Director - Habitat Restoration

ABOUT US

Riverkeeper is New York’s premier water quality advocate. Our mission is to protect and restore the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law. With an annual operating budget of $5 million, Riverkeeper is a mid-sized not-for-profit operating in the Hudson Valley. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic, mission-oriented organization. For more information, visit www.riverkeeper.org.

JOB TITLE: Director of Habitat Restoration

DEPARTMENT: Science

REPORTS TO: Director, Science Program

LOCATION: Ossining, NY (hybrid) and various field sites throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Habitat Restoration will lead the Habitat Restoration team to plan and implement habitat restoration activities in the Hudson River watershed including dam removal and stream restoration. They will provide expertise on issues relating to habitat quality, restoration, conservation and adaptation in support of Riverkeeper priorities including improved state and federal policy, better fisheries management and mitigating impacts to development in the watershed. Reporting to the Director of Science, this role will utilize the best available science to guide habitat restoration activities and provide expert guidance on all of Riverkeeper’s positions and priorities related to habitat and fisheries.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

(This is not an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.)

• Manage and develop the Habitat Restoration team
• Work with Riverkeeper leadership to align the work of the habitat restoration team with Riverkeeper’s mission, vision and strategic plan
• Identify opportunities for habitat restoration within the Riverkeeper mission area and proactively engage stakeholders in order to develop and execute projects
• Provide ecological expertise to Riverkeeper’s advocacy and legal teams during public comment periods for a variety of policy initiatives to advance Riverkeeper’s mission
• Identify primary barriers on Hudson River tributaries with maximum benefits to aquatic species and human communities
• Manage dam removal, culvert alignment and habitat restoration projects including developing project timelines, scope of work, and budgets
• Review engineering proposals and river restoration design plans
• Form and maintain working relationships with elected officials and local decision makers in government, business, and non-profit sectors
• Research and write advocacy and educational material in coordination with the Communications team (blogs, articles and other media)
• Communicate with press and news outlets and speak at public events
• Routinely collaborate with the Development team to identify and pursue potential funding sources, including writing grant proposals for high priority projects and developing relationships with funders

EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

This might be the right next role for you if you have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience, and would likely be described as someone who can deliver on complex habitat restoration projects with multiple stakeholders. Desired qualifications:

• Doctorate or Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental engineering, or Doctorate in ecology, fisheries, environmental management, river restoration
• Able to establish, manage and drive multiple projects to completion on time and on budget
• Strong people skills, including the ability to work with diverse communities, the ability to effectively build strong relationships both internally and externally, and proven track record leading coalitions/teams
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated experience meeting project deadlines
• Ecological expertise in the management of local and regional fisheries
• Expert knowledge of Northeast ecosystems, river ecology, Hudson River tributaries and fisheries (including lower Hudson and NY/NJ harbor), fluvial geomorphology, and river restoration
• Expert knowledge of native Hudson River fish species (i.e. life-history, biology and ecology of species and their interactions within the river, estuary and open ocean) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience developing and/or managing river restoration projects
• Watershed assessment and project prioritization experience, including sociological, economic, and ecological considerations
• Experience in culvert alignment projects (NACC certification preferred)
• Experience designing and implementing green infrastructure and urban planning projects
• Complex problem-solving and adaptability skills
• Advanced field, laboratory, and analytical skills
• Expert knowledge in collecting and analyzing biological data
• Experience with fundraising, including strong writing skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated partnership building experience across federal, state, and local government entities as well as a proven aptitude for building relationships with NGOs, environmental agencies, and community groups
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and the ability to effectively communicate with partners and agency representatives
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice
• Enthusiasm for Riverkeeper's mission and being a part of a team of passionate advocates

HOURS/SHIFTS

This exempt position is full time (40 hours/week), Monday - Friday. It requires flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.

SALARY

Full-time salary range: $100,000 - $120,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

BENEFITS

Riverkeeper offers healthcare, dental and vision, life and disability coverage, retirement savings plan with employer match, annual professional development stipend, Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, personal days, floating holidays, most federal holidays, summer Fridays), and other benefits; office is closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

OTHER

All employees are must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled.