Job Title: Program Coordinator II
Requisition: 2026-10907 

Overview:

The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program Coordinator will develop capacity for early detection and rapid response to prevent or control AIS species in Western rivers, such as the Green and Colorado, with a particular focus on invasive mussel species. The successful candidate will build partnerships in the Upper Colorado River Basin at Dinosaur National Monument (DINO) and Canyonlands National Park (CANY). The Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator will develop a long-term, proactive AIS program at DINO and CANY that can serve as a regional example for prevention, early detection, outreach, and partnership development for other park units and agencies that manage Western big rivers. The candidate will also work with Utah State University Biology faculty at the Uintah Basin campus to implement educational outreach to diverse stakeholders and disseminate reporting of outcomes.

Project expected outcomes include developing an independent, pro-active Aquatic Invasive Species Program through partnerships, outreach and education, and AIS monitoring and management:

• Implement routine surveys and reporting for AIS species of concern, including providing oversight and mentoring to interns, technicians, and/or seasonal staff
• Oversee implementation of DINO’s monitoring, rapid response, and communications plans and adapt them for CANY.
• Lead required environmental and cultural compliance related to AIS actions.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders with river management responsibilities.
• Develop AIS education and outreach strategies to incentivize compliance among river users for prevention and containment efforts.
• Lead AIS regional training and education and outreach opportunities.
• Explore options to adapt new technologies, identify funding sources, and develop a pathway for long-term sustainability of the program.
• Write technical reports, publications, project proposals, plans, memoranda, and other documents that support aquatic invasive species research and management

This position is salaried, full-time with benefits, for one year, and with the potential to extend the position to three total years. Compensation is ~65k per year and is funded by a cooperative agreement between the National Park Service and Utah State University. No housing or moving allowance are provided with this position. The duty station for these positions is Vernal, Utah.

Responsibilities:

• Compile, analyze, and interpret aquatic species data (e.g., angler survey, spatial, biological, eDNA, remote sensing, hydroacoustic, field sampling data) to evaluate the risk, status and impacts of aquatic invasive species and the effectiveness of control/eradication efforts.
• Develop clear, concise messages and media on best practices for aquatic invasive species prevention that target visitors, parks staff, cooperators contractors, and others.
• Provide technical and policy guidance for aquatic invasive species management in parks including disseminating relevant information from other resource management agencies, interagency or multi-stakeholder groups, and academic institutions.
• Identify and recommend appropriate methods for prevention, monitoring, control and eradication of aquatic invasive species in NPS waters.
• Develop and lead AIS outreach and education training for a diversity of stakeholders, including public users of aquatic resources
• Conduct, oversee, and advise aquatic invasive species control and eradication efforts, including supervising seasonal employees, interns, or volunteers.
• Attain CPR/Wilderness First Aid Certification and Swiftwater Safety Certification (training provided).
• Travel to field sites, driving 4WD vehicle with trailer on unmaintained dirt roads, and use rafts to access monitoring sites.
• Deploying monitoring equipment and collecting data, sometimes in adverse weather, sometimes at irregular hours, and on occasional overnight trips.
• Navigate via GPS, and river maps.
• GPS management to find and monitor or map study sites.
• Write technical reports, publications, project proposals, plans, memoranda and other documents that support aquatic invasive species research and management.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (such as ecology, biology, fisheries management, or conservation) plus two years of relevant work experience; or a Master's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to perform aquatic fieldwork in adverse and physically strenuous conditions
• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate complex situations with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to follow safety regulations
• Valid driver’s license to perform essential job responsibilities, such as driving university vehicles and transporting materials
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles
• Ability to lead and mentor seasonal employees, interns, or volunteers

Prefered Qualifications:

• Experience designing and conducting monitoring programs for aquatic species in general and aquatic invasive species in particular
• Demonstrated expertise and leadership in aquatic invasive species prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, containment, and eradication
• Demonstrated experience leading and conducting investigations to determine aquatic invasive species presence, abundance and distribution
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance and training to resource managers, operations and maintenance staff, communications and interpretive specialists, law enforcement personnel, administrators and others on best practices for preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species
• Experience developing and implementing aquatic resource management plans including plans for aquatic invasive species prevention, early detection/rapid response, control and eradication
• Experience designing and implementing outreach and education tailored for a variety of stakeholders
• Experience leading/supervising employees, interns, or students
• Professional fieldwork experience, including competency to safely navigate rafts downriver in remote wilderness areas and through up to Class III rapids
• GIS, GPS, or orienteering experience
• Demonstrated data analysis skills
• Advanced Degree (e.g., MS, PhD) in related field, such as ecology, biology, fisheries management, or conservation

