The mission of the Wild Salmon Center (WSC) is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. We do this by establishing a local presence and/or providing technical and financial assistance to local partners to help them secure the health of the most productive salmon ecosystems on earth. We depend on the best conservation science to guide pragmatic, implementable solutions to sustain wild salmonids, as well as the human communities and livelihoods that depend on them.
Wild Salmon Center is an international organization with programs in Alaska, British Columbia, the Western Pacific, and the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. The home office is located in Portland, Oregon in the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center.
WSC is the leading group working to protect the strongest wild salmon rivers around the North Pacific – salmon strongholds. We focus on wild salmon because they are an iconic and powerful conservation symbol, wild to the core, with an incredible life story. When you protect salmon, you support the life of whole watersheds and everything in them, including people. We build alliances with and work alongside the most effective local and regional partners in the North Pacific.
Washington Wild Fish Senior Program Manager
Location : Washington
Reports to: Watershed Restoration Director
The Organization
The mission of the Wild Salmon Center (WSC) is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. We work to protect some of the most beautiful and productive rivers left on the planet. These “salmon strongholds” are home not only to the king of fish but grizzly bears, bald eagles, orcas, and more than 130 other species that depend on wild salmon. These rivers also support thriving coastal communities and Indigenous cultures. If you are called home to these kinds of wild places and live to protect them, then WSC is the organization for you. The organization also features excellent benefits competitive with major international conservation organizations and offers room for professional growth.
Position Summary
The Washington Senior Manager for Wild Fish Conservation is a full-time, regular exempt employee eligible for all WSC benefits. The position is based in Washington and will work with WSC’s Director of Watershed Restoration and other Washington staff to secure funding and policies that are essential to the success of WSC’s wild fish conservation work throughout the state. The position will report to the Director of Watershed Restoration.
This position will advance the conservation and recovery of wild salmonid populations in the Pacific Northwest by advocating for science-driven and precautionary fish management policies and programs. The position will focus on coastal Washington populations and will serve as the organization’s strategic lead and point of contact for all wild fish management matters within this region and other parts of the state as needed. Generally, the position will lead both long term initiatives and respond to short-term threats. This will require the development of strong coalitions and sustained partnerships. Key partners will include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Tribes, and NGO’s. The position will work in the communities with these partners as well as in Olympia, where the position will work with other WSC staff and contractors to lobby for funding and policy priorities. The position will also support the appointment of wild fish advocates to key boards, commissions, and committees.
In addition to state level work, this position will participate on WSC’s fish management team, which includes staff from other programs, including our science team, federal affairs team, and field staff from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. In this capacity, the position will provide input into needed reforms in range-wide policies like the Pacific Salmon Treaty and Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, the position will work to ensure that program priorities in Washington align with and complement broader organizational initiatives. Roughly 10% of the position’s time will be dedicated to collaboration with the Oregon Wild Fish Conservation Manager (and other members of the organization’s wild fish team working in Oregon) to ensure the alignment of policies and priorities in and across the two states. Additionally, the position may collaborate with WSC’s government affairs staff and contract lobbyists on efforts in Washington DC.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Strategy Development
- Review, refine, and implement WSC’s state policy and wild fish management priorities in collaboration with Director of Watershed Restoration.
- Work with WSC’s Science Director to incorporate the best available science into state policy and wild fish management.
- Work with WSC’s Government Affairs team to identify federal funding streams and policy avenues to implement WSC initiatives.
- Participate in developing organizational wild fish management strategies to ensure Washington priorities align with and advance range-wide strategies.
- Work with WSC’s Fish Management Team to develop and advance relevant parts of the organization’s Durability Campaign.
State Policy
- In collaboration with WA program staff and lobbyists:
- Monitor proposed legislation affecting WSC priorities, including the management of wild fish;
- Monitor proposed agency (WDFW and Commission) policies with implications for wild fish management; and
- Provide testimony and influence legislators on policy making and funding, as appropriate.
- Represent WSC on coalitions and working groups developing recovery plans for Chinook and Steelhead, in coordination with WSC’s Science Program.
- Identify wild fish champions as candidates for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and assist with the nomination/confirmation process.
