Location: Location negotiable within Oregon

Application deadline Open until filled. Preference will be given to applications submitted by November 15, 2024. Job posting will be removed when filled

Anticipated start date: January 2024

Overview:

This is a full-time position working directly with NRCS and Pheasants Forever (PF), as well as other in-state conservation partners to lead and coordinate the delivery of wildlife habitat conservation within the state of Oregon.  This position would support PF and NRCS in strategically working with producers to implement sagebrush, wet meadow, riparian, and mesic conservation on working lands. This position will be responsible for the coordination of field delivery capacity positions, with an emphasis on leadership of and synchronization across partner positions established through partnerships between NRCS, ODFW, IWJV, Pacific Birds Joint Venture, and Pheasants Forever. This position would provide overall guidance for this team of field staff and build connectivity between on-the-ground implementation of Farm Bill Programs and mid- to upper-level NRCS and PF priorities within the state.

This position will work with partners to develop and promote landscape scale habitat restoration on both private and public lands, seek and secure grant funding, and all.  This position will supervisor PF staff located in Oregon as serve as a guide for other partner positions located in Oregon which includes ensuring training, monitoring project progress, and ensuring communication occurs between all partners.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications are a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in conservation, biology, agriculture, or closely related field with three years of work experience in your field.

Expected experience and skills include:

• Project or habitat plan coordination and execution
• Strong coordination, facilitation, team building, and a collaborative approach
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong background in wildlife management and ecology
• Substantial computer and technology-based understanding
• Planning, budget management, program evaluation, and report writing
• A strong understanding of Farm Bill Programs (EQIP, CSP, ACEP, CRP) specifically as it relates to program implementation, standards and specifications and practice designs.

Desirable experience and skills include:

• Working with federal, state, NGO, and private industry partners
• Supervisory or leadership experience
• Grant writing and management and/or general fund raising

Salary – Up to $75,000 Commensurate with Experience + health benefits and the option to participate in Pheasants Forever’s student loan repayment program.

Duties and Expectations       

The State Coordinator will:

Coordination:

• The State Coordinator will represent PF and IWJV within the Oregon Conservation Community, and work to maintain current relationships with partners in Oregon and seek to bring in new partners and develop new relationships that have some similar goals and objectives.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen relationships between NRCS, ODFW, and other agencies and organizations to meet shared conservation goals.
• Support and build relationships with partners in ways that achieve shared objectives and results in the partners cost-sharing field delivery capacity over the long run.
• Facilitate landscape scale habitat restoration projects continuously across private and public landowners boundaries, including the use and promotion of funding programs available through the Farm Bill, ODFW, BLM, USFS, NFWF, and others.
• Coordinate timing of Farm Bill and state agency program funding with federal land management plans to implement existing NEPA ready projects and insert future habitat restoration priorities into new NEPA and other federal land management planning efforts.
• Identify opportunities for programmatic agreements, such as MOUs and cooperative agreements, that facilitate cross landownership boundary conservation efforts.
• Promote a shared stewardship conservation ethic within all partnerships including the Executive Leadership Board for Oregon natural resource agencies.
• Working with PF Regional Reps, ensure communication with PF chapter leadership on the successes of this partnership, highlight new conservation initiatives developing in Oregon, and generate support for landscape scale conservation within PF chapter.

Outreach:

• Work with NRCS, PBJV, IWJV, Conservation Districts, other conservation partners and Pheasants Forever Inc. & Quail Forever Marketing Team to provide information focused on promoting in-state strategic conservation efforts and accomplishments to a variety media sources in Oregon.
• Work with PF staff to compile success stories, collect photos and videos that highlight the partnerships impact on the landscape, and work with PF marketing and outreach staff to publish stories highlighting this partnership.
• Develop relationships with partners to amplify success stories through all partners media outlets as partners see fit. This may include but is not limited to NRCS, ODFW, and Joint Venture outreach staff and media outlets.
• Participate in State Technical Advisory Committee meetings.

Program Oversight and Development:

• The State Coordinator will work with partners to develop relationships and form partnerships that will work together to address conservation priorities of multiple organizations to leverage technical and financial resources to make the greatest impact to the conservation priority.
• Identify opportunities (grants or programs) that will enhance strategic implementation of conservation. Pursue granting opportunities as they become available. Examples include National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants, Regional Conservation Partnership Grants, and several others.
• Work with the NRCS, ODFW, Joint Ventures, Conservation Districts, BLM, and other state partners to identify strategic locations for wildlife capacity to address conservation priorities throughout the state.

Reporting and Administration:

• Monitor the progress of the Oregon PF Biologist Team in the delivery of strategic conservation initiatives, keeping partners aware of timelines and milestones.
• Prepare high quality quarterly written performance reports and a full year summary report to share with all partners describing the accomplishments of this partnerships.
• Write grant proposals, draft agreements, and complete other administrative tasks related to the implementation of conservation programs and ensuring funding is secured for PF staff located in Oregon.

Supervision:

• Provide direct oversight, leadership, supervision, and guidance to the State-wide Pheasants Forever Biologist Team, ensuring effective conservation delivery and coordination within their counties or areas of responsibility.
• Work closely with field practitioners and partner staff to educate them on the proper implementation and utilization of wildlife conservation programs and practices.
• Provide cost-share program, habitat restoration and management training to conservation planners on wildlife habitat.
• Develop performance plans, including required and suggested training, for all PF staff and evaluate the performance of PF staff with input from the appropriate partners.
• Work with NRCS and other partners to provide the training needed for PF staff to implement Farm Bill and other compatible voluntary conservation programs in Oregon.
• Work to build a sense of belonging to team PF Oregon as one of several methods to maintain morale, provide professional development, and develop strategies to increase the length of time PF staff spend in Oregon.

Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.