The Restoration Ecologist provides technical leadership and support within TNC Ohio’s natural infrastructure strategy, which involves restoration of wetlands, floodplains, and riparian corridors to improve streams and lakes impacted by nutrients using scientific and collaborative approaches to achieve results. Ohio is rich in important water resources, and fortunately, growing awareness of threats to drinking water and support for water quality improvements is driving new opportunities for conservation across the state and region that will benefit nature and human wellbeing. TNC has ambitious goals to restore target watersheds most impacted by nutrient enrichment, focused in the Western Lake Erie, Scioto, and Great Miami watersheds. The Restoration Ecologist addresses these critical threats, fosters cross-site learning among the conservation community, and coordinates community support. They implement strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation priorities to maximize conservation outcomes. They manage the planning and implementation of multiple restoration projects across the state of Ohio including ongoing efforts on the Lake Erie coast. They will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, celebrates innovation, values collaborative approaches, and seeks lasting conservation results. They report to the Ohio Natural Infrastructure Director and work across priority Western Lake Erie Basin watersheds and our coastal wetlands. Strong preference is for this position to report to northwest Ohio, but other locations may be considered.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Primary responsibilities involve identifying, evaluating, and managing multiple restoration projects, including drafting concept plans, reviewing and implementing design plans, developing scopes of work, budgets, requests for proposals, contracts, and grant applications, coordinating and overseeing contractors, and performing ecological assessments. Additional functions include building relationships with and capacity of partners, coordinating community support, assisting with accessing funding to advance projects, and meeting deadlines, all in coordination with TNC staff and partners to implement successful projects.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manages all elements of restoration planning and projects.
- Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
- Financial responsibilities include developing and managing budgets and negotiating and contracting with vendors.
- Ensures project compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Gains cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain under physically demanding circumstances.
- May supervise staff/volunteers.