About the Area

Dinosaur National Monument is a spectacular 211,000-acre medium-sized park with mega-park values. Dinosaur has the most complete geologic record of any national park area and an internationally renowned display of Jurassic era dinosaur bones. The rugged landscape provides diverse habitats that support a surprisingly diverse assemblage of plants and animals and critical habitat for endangered species. The whitewater rafting and magnificent scenery found in the canyons of the Green and Yampa rivers provide premier Western boating experiences. The Yampa is the only remaining large tributary in the Colorado River system that retains its free-flowing character. Dinosaur is over 90% recommended wilderness. The area receives an average of 8–10 inches of precipitation annually. Temperatures range from -20 degrees to 105 degrees. The nearby communities of Rangely, CO and Vernal, UT offer all amenities (hospital, schools, grocery, etc.). Both towns are within commuting distance (20-35 miles) of headquarters located in Dinosaur, CO and the Quarry visitor center located in Jensen, UT.

Known to many as one of the “hidden jewels” of the national park system, the geologic and paleontological resources in the monument showcase millions of years of natural processes and associated plant and animal life. The world-renowned fossil record found in Dinosaur National Monument features thousands of high-quality specimens—particularly Jurassic period fossils. The 1.1 billion year geologic record in the monument ranges from Precambrian times to the present. A great diversity of geologic landforms—23 exposed geologic strata—is on display, including deep canyons, faults, and folds. Dinosaur National Monument also protects an exceptional biological diversity and species abundance. Much of this diversity stems from the climate and location of the monument within a regional context. The monument is located at the transition zone of multiple physiographic provinces, including the Wyoming Basin, Great Basin, central Rocky Mountains, and Colorado Plateau. This location, combined with topography and soils spanning high desert areas to riparian river valleys, gives the monument a natural palette upon which diverse life can thrive. Over 1,000 native species of plants and animals can be found within the six major vegetation communities of the monument: montane forest, montane and semi-desert woodlands, montane shrub-steppe, semi-desert shrub-steppe, desert shrublands, and riparian woodlands and wetlands. Aside from species abundance and biodiversity, the monument also protects a variety of rare, endemic, and imperiled plant and animal species, including four species of endangered fish.

Dinosaur National Monument includes four distinct river canyons that have been carved by eons of snowmelt-driven river flows from the Green and Yampa Rivers. Even more notable, the monument contains 46 miles of the lower Yampa River, the last remaining free-flowing, large river in the entire Colorado River system. In contrast, several miles upstream of the monument, the Green River is dammed and regulated at Flaming Gorge. Thus, below the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers, a “hybrid” river exists, consisting of input from the free-flowing Yampa and the flow-regulated Green. This living laboratory of a natural and modified river system in one park unit provides a rare opportunity for inquiry and study of river sciences.

Canyonlands National Park encompasses approximately 527 square miles in southeastern Utah on the Colorado Plateau. The area is mostly high desert characterized by eroded sedimentary rocks including several distinct types of sandstone, shale, and limestone formations. It is rugged and spectacular country. The vast and diverse geologic landscapes of Canyonlands National Park are a result of the power of rivers, the persistence of gravity, and the promise of intermittent rainfall in an arid environment. The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands, cutting through layered sedimentary formations to form four deep and distinctly different canyons. Both rivers are characterized by gentle gradients upstream of the confluence, where “flat water” reaches are ideal for travel in canoes and kayaks. In Cataract Canyon below the confluence, numerous rocky debris flows from steep canyon walls have created a long series of large rapids where sandstone and limestone boulders present obstacles to navigation and provide an opportunity for visitors to experience a world-class reach of whitewater boating.

The Green and Colorado rivers are the lifeblood of the park, and fundamental to their integrity are clean water, native biotic communities, characteristic landforms, and the natural hydrologic, geomorphic, and biotic processes necessary for sustaining them. Four endangered native fish species make a home here. The diverse natural landscapes and rich cultural history of Canyonlands National Park provide outstanding opportunities for the scientific study of natural ecological systems and how they are affected by human use and climate in different settings over long periods of time. The confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers divides the park into four districts: (1) Island in the Sky, (2) The Needles, (3) The Maze, and (4) the rivers themselves. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and encounters with natural and cultural history. The four districts are not directly linked by any roads, providing incomparable opportunities to experience remote wildness and solitude.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person, at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, as well as six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. The Uintah Basin campus offers 37 BS/BA degrees, 37 graduate degrees, and a plethora of technical certificates to an enrollment of ~800 students, supported by more than 30 faculty and researchers, as well as 29 staff and administrators. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

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