Albuquerque, NM

Position Title: Program Coordinator

Organization: Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc.

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Organization Overview: Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) is a dynamic medium size consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada. WEST has an exciting, challenging and immediate opportunity for a Program Coordinator for the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (Collaborative Program). The Collaborative Program is a partnership composed of 16 federal, state, municipal, tribal, non-profit, and university signatories working on high-level scientific issues to improve the status of endangered species along the Middle Rio Grande, while also protecting existing and future regional water uses.

WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in basic and applied ecological studies and the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped the foundation of what they do, and what they believe in through their core values and key principles. Their work matters to their clients, communities, and the environment. Join WEST and discover a company of passionate, committed, and highly motivated individuals.

Position Overview: The successful candidate will have experience and expertise in environmental consulting and/or wildlife biology/ecology/environmental engineering management and will be responsible for coordinating and managing wildlife and/or fisheries studies, including leading and organizing research and monitoring projects and providing for peer review of study plans, protocols, and reports, as appropriate. The Program Coordinator will work with a team of other Program staff to assist the Program Manager.

Duties: 

• Provide leadership for the Collaborative Program and develop and further the collaborative efforts of the group, with a focus on scientific activities,
• Develop relationships with and maintain open lines of communication with technical experts and scientists who work on the Middle Rio Grande, including those within Program signatory organizations,
• Along with the Program Manager and stakeholder technical experts, developing an Adaptive Management Plan for the Middle Rio Grande,
• Organize and conduct scientific and technical meetings, including external panels. Finding and securing the services of high-level external scientists and technical experts for such panels,
• Help the client and other Collaborative Program agencies coordinate scientific research and monitoring efforts, including reviewing proposed study and monitoring plans, tracking project timelines and budgets, reviewing deliverables, and QA/QC of data and study results,
• Providing scientific guidance to Program signatory organizations as needed,
• Coordinating Program science activities to ensure efficient and effective use of resources, and that the activities are in line with the MRG Adaptive Management Plan,
• Synthesize and communicate results of projects to the Program Manager, Program Executive Committee and its workgroups,
• Support the Program Executive Committee and its workgroups in its research and monitoring endeavors, and helping coordinate efforts.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in ecology, natural resources, wildlife or fisheries management, environmental engineering or a related field, plus 10 years of experience.
  • Avian and/or fisheries and water resource management are the primary areas of technical expertise sought, but experience in wetland and/or riparian ecology, plant ecology, or other areas of ecology or environmental engineering potentially of interest to commercial clients will also be considered.
• Previous project management experience, including budgeting, and report writing experience, professional scientific experience, and a track record of maintaining positive relationships with coworkers, clients, or stakeholder,
• Familiarity with external review panels and the National Academies of Sciences best practices for running such panels,
• Wildlife/fisheries biology/ecology/river systems technical knowledge, and experience with water management in the West, as well as application of the Endangered Species Act,
• Strong understanding of statistics, particularly with regard to study design validity,
• Ability to translate complex technical information and concepts to the layperson, and place science in a management and policy context,
• Ability to be a collaborative leader, with a diverse group of stakeholders, manage conflict, and be aware of large political sensitivities and situations,
• Strong, competent writing skills with the ability to pay close attention to detail and accurately report the scientific methods and results of field studies,
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral,
• Good time management, project management and organizational skills with the ability to work well under time constraints and meet deliverable targets and deadlines,
• Ability to follow instructions from managers and accept guidance and constructive criticism,
• Ability to effectively supervise others.

Salary/Pay: The minimum base salary for this position is $80,000, plus annual bonus. Salary may vary based on education, knowledge, and experience.

Application Deadline: February 18, 2024

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