- Agency
- Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition
- Location
- Juneau, Alaska
- Job Category
- Full time Positions
- Salary
- $55,000-$70,000 per year, depending on experience
- Start Date
- 01/01/2024
- Last Date to Apply
- 12/31/2023
- Website
- https://www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org/
- Description
- Job Opening: Regional Invasive Plant Coordinator Job Title: Invasive Plant Coordinator Application Closing Date: Open Until Filled Remuneration: $26-$34 per hour, depending on experience, exempt FTE with leave policy, plus medical & dental package, retirement stipend after first year of employment. Location: Juneau, AK (Other SE AK communities will be considered on a case-by-case basis). Organizational Background: The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC) is a nonprofit organization that fosters partnerships and inspires Southeast Alaskans to steward our watersheds through participatory projects, research, and learning. We are a regional leader in stream, riparian, and wetland restoration; stormwater and invasive plant management; watershed assessment, planning, and management; and environmental monitoring. We work hand-in-hand with Tribes, forest partnerships, and community-based watershed councils. We were awarded the National Rise to the Future Award for Partnerships by the US Forest Service in 2022 and the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Regional Director’s Outstanding Partner Award in 2021. SAWC also runs a compensatory mitigation in-lieu fee program for US Army Corp of Engineers’ Clean Water Act permittees. We showcase our partnerships and project outcomes through a robust communications program using social media posts, traditional media, outreach and education events, and collaborations with communication teams at other non-profit organizations. Find out more about us at: www.alaskawateshedcoalition.org and www.facebook.com/alaskawatershedcoalition/ Position Background: Compared to other states, Alaska hosts a low number of non-native invasive plant species. However, many of these plants are considered highly invasive, are widely distributed, and have invaded natural areas where the potential for economic and ecological harm is high. A few of these species are already causing significant environmental damage at regional or local scales. Other highly invasive plants are largely confined to the “human footprint” but have the potential to invade natural areas. Acting early to eradicate priority species and infestations will be critical to safeguarding fish and wildlife habitat, natural resource-based economies, and subsistence resources. In Southeast Alaska, most of the landscape is free of invasive plants; infestations tend to be concentrated along road systems and in cities, towns, and villages. Invasive plant survey and control work is being conducted by only a few individuals who often work independent of one another. Despite their dedication, the magnitude of the invasive plant problem is much greater than the level of their impact, at least regionally and often locally. Effective invasive plant management in our region will benefit greatly from a coordinated, collaborative, and strategic approach to invasive plant management that involves all relevant stakeholders working together with guidance and support from a dedicated regional coordinator. Position Scope: Are you an experienced biologist who wants to pursue your professional goals as part of a fun and productive team? Are you tired of agency bureaucracy? Craving flexibility? Does your creative spirit need to be unleashed? Consider joining SAWC. We are a small but growing non-profit watershed organization with a professional staff of 5 full-time employees. With an expanding program of work, we are looking to add new capacity in the form of a Regional Invasive Plant Management Coordinator for Southeast Alaska. Key job responsibilities include: ● Stakeholder Group Development, Coordination, and Planning: ○ Establish a regional invasive plant stakeholder group to address invasive plant issues ○ Organize and facilitate regular meetings of the group ○ Involve Tribal, municipal, state, and federal governments, non-profit organizations, and general public ○ Work with the group to develop a regional invasive plant management plan ○ Independently and with stakeholders write grants to fund invasive plant management priorities ○ Write reports ● Invasive Plant Data Consolidation and Delivery: ○ Identify existing invasive plant inventory data for the region ○ Assess data quality and consolidate to the greatest extent possible ○ Make data accessible to stakeholders through existing (e.g., Alaska Invasive Plant Information Clearinghouse) or another platform ● Outreach, Education, and Partnerships ○ Develop and maintain a Southeast Alaska Invasive Plant website ○ Create flyers, pamphlets, and digital media for relevant invasive plant topics ○ Provide invasive plant management information to the public and professionals through presentations, training, one-on-one interactions, and other means. ○ Represent SAWC and the stakeholder group at outreach and education events ○ Continue existing invasive plant management partnerships at SAWC and develop new partnerships ● Invasive Plant Management ○ Conduct on-the-ground invasive plant inventories ○ Develop community- or watershed-level invasive plant management plans ○ Acquire permits and permissions for IPM projects ○ Implement invasive plant control projects and effectiveness monitoring; assist partners with same ○ Write grant proposals and completion reports ○ Work with existing tribal work crews to assess and treat invasive species ○ Help develop new tribal work crews to treat invasive species Desired qualifications: ● Relevant graduate degree and/or 5 years of relevant experience ● An upbeat attitude, happy to take on and complete small and large tasks ● Excellent strategic planning and implementation skills ● Strong interpersonal, verbal, written communication skills ● Experience working in remote locations and around bears ● GIS skills ● Data management skills ● Grant writing and grant management experience ● Self-starter and goal-oriented ● Program management experience ● Supervisory experience ● Knowledge and experience in invasive plant management and IPM principles ● Knowledge and experience working in Southeast AK and willingness to travel ● Experience working with tribal work crews a plus. Note: this position will require knowledge and application of Integrated Pest Management principles, including the application of chemicals by the successful applicant to control invasive plants. The successful applicant will be required to obtain Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation certification in one or more pesticide application categories. Physical Demands and Work Environment Southeast Alaska is an island archipelago with a cool and moist temperate climate. The terrain can be steep, uneven, soggy, and densely vegetated. Most communities are remote and isolated from the continental road system, with boats and airplanes providing the only means of access. The physical and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to: walk; use hands to finger or handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance, stoop; bend or crouch; talk; and hear. Work may involve bush-bashing through nasty young-growth forest and flooded streams filled with bears in the rain for hours on end! The employee must be able to lift/carry and/or move up to 30 pounds safely. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Driver’s license is required, and willingness to travel on small planes and boats to remote locations is necessary. To apply, please email a cover letter, writing sample, and resume including three references to: John Hudson (john@sawcak.org) or 907-419-4677. Please put “Invasive Plant Coordinator” in the subject line. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
- Qualifications
- Desired qualifications: ● Relevant graduate degree and/or 5 years of relevant experience ● An upbeat attitude, happy to take on and complete small and large tasks ● Excellent strategic planning and implementation skills ● Strong interpersonal, verbal, written communication skills ● Experience working in remote locations and around bears ● GIS skills ● Data management skills ● Grant writing and grant management experience ● Self-starter and goal-oriented ● Program management experience ● Supervisory experience ● Knowledge and experience in invasive plant management and IPM principles ● Knowledge and experience working in Southeast AK and willingness to travel ● Experience working with tribal work crews a plus.
- Contact Person
- John Hudson
- Contact Phone
- 9074194677
- Contact eMail
- john@sawcak.org
