Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Riparian Connectivity Coordinator to join our Western Water Team. As part of a small, high-impact team, this position will work under the guidance of the Riparian Connectivity Manager in partnership with Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, and other local nonprofits and agencies.

The Riparian Connectivity Coordinator position will include planning, designing, and implementing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration (LTPBR) projects within the Hi-Line Sagebrush Anchor Restoration Landscape and Northern Great Plains project boundaries. Duties may also include community outreach and education events, trainings for local partners, and working closely with NWF’s Western Water Program staff. This work requires specialized knowledge and skills in riverscape restoration, and in techniques for improving mesic habitats, as well as in building relationships, credibility, and trust with key agency partners.

The term position will last from approximately March 2025 - March 2028 and will be expected to work 40 hours per week. If additional funding is secured, there is a strong possibility to extend this term, expand the scope of work, and/or rehire in 2028.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

• Coordinate and implement up to 25 miles of LTPBR projects that will benefit BLM administered resources over the next 3-5 years.
• Utilize Riverscape Consortium tools and Valley County Watershed Prioritization to develop monitoring protocols, project designs, and complete required permitting
• Conduct site visits with BLM staff, permitting authorities, and other partners
• Assist BLM and partners in completing required permits and ensuring compliance with BLMs Programmatic Environmental Assessment
• Coordinate implementation with BLM Staff, project partners, and selected contractors
• Initiate and implement monitoring protocols consistent with best practices, from pre-to post-construction
• Work closely with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologists to monitor effects of LTPBR on prairie fish species
• Plan and coordinate workshops for local interest groups at project sites in collaboration with BLM and external partners
• Engage community leaders and local conservation and sporting groups to build awareness of low-tech restoration and recruit volunteers
• Coordinate with Smithsonian Institute and/or local universities during project planning phase to document and implement research design, approach, and methodology
• Assist in writing and publishing stories, blogs, and social media posts illustrating the work funded under this cooperative agreement
• Seek opportunities to present about the project in professional and public settings

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in ecology, hydrology, natural resource management, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in riverscape restoration, particularly with Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration techniques
• Knowledge of watershed processes, riparian ecology, and mesic habitat restoration
• Excellent project management and organizational skills
• Experience in grant writing and reporting
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with diverse interests, including environmental justice and Tribal representatives, labor, business, rural, and conservation groups
• Willingness to use personal vehicle to drive to field sites
• Valid driver’s license in good standing
• Ability to thrive in a multiple-task work environment, work independently with minimal supervision, set priorities and follow through to completion, with excellent attention to detail
• Proficiency in GIS and data management tools
• Experience in community outreach and education
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
• Actively seeking feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeping staff informed of decisions that impact them
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF's internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Travel Requirements:

This position requires travel, including overnight trips, and some evenings and weekends. Successful candidates must use their own vehicle for fieldwork (compensated at Federal travel rate per mile), work safely and independently in remote locations around and demonstrate self-discipline and accountability for managing their field and home office workload efficiently.

Location and Work Mode:

This position will be based in Malta, Glasgow, or Lewistown, MT. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee will be fully remote. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). This position requires long hours in the field in variable and sometimes adverse weather conditions. Must be able to lift 65 pounds, reach overhead, wade in streams carrying bulky and heavy objects, and walk over uneven terrain.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $50,000 - $55,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

COVID Consideration:

The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities. Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted. This will include a driving record check.