Associate Director – California Central Valley River Restoration

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Assist American Rivers in the development and execution of initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring essential rivers and floodplains across California;

• Join the Central Valley Program team;

• Oversee restoration projects from initial conception to final implementation, which includes securing funding, managing contracts, overseeing budgets and timelines for both public and private grants, conducting community outreach, and coordinating with various agencies, partners, and consultants;

• Support the overall activities of the Central Valley Program, with a focus on project management in Sacramento, Stockton, and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta regions;

• Collaborate with the Central Valley Program team to create and implement large-scale, multi-benefit strategies for restoring floodplains;

• Oversee the funding, planning, and execution of multi-benefit river restoration projects in California, which includes community outreach, partner engagement, environmental assessments, project design, monitoring, budgeting, contracting, permitting, invoice tracking, and supervising project construction;

• Ensure compliance with grant agreements, contracts, and subcontracts; develop and monitor contracts, scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and reports;

• Assist in creating solutions to technical, legal, and political obstacles encountered in the planning and execution of restoration projects;

• Conduct community outreach to gather feedback and engage a diverse array of partners in the planning and implementation of river restoration projects and programs;

• Participate in and represent American Rivers in regional collaborative initiatives;

• Identify funding sources and collaborate with the Central Valley Program to craft fundraising proposals and grant applications for designated projects;

• Prepare comments and advocacy letters to influence river and water management projects, programs, and policies;

• Represent American Rivers in public planning discussions as appropriate.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven experience in project management, including oversight of consultant teams;

• Background in leading watershed management, river/creek restoration, or similar projects and/or programs;

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice;

• Strong understanding of California water policy, particularly regarding flood management, hydrology/hydraulics, and/or river restoration is preferred;

• Excellent interpersonal skills, a good sense of humor, and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of individuals;

• Strong organizational capabilities with a proven track record of meeting project deadlines;

• Proficiency in managing budgets and project tasks using Excel spreadsheets;

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and the ability to effectively engage with partners and agency representatives;

• Initiative combined with creative and strategic thinking;

• Experience in community engagement, especially with disadvantaged and underrepresented communities;

• Willingness to travel as necessary to Sacramento and other locations in the Central Valley and throughout California for project site visits and partner meetings;

• Experience in fundraising and/or grant writing;

• An appropriate combination of education and/or at least 5 years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree in a relevant field and/or at least 2 years of relevant experience;

• A personal commitment to the mission of American Rivers.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance coverage.

• After one year of service, American Rivers contributes a 3% employer contribution.

• Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Home office stipend.

• Sabbatical leave every seven years.

• Paid parental leave of six weeks after one year of service.