Remote, San Juan River Basin Preferred

Position Title: Colorado River Basin Stewardship Coordinator

Organization: Western Landowners Alliance

Location: Remote, San Juan River Basin Preferred

Organization Overview: Founded in 2012 by landowners and managers, Western Landowners Alliance aims to increase the wellbeing of working lands in the American West and the living communities, including human and wildlife, that depend on them.  

Position Overview: The Colorado River Basin Stewardship Coordinator will work with organizational and program leadership to provide support to landowners and collaborative partners for project development and implementation within the Colorado River Basin, particularly within the San Juan River Basin of Colorado and New Mexico, a primary tributary of the Colorado River. The position will provide boots-on-the-ground capacity needed to assist landowners and collaborative partners in the San Juan Basin in bringing large scale, watershed improvement projects on private and adjacent public lands from concept to a “shovel ready” status so they are ripe for relevant funding opportunities (i.e., BIL, IRA, Farm Bill). The Colorado River Basin Stewardship Coordinator will be responsible for providing the support needed for convening stakeholders, project planning, project management and oversight, and grant writing.  

Duties:

• Identify focal areas within the San Juan River Basin suitable for implementing watershed health and agricultural efficiency projects, including areas where there are landowners willing and available to implement on the ground projects, where strategic partner capacity is available, and where projects have been identified for potential development. 
• Assist landowners and collaborative partners in watershed health and agricultural efficiency project development, planning and design and support these projects in seeking relevant funding opportunities (local/state/federal).  
• Plan, direct, and monitor complex watershed projects by coordinating project teams and partnering with stockgrowers associations, state land and water offices, federal agencies, conservation districts, ditch companies, place-based landowner-led organizations and other groups. 
• Communicate barriers and opportunities related to accessing watershed restoration funding and resources. 
• Prepare project management plans and strategies; manage several projects concurrently. 
• Assist in grant writing and fundraising in support of WLA’s Western Water program. 
• Create reports and perform benchmarking exercises as required. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in related field from an accredited institution or equivalent work experience required   
• Working knowledge of water management and delivery, and conservation practices and policies  
• Project management experience  
• Grant writing experience 
• Working knowledge of land, water, and natural resource issues in the West including ranching, conservation, and policies related to these issues  
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain positive working relationships  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; detail oriented, strong independent work ethic; and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment.  
• Ability to work with a diverse set of stakeholders that have varying opinions and perspectives on land and water management in the West 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required   
• Willingness and ability to maintain confidential information and work with diverse populations  
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite  

Start Date: November 2023 

Salary/Pay: $60,000-$75,000

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.