Program Manager

Program ManagerThe Deschutes River Conservancy seeks a Program Manager to join our dynamic team in restoring streamflow and improving water quality in the Deschutes Basin.The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC), based in Bend, Oregon, is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1996 to restore streamflows and improve water quality in the Deschutes Basin. We bring together tribal, irrigation, environmental, hydropower, and federal, state and local government interests to accomplish our mission through financing and implementation of voluntary ecosystem restoration projects.Three major program areas provide focus to our work:Irrigation Infrastructure Improvements: The DRC facilitates water conservation projects with irrigation district partners and their patrons that restore streamflows and improve water quality.Voluntary Market-Based Transactions: The DRC integrates technical support, innovation, program design, financing, and project execution to implement voluntary market-based transactions to restore streamflows.Basin-Wide Water Management Planning: The DRC coordinates and leads multi-stakeholder partnerships and cultivates relationships to design strategic solutions to Deschutes Basin water management needs.We are an innovative, consensus-based, and highly collaborative organization. We proactively seek new solutions for solving old problems. We don't engage in litigation, preferring instead to leverage partners' strengths to get the watershed-scale outcomes we seek. And we live the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We honor the native people who have called this region home for thousands of years. We join them in stewardship of our rivers for the next seven generations.You are someone who can:Think creatively, strategically, and entrepreneurially around complex problemsLead in a dynamic and evolving context and create structure out of ambiguityDistill complex and diverse information into effective planning and management strategiesUnderstand western water rights laws and their context in Oregon water management issuesRapidly develop an understanding of Deschutes Basin water management context and issuesUnderstand and integrate scientific, legal, and social factors to enhance strategies and tasksManage multiple concurrent tasks, schedules, and budgets to meet desired goals and deadlinesDevelop and maintain trusting relationships with landowners, irrigation districts, government agencies, and other conservation organizationsNegotiate with landowners and other partners to develop water transactions programsBuild consensus-based solutions to move water management strategies forwardFoster collaboration and partnership among diverse stakeholdersInspire innovation with internal and external teams and partnersCommunicate complex technical issues in clear and accessible forms to a variety of audiencesWhat you will be doing:Basin-Wide Water Planning and Collaboration – Program Development and Management (~45%)Build and maintain trusting relationships with diverse groups of stakeholders to advance Deschutes Basin collaborative effortsIdentify emerging opportunities, build collaborations, identify resources, and develop projects and programs to restore streamflow within priority stream reaches leading to lasting benefitsSupport efforts to convene and facilitate stakeholder processes in the Deschutes Basin and for priority stream reachesCultivate shared vision among stakeholdersInitial Focal Project: Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC)Manage the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) process, a multi-stakeholder basin water management collaborative groupCoordinate all aspects of project including technical, administrative, budgetary, and funding (grant writing and management) support to the DBWCLead technical writing, document refinement, compilation, and finalization of the Upper Deschutes Sub-basin Water Management PlanWater Marketing – Program Management (~45%)Conceptualize, convene, and facilitate stakeholder processes in support of transactions programs in priority stream reachesNegotiate agreements with landowners, irrigation districts and contractors to support streamflow restoration through water bank transactions in priority stream reachesWork with DRC staff, contractors, and partners to develop and implement a Deschutes Water BankCoordinate and manage the work of project teams, including in-house resources, subcontractors, and agency partners to complete projectsLead and manage budgets and funding for water bank efforts, including grant writing and grant managementManage contracts with engineers, consultants, and other subcontractorsAssist in research tasks associated with water rights analysisDRC Internal Operations Support (~10%)In addition to the primary responsibilities above, Program Manager may be assigned tasks that contribute to broader Program Team goals.These may include but are not limited to:Supporting organizational and programmatic grant proposals and reportsSupporting organizational strategy developmentSupporting content development for outreach and education with the communication teamSupporting and attending DRC events and site visitsConducting or coordinating GIS analysis, map production, and spatial data managementCompensation & BenefitsThis is a full-time, exempt position. Benefits include a group medical and dental insurance policy, access to a retirement plan with an employer contribution, and a competitive personal paid-time-off policy.The DRC supports continuing education opportunities for all staff.Annual Salary Range: $72,000-$85,000, full-time, exemptHealth, Vision, and Dental Insurance: employee premiums paid 100% by DRC403(b) Plan: DRC starting contribution is 5%. Employee contributions are optional.Vacation: Starting paid vacation accrues at 15 days per year.Personal/Sick: Paid personal/sick days accrue at 12 days per year.Holidays: 9 paid holidays + 4 floating holidays per year.DRC is committed to equal employment opportunities and encourages applications from people of all races, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, national origins, or abilities.