Stewardship and Trails Project Manager
The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) seeks a Stewardship and Trails Project Manager to work with stakeholders to implement land stewardship and trails projects on CDLT owned lands. This person will develop projects, seek funding, hire sub-contractors, and provide design and construction oversight.
CDLT MISSION: We engage communities in conserving, caring for, and accessing the natural lands and waters that sustain North Central Washington.
CDLT VISION: We envision thriving natural systems sustaining the diversity of human communities in North Central Washington.
POSITION SUMMARY:
In the last decade, CDLT has protected 26,000 acres in North Central Washington by working with willing landowners to buy property or secure conservation easements on high quality habitat. CDLT currently manages over 6,000 acres of eastside Cascades forest and shrub steppe habitat and these lands include over 40 miles of recreational trails. The Stewardship and Trails Project Manager will work closely with the Director of Climate, Access, and Stewardship to identify and implement high priority projects consistent with the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, site stewardship plans, and regional trail planning documents. Depending upon experience and expertise, this project manager would oversee trail, forest health, and/or riparian restoration projects. We are seeking an enthusiastic person with experience and interest in land stewardship and outdoor recreation to develop and coordinate existing and new projects. Candidates should have technical and social skills necessary to develop and manage projects in a rural area.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Project Management
- Develop, design, coordinate, and implement land stewardship and/or trails projects.
- Develop, track, and report on project budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
- Identify funding sources, prepare grant proposals, and secure funding for land stewardship and/or trails projects.
- Draft requests for proposals, review proposals, select a contractor, and review contracts.
- Establish and maintain positive working relationships with landowners, tribes, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders with varying political and social backgrounds.
- Attend, participate, and represent CDLT in meetings, as directed.
- Identify key properties, projects, and partners for strategic access opportunities in accordance with CDLT’s mission and strategic plan, and Board direction.
- Work with land managers and owners, community members, recreation advocacy or management organizations, political leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive community recreation and access plans.
- Participate in community boards, committees, and stakeholder groups to represent CDLT and promote a balanced approach to conservation and appropriate trail and access projects.
- Work with the Director of Climate, Access, and Stewardship and Lands Manager to facilitate and secure protection of key access through trail easements, leases, option agreements, and other tools.
- In coordination with partner organizations, mobilize financial support for trail and access projects through grants and private funding.
- Manage complex trail projects, including conceptual designs, mapping, and budgeting.
- Supervise in-house or contracted staff to construct new and maintain existing recreation infrastructure.
- Ensure safety and quality of all CDLT trails programs to ensure a high-quality experience for all users.
- Assist with trail user data collection efforts.
- Communicate positively with landowners, businesses, and organizations regarding trails programs.
- Seek external funding sources for forest health management projects, hire sub-contractors, and track forest health project implementation.
- Work with external partners who implement riparian habitat restoration projects on CDLT lands in Nason Creek and the Entiat River. This may include development of project agreements, providing design oversight, facilitating site access, reviewing contract documents and monitoring reports, and tracking adaptive management actions.
- Visit CDLT fee owned and conservation easement parcels to collect monitoring data to support land trust accreditation compliance.
- Assist the Director of Climate, Access, and Stewardship with other land stewardship projects, as needed.
- Five years of relevant work experience and a Bachelors degree.
- Experience with project development and project management.
- Volunteer or work experience with trail design, construction, and/or maintenance.
- Volunteer or work experience with forest health and/or riparian restoration projects.
- Ability to develop budgets, manage projects, and supervise sub-contractors.
- Knowledge of Microsoft office and ESRI ArcView software.
- Ability to work with diverse groups and build consensus among stakeholders with differing opinions.
- Physical ability to hike in rough terrain.
- Flexibility concerning work schedule to accommodate occasional evening and weekend meetings, events and outings.
- Car and valid driver’s license.
Salary $65,000 - $75,000 (DOE) FTE. Benefits include group medical insurance, travel reimbursement, training opportunities, paid time off for holidays plus 21 days vacation time, and voluntary 403b retirement plan after six-month evaluation period.
TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and résumé to the email below by December 29, 2023. Be sure that the cover letter and resume describe your project management experience with respect to trails, forest health, and/or riparian restoration projects.
Email application to: angela@cdlandtrust.org and also mail a hard copy
