RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2023

APPLICATION REVIEW: Beginning November 27, 2023. Applications accepted until position is filled.

ANTICIPATED START: January, 2024

CONTACT PERSON: Danny Margoles - coordinator@dwrfcollaborative.org

INTRODUCTION

The Dolores Watershed Resilient Forest Collaborative (DWRF) is seeking a collaborative coordinator to manage the day-to-day operations of the collaborative. This includes partner communication, coordinating/facilitating stakeholder and coordinating committee meetings, organizing field tours, coordinating collaborative development of and engagement with forest management projects, coordinating monitoring engagement, grant writing, and general operations. DWRF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit through its fiscal agent, Onward! A Legacy Foundation. Onward! and the DWRF Coordinating Committee will oversee this position. 

ABOUT DWRF

The Dolores Watershed Resilient Forest Collaborative (DWRF) is a diverse network of land and water managers, tribal government, local government, timber industry, conservation groups, scientists, recreation groups, agricultural community, and other community members and nonprofits. Together, we work to enhance ecological and social resilience to disturbance across Montezuma and Dolores Counties in SW Colorado, particularly focusing on wildfire. Operating since 2015, DWRF is a forum for developing and advancing collaborative approaches to forest management, monitoring, and reducing wildfire risk to our communities. DWRF focuses on landscape-scale cross-boundary efforts and has been instrumental in securing and advancing large initiatives like the SW Colorado Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP), and SW Colorado Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative (RMRI).

DWRF has four goals:

• Develop and implement collaborative cross-boundary forest management activities.
• Increase the capacity, viability, and sustainability of local forest product industries.
• Foster a network of professionals and residents to better prepare for, respond to, and aid recovery from severe wildfire.
• Represent collaborative efforts in a transparent, inclusive, effective, and engaged manner that is a community leader and resource for watershed protection and restoration.

To implement these goals, DWRF has five program areas:

• Collaborate with land management agencies
• Community education
• Resilient forests and communities
• Forest products industry development
• Collaborative effectiveness

RESPONSIBILITIES/SCOPE OF WORK

The DWRF Coordinator is funded through numerous local, state, and federal sources. Some responsibilities will be ongoing, while others are project based. When hired, the DWRF Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:

Collaborative effectiveness and relationships

• Plan and convene monthly stakeholder meeting 
• Plan and convene monthly Coordinating Team meetings
• Plan and conduct field tours
• Be a voice for the collaborative and the group’s goals/efforts among partners, public, and regional and national audiences
• Maintain and continue to develop close working relationships with partners and funders
• Conduct annual collaborative survey and review
• Continue learning and implementing collaborative best practices

Outreach/communications

• Maintain and enhance  information dissemination through DWRF website through regular updates, posting agendas and meeting notes, presentations, and other information.
• Maintain relationships and close communication with partners via email, phone, and in-person/virtual meetings.
• Represent DWRF at community events
• Develop outreach/education materials, maintain external communication, and coordinate new events to support community wildfire risk reduction and enhancing resilience.

Cross-boundary collaboration

• Maintain inclusive and robust stakeholder engagement in cross-boundary prioritization, planning, and implementation efforts. This includes San Juan NF Dolores Ranger District, Tres Rios BLM, private, and state lands.
• Coordinate/facilitate collaborative engagement with vegetation planning efforts that contribute towards watershed and wildfire resilience, including: identifying treatment areas, desired conditions, strategies, targets, adaptive management frameworks, and ongoing adaptive management reviews.
• Coordinate/facilitate/support cross-boundary activities through collaborative planning, seeking funding, and expanding implementation to reduce wildfire risk and enhance resilience.
• Support cohesive, coherent, and consistent forest and watershed collaborative efforts across the SW Colorado by engaging and coordinating efforts with other initiatives (e.g. CFLRP) and other collaboratives (e.g. Four Rivers Resilient Forest Collaborative and the San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership)

Science and monitoring

• Collaboratively support and engage monitoring efforts and goals towards forest and watershed resilience, aligning monitoring with the DWRF Ponderosa Pine Ecosystem Resilience Metrics & Desired Conditions
• Facilitate/assist with developing monitoring priorities, strategies, and securing additional monitoring funds.
• Develop systems with monitoring partners to effectively and transparently share monitoring results and interpreted data and incorporate partner feedback.
• Support collaborative science engagement with partners and other landscape initiatives that incorporate collaborative needs and questions.

Funding & Finances

• Pursue and secure funding to maintain coordination and achieve work plan priorities
• Pursue and secure funding to support project development, implementation, and monitoring. This includes coordinating with partners to develop joint proposals and leveraging time and resources of DWRF stakeholders.
• Draft budgets and track, manage, and report finances in partnership with Onward! A Legacy Foundation
• Provide reporting as needed for projects/funding

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

A candidate that meets all qualifications may be difficult to find. Please apply if you are interested.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in a natural resources field, nonprofit management, or related field. 
• Five years of professional experience 
• Experience writing and managing grants
• Highly effective written and verbal communicator
• Highly effective at building and maintaining relationships with individuals and organizations across a wide range of interests, experiences, and perspectives
• Experience effectively facilitating in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings. Meetings can have >40 participants.
• Ability to work independently and professionally, establish work priorities, and convene a Coordinating Committee
• Interest and ability to productively manage natural resource-based conflict 
• Ability to coordinate with partners across management boundaries, understanding (and/or able to learn quickly) the specific goals and needs of agencies and partners 
• Ability to coordinate and support collaborative learning across a broad range of social, economic, and ecological topics
• “Big picture” thinking towards local and regional forest resilience/restoration efforts
• Basic computer skills - Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite; Zoom
• Must be a resident of Montezuma or Dolores County or able to travel to counties multiple times per week (or willingness to relocate).

Desired/Preferred Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of forest ecology, watershed science, and/or fire ecology issues in the Four Corners
• Demonstrated facilitation experience and history with collaborative natural resource management 
• Knowledge of and experience with land management policies and procedures, including NEPA
• Knowledge of forest management and monitoring approaches, tailored to SW Colorado. Ability to support and/or facilitate technical conversations about management and monitoring
• Project management and basic fiscal management skills/experience, consistent with required qualifications
• Working knowledge of GIS and using maps and mapping software to support collaborative planning and funding proposals
• Interest and ability to participate in large-scale management programs inclusive of and beyond the geography of DWRF (e.g. CFLRP). Interest in continuing to develop and refine collaborative governance models.
• Experience and demonstrated success collaborating on funding opportunities with multiple other organizations

COMPENSATION

The position is currently 34 hours/week and depending on the future coordinator, may be between 24-40 hours/week. Pay is $30-40/hour, depending on experience and hours/week. This position earns PTO. Employer does not contribute to health insurance. The coordinator will be an employee of Onward! A Legacy Foundation.