Project Manager
Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group
Ellensburg, Washington
| Job Type | Permanent |
| Salary | $50,000 - $65,000 per year |
| Benefits | Health, dental, vision insurance. Paid vacation and sick leave. 3% retirement match after 1 year of employment. |
| Deadline | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Min. Experience | 2 - 4 years |
RESPONSIBILITIES: This position will manage a variety of restoration projects, potentially including fish barrier removal projects, floodplain restoration projects, and/or low-tech process-based and beaver-based restoration.
Project Development:
- Plan and carry out restoration projects consistent with MCF’s ecological restoration approach.
- Conduct public and private landowner outreach, site visits, and site assessments to develop restoration projects.
- Engage project partners and stakeholders to support project development, implementation, and outcomes.
- Develop budgets, maps, photos, and site plans to support project planning and reporting.
- Research, identify, and actively pursue funding opportunities, including preparing grant proposals.
Project Management:
- Manage multiple restoration projects, each at different phases of development, implementation and stewardship.
- Monitor grant-funded project activities and ensure deliverables and reporting requirements are met.
- Collaborate with MCF administrative and project staff to approve grant expenditures, review project expenses, and adjust workflow to keep projects within budget.
- Manage communications and coordination with landowners.
Project Implementation:
- Apply for, secure, and manage project permits and permissions.
- Accurately track and document project work and outcomes.
- Develop project specifications and cost estimates.
- Prepare bid packages, solicitations, and scopes of work for consultants and contractors.
- Coordinate with designers and engineers throughout the project design process.
- Communicate and collaborate with landowners, technical teams, design teams, regulators, funders, and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate crews, materials, and tools required for project implementation.
- Oversee contractors and ensure quality construction oversight.
- Work with colleagues to develop and implement innovative restoration techniques.
Other Duties:
- Participate in a variety of internal and external meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities.
- Direct (but not supervise) seasonal technicians and volunteers. Eventually, the Project Manager may supervise other staff.
- Participate in educational outreach events for adults and children.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Professionalism:
- Able to interact professionally on behalf of MCF with partners, stakeholders, and the public.
- Self-motivated, organized, and capable of managing tasks and projects with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated passion for ecological restoration and dedication to advancing MCF’s mission.
- Communicates clearly in writing and verbally, including presenting information to groups.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills for collaborating with co-workers, landowners, funders, and project partners.
- Willing and able to perform all aspects of the job, including other duties as assigned.
- Committed to following safety procedures.
- Will contribute to and support a positive organizational culture
- Understanding of the life cycle and habitat needs of fish native to the Mid-Columbia region, including salmon, steelhead, bull trout and Pacific lamprey
- Able to pass a background check
Project management and technical skills:
- Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with diverse and changing tasks.
- Able to develop budgets and grant applications.
- Able to use ArcGIS Pro to document sites and create maps, with enthusiasm for developing advanced GIS capabilities
Education and experience:
- Degree in ecology, biology, natural resources, hydrology, stream ecology, geomorphology, or related.
- Minimum one year of professional experience with work similar to that described above.
Field skills:
- Comfortable and able to safely navigate uneven terrain in remote field settings while maintaining situational awareness.
- Ability to safely lift up to 30 pounds of tools and equipment into and out of work vehicles, and to occasionally carry heavy tools and equipment short distances at a worksite.
- Valid WA driver’s license and safe driving record required.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with grant writing.
- Able to evaluate and interpret engineering design plans, construction drawings, and results from hydraulic modeling.
- Understanding of fluvial or groundwater processes and geomorphology, either through formal coursework or independent learning.
- Familiarity with remote sensing and vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI) for habitat or restoration projects, or willingness to develop skills in this area.
- Familiarity with drone use in ecological or restoration projects, or interest in becoming a certified FAA drone pilot.
See the full job posting on our website here.
| Category | Hydrology , Restoration |
| Tags | GIS |