Southeast Conservation Associate Director

About the role

The Associate Director will work as a member of the American Rivers' Southeast Region leading river restoration and dam removal work in the Tennessee River basin. This position will build and manage a portfolio of dam removal projects in the Upper Tennessee River basin, lead the Tennessee Aquatic Connectivity Team, and cultivate strong relationships with community, agency, Tribal, nonprofit, and funding partners, and help build the policy and funding infrastructure needed to advance river restoration.

Principal Responsibilities

• Leads the priority restoration efforts in the Tennessee River.

• Leads American Rivers’ engagement with the Tennessee Aquatic Connectivity Team.

• Contributes to organizational and regional priorities as a member of the Southeast Regional staff.

• Led community engagement with racially, culturally, and economically diverse individuals and communities in an equitable and meaningful way.

• Provides technical assistance and program-building assistance to advance high-priority dam removal and aquatic connectivity projects.

• Facilitates meetings and nurtures relationships.

• Identifies, tracks, and collaboratively pursues funding sources for projects.

• Supports sound project administration, including consultant scopes, contracts, budgets, invoices, grant deliverables, and internal records.

• Aids in the selection and management of consultants, and coordination of partners engaged in restoration projects.

• Identifies ecosystem scale restoration projects in the Upper Tennessee River basin that will help meet the goals of the organization to remove 30,000 dams by 2050.

• Represents American Rivers at technical meetings, conferences, press events and other public events as needed, and by composing, editing, and preparing high-quality, time-sensitive written communication.

• Accurately and consistently manages administrative responsibilities, including timesheets, expenses, travel planning, project documentation, and internal reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three to five years of experience in a relevant field, and a Bachelor’s degree or professional certification in a relevant field.

• Strong passion for protecting and restoring the rivers of the Southeast and their watersheds.

• Demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and an ability to work with others with varying perspectives and values.

• Requires experience and strength in the following areas: project management, verbal and written communications, critical thinking, judgment and dependability.

• Self-starter able to work independently and manage multiple projects and priorities.

• Demonstrates initiative and creativity, and continually strives to improve program operations.

• Consistent exercise of professional discretion and independent judgment.

• Excellent personal organization and time management skills.

• Ability to travel as needed which may include using a personal and/or rented vehicle.

• Ability to perform multiple tasks effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability and willingness to conduct field work in rivers, including paddling, wading, hiking, extended standing, transporting gear, and lifting and carrying 40 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with dam removal, aquatic connectivity, river restoration, watershed conservation, infrastructure removal, or related natural resource projects.

• Familiarity with Tennessee, Upper Tennessee River basin, Appalachia, or southeastern river systems.

• Experience working with state and federal agencies, local governments, engineers, consultants, community partners, or conservation coalitions.

• Experience with project budgets, grants, contracts, invoices, consultant scopes, or funder reporting.

• Experience facilitating collaborative groups or multi-partner planning processes.

• Ability to translate technical information for community, partner, funder, or public audiences.