Colorado Open Lands Job Vacancy Announcement
Restoration Landscape Coordinator
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Location: BLM Kremmling, CO Field Office
Anticipated Start Date: May, 2024
Overview:
This is a collaborative position serving the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV). The position responsibility will be to further the delivery and implementation of conservation efforts of North Park Restoration Landscape through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The historic Inflation Reduction Act directs $161 million of funding to BLM for once-in-a-generation investments to enhance the resilience of public lands selected for their unique mix of qualities to benefit lives and livelihoods today and for future generations. The BLM selected areas for their mix of intact, unfragmented ecosystems and lands where strategic and coordinated work is likely to accelerate ecological restoration. These areas also hold potential for cross-boundary partnerships for additional restoration at the broad, watershed-level scale. The areas represent coordinated BLM investments, including fuels management, range, wildlife, forestry, aquatics, and recreation programs. Selected landscapes also hold potential for additional partner investments: private landowners, states, local governments, Tribes, and other stakeholder groups.
The Restoration Area’s project work will primarily occur on the center of the park, which contains much of the public lands. The terrain supports depressional wetlands and numerous wet meadow swales, and acres of sagebrush communities. These areas contribute to important habitat for numerous species, including greater sage grouse, pronghorn, mule deer, moose, elk, bear, waterfowl, and migratory birds. Elk and mule deer tend to stay in the higher elevations during the summer, and then migrate to lower elevations for the winter. BLM lands provide a large percentage of winter range for these and other species. The multiple riparianwetland areas associated with this project improve water quality, enhance the resilience of groundwater supplies, store life-sustaining supplies of water to ensure the resource is available for the downstream communities in the area who have experienced increasing frequency of drought conditions.
To date, most of the habitat is in good condition and relatively unfragmented. Restorative efforts in North Park can have great success, due to the overall condition of the area. Ecological functions have not been so disrupted or truncated that restorative efforts would be extremely costly and/or unlikely to succeed. The restorative efforts will focus on waterfowl habitat restoration and improvement, meadow restoration, stream restoration, rangeland infrastructure projects, and natural resource monitoring. The restoration efforts will help build more resiliency within this important area to meet the challenges of climate change, water shortages, and balancing energy development with environmental concerns.
This is a 3-year, full time position with the incumbent being an employee of Colorado Open Lands. Daily supervision, instruction and leadership will be provided by BLM Kremmling Field Office. This position will be in Kremmling, Colorado and will require travel throughout the Jackson County, located in the Kremmling Field Office, Northwest District of Colorado. The incumbent is expected to work closely with BLM, IWJV, Ducks Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
● Serve on field level interdisciplinary teams.
● Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with land managers and partner agency staff.
● Assist with landscape-level conservation planning, project prioritization, and project management support to the BLM and partners.
● Assist in compiling and communicating project results to local, regional, and national audiences.
● Provide range/wildlife technical assistance, coordination and support for collaborative conservation, and management, restoration, and resource monitoring efforts.
● Communicate project requirements, complete site visits, and develop contracts/plans for projects and participants, track project timelines and budgets.
● Coordinate and track funding from partners for projects and submit reports to partners who provide funding.
● Facilitate information and awareness on conservation opportunities to all levels of each partner in the partnership including BLM and IWJV staff. ● Work with agencies and partners to develop, facilitate, and coordinate local contracts agreements, and volunteers.
● Oversight and documentation of project work and develop and track landscape project implementation schedules.
● Showcase information from past and current projects to the public (i.e., presentations showing pre and post data for vegetation and wildlife populations, kiosk displays, social media posts, etc.).
● Perform other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.
● Communicate program requirements, complete site visits for wildlife field clearances (surveys, inventories, monitoring) on identified projects.
● Seek new partnerships, write and secure grants, and develop agreements as appropriate to build the partnership, and subsequent conservation efforts in the area.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
● Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
● Knowledge of wildlife ecology, grassland, wetland, and early succession habitat management including the ability to utilize various habitat management tools in the development of management plans.
● Excellent geospatial skills using GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Desktop, QGIS R, etc.)
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
● Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
● Knowledge of computer skills is required, and the applicant should be familiar with Word and Excel.
● Valid driver’s license required; use of personal vehicle required with a mileage reimbursement provided.
● Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.
● The ideal candidate will exhibit a balance of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills required to implement voluntary conservation programs across public and private boundaries.
● Skillset to drive at high elevation, and often remote locations, on a regular basis and occasionally during inclement weather.
● Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.
● An understanding of the BLM agency, policy, planning, clearances, regulations, etc. is preferred.
● Able to obtain BLM Security Clearance.
● Basic understanding/knowledge of NEPA is required.
Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A general qualification guideline for this position is an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in natural resources field (wildlife, range, conservation, hydrology, environmental science, or related field experience or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience.
● Experience with contracting and implementing significant wildlife habitat restoration work.
● Previous employment experience working in land or wildlife resource management for a State or Federal land or wildlife management agency or resource focused nongovernmental organization.
Compensation and Benefits: This is a 3-year, full-time, benefitted position with a salary range of $62,404-$70,723 commensurate with skills and experience.
Colorado Open Lands offers a competitive benefit package, including 401k plan with company match, health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), health savings account (HSA), life and disability insurance, paid time off (sick, vacation, holidays, etc.) and a collaborative, flexible work environment.
To Apply:
Please combine your cover letter, resume, and 3 references into 1 Word document or PDF file and submit it via email to Cheryl Cufre, Director of Land Stewardship at Colorado Open Lands, at jobs@coloradoopenlands.org.
EEO Statement
Colorado Open Lands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For information about Colorado Open Lands, please visit our website at www.coloradoopenlands.org