problem-solving, judgment, and dependability.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Four-year college degree in natural resources with training in hydrology, geomorphology, and biology.

COMPENSATION
The anticipated salary range for this position is $81,672 – $98,423, depending on experience and qualifications. Full-time employee benefits include health, dental, and life insurance; a retirement plan, training budget, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, four weeks of paid vacation, paid sabbaticals every seven years, and a 3% retirement match.

COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY
Our community’s core values motivate us to Lead with Collaboration and Trust, Infuse Equity and Justice, Deliver Results, and Ensure Staff and Volunteers Thrive. American Rivers offers staff professional development and training opportunities.

American Rivers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request reasonable accommodation, please contact the Human Resources department at 202-243-7050 or

Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States.
American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Candidates of all personal and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.