Open Position: Watershed Programs Associate

Reports to: Watershed Planner

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week, with benefits (see below)

Salary: $55,099/year. HRWC sets a non-negotiable salary to ensure all associate employees are compensated equally.

Close Date: Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 15, 2023.

About the Huron River Watershed Council

The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) is a nonprofit organization and a coalition of watershed residents, businesses, and local governments. HRWC is the oldest regional river protection organization in Michigan with a mission to protect and restore the river for healthy and vibrant communities.

We work with a collaborative and inclusive spirit to give all partners the opportunity to become stewards; generate science-based, trustworthy information for decision makers to ensure reliable supplies of clean water and resilient natural systems; and passionately advocate for the health of the river and the lands around it.

HRWC aspires to an open and inclusive culture through our commitment to diversity within the workplace. We prohibit discrimination against volunteers, clients, and applicants based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental handicap/disability, social economic class, ethical values and/or political beliefs.

Position Description

The Watershed Programs Associate assists with the planning and implementation of environmental monitoring and stormwater outreach programming across the organization. The Associate is primarily responsible for coordinating volunteer data collection in HRWC’s Chemistry and Flow Monitoring Program and assisting with its ongoing development and implementation. The Associate is also part of a team assisting local municipalities and partners in meeting federal stormwater permit requirements and implementing key strategies of watershed management plans. HRWC will provide mentoring to guide growth and professional development within the watershed management field.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with the stormwater team to implement activities and deliver products and services as part of three fee-for-service contracts with local municipalities in the watershed.
• Coordinate volunteer activities for HRWC’s Chemistry and Flow Monitoring Program, including recruitment, onboarding, training, communication, scheduling, and technical support.
• Conduct in-stream water quality monitoring to support volunteer programming, including measuring flow, collecting water samples, and using handheld water quality meters.
• Track and maintain all monitoring equipment and materials.
• Maintain relationships with monitoring program partners, including municipalities, laboratories, interns, and university partners.
• Process incoming field and lab data and review for issues that violate quality control protocols.
• Manage data flow incoming through a Survey123 collection tool to storage in the program’s geodatabase, including data review and quality control.
• Review data for anomalies requiring follow-up sampling or other action by HRWC or others.
• Work with HRWC staff, partner organizations and volunteers to execute storm sampling and high flow monitoring.
• Conduct data analysis, prepare reports, and present results at a variety of stakeholder meetings and other forums.
• Integrate chemistry and flow data with macroinvertebrate and other data collected by HRWC and other partners.
• Assist in the collection of data for a variety of studies in the watershed.
• Assist with the coordination of watershed management programs and initiatives, including organization of meetings, project reports, outcome tracking, permit compliance documents and other requirements.
• Carry out research and product development for other projects as needed by and under supervision of the stormwater team.
• Participate in production of a high-quality newsletter, website, and other traditional media and social networking outlets
• Assist in developing and implementing any needed procedures to continually improve the effectiveness of the organization
• Participate in staff meetings, and other organization events and activities
• Support and facilitate the development of new projects and other fundraising efforts

Qualified candidates will have/be:

• Minimum of 4 years of experience on environmental and/or water resources issues, or a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, natural resources, ecology, environmental engineering, or a related field
• Experience leading groups of people and/or coordinating volunteers
• Self-motivated, organized, and collaborative; ability to work independently
• Access to a vehicle and ability to travel to numerous monitoring sites in Southeast Michigan
• Values alignment with HRWC, including a commitment to equity, inclusion, and environmental justice
• Able to occasionally lift and move 50 pounds, walk on uneven ground, and wade in streams

Desired Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in an environmental field.
• Experience with water monitoring and stormwater management
• Experience with ArcGIS (including geodatabases) and Microsoft Office Suite, specifically with spreadsheet and cloud data storage systems
• Strong analytical skills, preferably using statistical analysis techniques, GIS and other watershed management tools
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience presenting material to a variety of audiences
• Familiarity with Southeast Michigan

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them.

• Willingness to travel within four-county area in Southeast Michigan.
• Available to work some evenings and weekends.
• The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. Specific vision abilities required include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Able to meet the demands of the work environment including physical activity (wading in streams and rivers, carrying equipment), being in indoor and outdoor locations in a variety of temperatures, light conditions, activity, and noise levels.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license for driving in the State of Michigan.

HRWC supports a hybrid work environment with the ability to work both remotely and from HRWC’s offices in Ann Arbor, MI. HRWC staff are expected to be office-based a minimum of three days/week.

Benefits

• Pre-tax retirement account with HRWC match
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Short and long-term disability
• Paid time off including 10 holidays, plus vacation, sick and personal time
• Professional development guidance and assistance
• Hybrid work environment

Application Process

Please submit an application, cover letter, resume, and up to three references at www.hrwc.org/jobs by May 15, 2023. Contact StormwaterAssociate@hrwc.org with any questions.