Bird Conservancy of the Rockies seek Program Manager of Watershed Health
Position Title 
Program Manager of Watershed Health (Forestry and Wetlands)
Position Summary
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Program Manager of Watershed Health (forestry & wetlands focus) to oversee the supervision, coordination and implementation of our Private Lands Wildlife Biologist network along the Front Range, San Luis Valley and South Platte corridor of Colorado. The Program Manager, based in our Fort Collins, CO office, will remotely supervise five Private Land Wildlife Biologists implementing on-the-ground conservation projects. We are seeking an individual who is passionate and knowledgeable about the resource concerns, human dynamics and project implementation of habitat conservation in forested and wetland systems. Qualified applicants will have a graduate degree in forestry, watershed science, wildlife management, ecology, natural resources, or related field or equivalent work experience or a combination thereof, have at least one year of supervisory experience of full-time staff or two years’ supervisory experience of part-time staff, and an understanding of both the Farm Bill and Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan.
Position Class: Leadership member of Stewardship Team
FLSA Status: Full Time/Exempt/Salary
Salary: $55,000 – 60,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package (paid time off, 403b retirement plan, health, dental and
vision insurance)
Office Location: Fort Collins, CO
Reports to: Stewardship Director
Direct Reports: 5 Private Lands Wildlife Biologists (remote staff)
Start Date: March 2022
FLSA Status: Full Time/Exempt/Salary
Salary: $55,000 – 60,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package (paid time off, 403b retirement plan, health, dental and
vision insurance)
Office Location: Fort Collins, CO
Reports to: Stewardship Director
Direct Reports: 5 Private Lands Wildlife Biologists (remote staff)
Start Date: March 2022
About the Organization: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (Bird Conservancy) is a 501-c(3) non-profit
headquartered at the Environmental Learning Center at Barr Lake State Park with a satellite office in Fort
Collins and fieldwork outposts in the Great Plains Region and Intermountain West. We conserve birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of Science, Education, and Stewardship. Our work radiates from the Rockies to the Great Plains, Mexico and beyond.
COVID-19 Policy: Bird Conservancy is committed to protecting and enhancing the welfare of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a condition of employment, all newly hired employees must provide to Bird Conservancy’s human resources representative either proof of full vaccination at employment start date or agree in written form to weekly testing until further notice. Any proof of vaccination or weekly test results submitted to Bird Conservancy will remain confidential.
Position Overview: Bird Conservancy is hiring a Program Manager to help manage and build capacity for our Stewardship team. The Stewardship team works collaboratively with partners to implement on-the-ground conservation on private lands. We accomplish this through the work of our 14 Private Lands Wildlife Biologists (PLWBs) based in Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices. The coordinator will remotely co-supervise 5 PLWBs stationed along the Front Range and South Platte River corridor of Colorado, who focus on restoring and managing forested, wetland and riparian habitats to benefit associated avian species and other species of concern. The coordinator will provide mentoring and coaching to PLWBs, build relationships with partners, help secure long-term funding for the program, provide expertise on relevant bird habitat needs and management actions, and serve as a member of the Stewardship leadership team. The position will be based in Bird Conservancy’s Fort Collins office; however, we may accommodate remote work during the pandemic.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Co-supervise 5 PLWBs in partnership with NRCS, and ensure habitat delivery meets Stewardship
priorities and grant deliverables.
• Build relationships with funders and other partners. Provide expertise to external partners on
committees and working groups.
• Collaborate on internal cross-team initiatives and contribute conservation delivery perspective to
applied internal or external research (i.e., study design, translation of results).
• Provide programmatic and administrative support to the Stewardship team (securing funding,
grant/report writing, budgets/financial reporting and strategic planning).
Knowledge, Skills and Experience required (unless otherwise noted):
• A Master’s degree in Forestry, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, or other relevant field, or equivalent work experience or a combination thereof
• A minimum of one (1) years’ experience in public-private collaborative conservation initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse staff of field biologists (at least 2 years’ experience supervising seasonal staff or 1 year supervising full-time staff)
• Proven ability to secure external funding from diverse public-private funding sources
• A working knowledge of US Farm Bill programs and State Wildlife Action Plans
• Knowledge of Colorado’s forest and wetland flora and fauna
• Solutions-oriented thinker ready to navigate the challenges and opportunities of implementing conservation with partners in rural agricultural communities
• Proficiency in use of computer software including Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, R, and general database knowledge
• The ability to identify and execute opportunities to increase program efficiencies
• Must be self-motivated, able to work both independently and as part of a team, and able to prioritize short and long-term tasks
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
● Requires valid state driver’s license and willingness to travel locally and regionally
● Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, overnights
• A Master’s degree in Forestry, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, or other relevant field, or equivalent work experience or a combination thereof
• A minimum of one (1) years’ experience in public-private collaborative conservation initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse staff of field biologists (at least 2 years’ experience supervising seasonal staff or 1 year supervising full-time staff)
• Proven ability to secure external funding from diverse public-private funding sources
• A working knowledge of US Farm Bill programs and State Wildlife Action Plans
• Knowledge of Colorado’s forest and wetland flora and fauna
• Solutions-oriented thinker ready to navigate the challenges and opportunities of implementing conservation with partners in rural agricultural communities
• Proficiency in use of computer software including Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, R, and general database knowledge
• The ability to identify and execute opportunities to increase program efficiencies
• Must be self-motivated, able to work both independently and as part of a team, and able to prioritize short and long-term tasks
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
● Requires valid state driver’s license and willingness to travel locally and regionally
● Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, overnights
Physical Demands / Work Environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
● Ability to work in a standard office setting, with considerable sitting, standing and viewing of computer
screens
● Mid-level stress
● Requires reaching continually throughout the workday (mouse, keyboard, telephone)
● May include lifting up to thirty (30) pounds of project gear on an infrequent basis- proper lifting techniques required
● Able to stand, walk, and hike for extended periods of time outdoors in all weather
Material and Equipment Directly Used:
● Standard office equipment (e.g. laptop, printers); PC with MS Office software applications
● Various habitat restoration and enhancement materials (e.g. stock tank ladders, fence markers)
● Navigate to field sites and record data using GPS, smartphones, tablets, or other technology
To Apply:
Please submit your cover letter, resume and contacts for three references in ONE document to applicants@birdconservancy.org with “Program Manager – Watershed Health” in the subject line by January 21, 2022.
Please note in your application materials how you became aware of this job posting.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse work
environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse work
environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.