- Represent WSC on wild fish policy issues before legislative bodies, Boards, and Commissions.
- Track and advocate for state and federal funding that supports WSC policy and wild fish priorities.
- Support the Director of Watershed Restoration in addressing habitat policy and funding issues as they arise.
- Analyze governmental and scientific documents, prepare oral testimony and letters to decision makers, prepare and deliver public presentations/communications.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key elected officials, policy-makers, and natural resource agency decision makers.
- Serve as staff lead for the Washington Coast Steelhead Information and Research Framework.
Partnership Building and Campaign Development
- Develop, lead, and manage coalitions to collaboratively identify, develop, and advance wild fish management and policy priorities.
- Develop annual conservation priorities, campaign strategies, and policy agendas in coordination with the Wild Fish and Government Affairs team and across other WSC programs.
- Cultivate collaborative relationships with agency, NGO and private-sector peers to provide wild fish policy guidance and access to WSC science.
- Collaborate with conservation and fishing organizations, Tribes and other potential partners to achieve common objectives and leverage WSC resources.
- Share and, where appropriate, replicate models of effective policy and wild fish management approaches used in other strongholds.
- Work with WSC Science Director and other partners in identification of data gaps, development of study design, data collection and publication where appropriate.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with state and federal agencies, Tribes, local governments, grassroots leaders, and other diverse stakeholders.
Development and Communications
- Coordinate with WSC’s Development Program to secure funding for priority policy initiatives.
- Cultivate and steward major donors and prospects, including individuals and private family foundations.
- Assist with grant proposals and report writing in coordination with WSC’s Development Program, as needed.
- Coordinate with WSC’s Communications and Government Affairs teams to develop external materials that educate and motivate target audiences on key salmon issues.
- Provide technical expertise on fish policy issues.
Position Requirements
- Demonstrated track record related to Qualifications Summary and Primary Work Activities
- Minimum of five years of progressively complex professional experience working on natural resource policy and management issues, with preference given to experience working on wild fish management and policy in Washington
- Proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships as well as working collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups
- Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically to achieve program goals in a dynamic environment with minimal supervision
- Experience representing an organization before a legislative body, testifying on legislation, and meeting with legislators to discuss proposals and programs
- Ability to accurately communicate and distill complex legal, technical, and scientific information to diverse audiences, including legislators, the media, stakeholders, donors, and the public in writing, presentations, and conversations
- Experience managing complex processes and projects while balancing multiple priorities and consistently meeting deadlines with high quality work
- Proven ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, able to take initiative and to think creatively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; effective, diplomatic and friendly communication style and ability to translate complex policy and conservation issues into clear and understandable language to diverse audiences
- Extensive experience in, on, and around rivers (with a fishing rod counts) and a passion for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and the wild fish they sustain
- Ability to attend meetings and workshops outside of regular work hours, including occasional weekends and evenings
- Demonstrated understanding of Tribal treaty rights and Washington’s salmon and steelhead co-management process
Compensation
The salary range for this full-time position begins at $95,000, commensurate with experience.
Additionally, a comprehensive benefits package, designed to help our employees stay healthy and plan for their financial future, includes:
- 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (includes employee/spouse, employee/dependent(s), as well as a partial premium for full family coverage)
- Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) plan that matches at 125% for the first 6% of salary contributed (after 6 months)
- Four weeks of vacation (to start), two weeks of sick and 10+ paid holidays
- Flexible Spending Account (health & dependent care)
- Support for continuing education
- Cell phone allowance & monthly stipend
- Flexible hybrid work schedule
- Outstanding work culture, including regular opportunities to visit and connect with salmon rivers
To Apply
Submit cover letter and CV to careers@wildsalmoncenter.org and include “WA Wild Fish Senior Program Manager” in the subject line. Please note in your cover letter where you learned of this position. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 5, 2024.
We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We will gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please reach out to careers@wildsalmoncenter.org in advance to request assistance.
Volunteer with Us
Want to make a difference in protecting some of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems across the northern Pacific Rim? All volunteer opportunities are on hold until further notice, but check our volunteer page for future opportunities.