Coastal Restoration Project Director

About the role

The Coastal Restoration Project Director develops, manages and advances coastal conservation and restoration programs, plans and methods for large-scale geographic areas across the Texas coast. They identify coastal restoration priorities and areas of opportunity to support restoration efforts across broad ecosystems and at a watershed scale, facilitate trainings and workshops to scale up restoration, support collaborative coastal restoration and monitoring projects, and stay up to date on the latest trends and science related to coastal restoration and management.

Responsibilities

• Identify coastal restoration priorities and areas of opportunity to support restoration efforts across broad ecosystems and at a watershed scale.
• Facilitate trainings and workshops to scale up restoration.
• Support collaborative coastal restoration and monitoring projects.
• Stay up to date on the latest trends and science related to coastal restoration and management.
• Develop resources to support collaborative restoration, such as recommendations, restoration plans and/or guidance documents.
• Research and identify complex, innovative solutions to coastal restoration challenges to fill knowledge gaps and build a stronger basis for current and future restoration projects.
• Build relationships with coastal communities and facilitate collaborative, inclusive problem-solving.
• Develop restoration and monitoring plans that prioritize scientific data, equity, and long-term resilience through adaptive management.
• Guide the development and implementation of conservation and restoration projects related to oyster reefs, coastal marshes, seagrasses, and coastal shoreline protection and restoration efforts, including living shorelines and other nature-based solutions.
• Address critical threats to natural systems and individual species, and foster cross-site learning related to coastal restoration and adaptive management strategies.
• Provide technical leadership and support to the Texas business unit, the Texas Resilient Coast Program, and the Texas Landscape Initiatives team by planning, directing and implementing coastal and near shore restoration and monitoring programs, projects and stewardship.
• Coordinate with internal conservation leadership, the Texas Resilient Coast team, and colleagues within the Ocean and Coasts Program and the Great Plains and Southern U.S. Divisions to facilitate collaboration and promote awareness of Texas coastal conservation and restoration efforts.
• Work with external partners to develop, manage, and advance conservation and restoration programs, plans, and methods for small- to large- scale coastal restoration projects and implement a variety of strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation and restoration priorities.
• Work closely with partners, contractors and consultants, and funders of coastal restoration projects, coordinate community support and maintain preserve and or leased areas, including restored oyster reefs, frequented by the visiting public.

  Requirements

  • A BA/BS, law or business degree and 5 years' experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience negotiating complex agreements.
  • Supervisory experience.
  • Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
  • Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
  • Experience with principles of coastal restoration and monitoring.
  • Experience in training and curriculum design, including workshop organization and facilitation.

  Qualifications

  • A Master’s degree in marine or coastal science and management and/or relevant years of experience in coastal restoration project management.
  • Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.
  • Experience in field data collection, data compilation and analysis of data sets.
  • Experience in fisheries management.
  • Ability to use and interpret statistical and spatial data sets in ArcGIS.
  • Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
  • Knowledge of coastal restoration principles, including oyster reef restoration, living shorelines and natural and nature-based solutions.
  • Ability to explain conservation and restoration practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages, including Spanish.

  Skills

  • Strong leadership and project management skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Experience with GIS software.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Experience with stakeholder engagement and community outreach.
  • Ability to travel to various locations within Texas.

  Benefits

  Salary Information: The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $65,000 - $85,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

  Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.