Izaak Walton League of America

The Chesapeake Monitoring Outreach Coordinator will provide support for a Chesapeake Bay watershed-wide project focused on integrating community-based monitoring groups into the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. This project, also known as the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC), is the result of a collaborative partnership between four service provider organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, Izaak Walton League of America, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science). The goal of the CMC is to increase the amount of water quality monitoring data available to make management decisions and track progress of Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The CMC envisions a Chesapeake community where all data of known quality are accessible and openly available to everyone, used by communities to advocate for local needs, and used to inform regional watershed management decisions and restoration efforts.

The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is to protect and conserve our shared heritage of wildlife, clean air and water, forest and soils. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Outreach Coordinator will support the CMC by coordinating a broad group of partners, including federal, state, and local government agencies; national, regional, and local nonprofit organizations; universities and research institutions; and other partners to integrate volunteer and other non-governmental water quality monitoring data into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program’s system for tracking progress toward Bay restoration goals. The Coordinator will assist with recruiting, training and managing volunteers to collect water quality data to fill temporal and spatial gaps in existing state and federal agency datasets. In addition, the position also will gather data and information to help develop new, scientifically rigorous water monitoring protocols as needed. The Outreach Coordinator will also work closely with the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership to identify and capitalize on new opportunities for collaboration with volunteer community-based and other non-governmental monitoring networks. This position is based at the Izaak Walton League of America, located in Gaithersburg, MD.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Coordination

• Assist CMC project manager to meet CMC team needs: setting agendas and taking notes for team meetings, tracking multiple grant deliverables, maintaining CMC website, and other tasks as they are assigned.
• Work with the CMC team and Chesapeake Bay Program to identify and prioritize spatial and temporal gaps in water quality data currently collected by professionals and determine where community data can fill those gaps.
• Work with CMC team to include federally recognized tribes and other underrepresented and environmental justice communities into the CMC project, as either data collectors or data users.
• Assist with coordination and facilitation of conference calls, webinars and/or meetings of monitoring groups that focus on citizen monitoring program integration.
• Represent the Izaak Walton League and the CMC at meetings of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Scientific, Technical Assessment, and Reporting (STAR) workgroups, as well as at regional and local workshops, conferences and forums.

Recruit, Train, and Support Volunteer Monitoring Programs in Chesapeake Bay Region

• Recruit, train, and manage networks of volunteers to monitor benthic macroinvertebrates, primarily in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. This will include training volunteers to conduct water quality monitoring following the Izaak Walton League’s Virginia Save Our Streams protocols.
• Develop website content in the way of tools, resources and announcements for monitoring groups.
• Provide data management and quality assurance oversight as needed for volunteer monitoring groups participating in this project including the Izaak Walton League’s monitoring networks.
• Coordinate resources such as equipment loan and grant programs for local monitoring programs.
• Assist with development/refinement of scientifically valid and user-friendly water quality protocols and quality assurance project plans to meet needs identified by program partners.

Promote Project and Track Progress

• Assist Clean Water Program Director and CMC in identifying and applying for program development opportunities.
• Track, manage and report on tasks and funding obligations for Izaak Walton League related to this project.
• Promote volunteer monitoring through conference presentations, local media, partner organization email lists and social media.
• Track and draft reports on program accomplishments.

Other

• Travel throughout Chesapeake Bay Watershed (MD, VA, PA, DE, WV) in connection with and support of the above.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences or related field.
• A minimum of three years of experience with project management, community outreach and volunteer coordination.
• Demonstrated experience in water quality assessment, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and stream monitoring.
• Experience with following quality assurance protocols.
• Ability to comprehend and communicate scientific information to different audiences.
• Public speaking and teaching experience.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and own a car for travel throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team.
• Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of audiences and partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to set priorities, organize, and manage multiple tasks.
• Computer proficiency in word processing and database programs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work involves both physical exertion and sedentary activities and includes work that involves exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain.
• Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must be able to maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary range for the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Outreach Coordinator is $40,000 - $42,500. A comprehensive package of employee and health benefits is available.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email cover letter and resume to the attention of the Clean Water Program Director at sos@iwla.org.

The Izaak Walton League of America is an equal opportunity employer.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), founded in 1922, is to conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Working under the direction of the Clean Water Program Director, the Midwest Save Our Streams (SOS) Coordinator is primarily responsible for coordinating, training, and mobilizing a network of volunteer stream monitors in the Upper Mississippi River region as part of the nationally recognized IWLA Save Our Streams program. Save Our Streams, founded in 1969, is the oldest national volunteer water quality monitoring program in the country, with a 50+ year legacy of grassroots engagement in macroinvertebrate and chemical testing. The coordinator will also facilitate participation in crowdsourced monitoring programs, such as Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch, in this region. The coordinator will contribute to regional and national communications efforts designed to foster an interconnected network of community scientists and clean water advocates. This position will be based in Iowa, with regular travel for in-person work in surrounding states.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Stream Monitoring Training and Support

• Recruit, train and support Izaak Walton League members, partner organizations and community volunteers to serve as certified SOS water quality monitors.
• Coordinate and conduct in-person events in the Midwest to recruit and train existing and new stream monitors and individuals qualified to train monitors.
• Communicate regularly and frequently with volunteer monitors, watershed organizations, and others to support local SOS stream monitoring efforts and foster an interconnected network of volunteer monitors in the Midwest.
• Oversee the quality assurance of the field methodologies, protocol comprehension and proper safety and equipment cleaning practices to produce data that is reliable and valid while minimizing stream site disturbance.
• Replenish, maintain, and promote the SOS equipment loan program across Iowa, which will also involve the promotion of the equipment loan program to existing and new SOS volunteers monitoring in Iowa.

Crowdsourced and Remote Engagement

• Facilitate crowdsourced monitoring (engaging many people with little to no in-person contact and no training) such as Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch, including recruiting and coordinating volunteers and partner organizations, collating and distributing monitoring kits, managing data collection and distribution, and communicating results to partners, local governments, and volunteers.
• Coordinate and conduct online events and webinars in the Midwest to recruit new supporters, advocates, and monitors.
• Develop advocacy resources for volunteers and partners to utilize when a pollution problem is detected, including sample letters to government representatives and media kits.

Data Management

• Input data into database (the Clean Water Hub) to analyze trends, monitoring sites and frequency of monitoring.
• Support volunteers with data management, including how to input and manage data in the Clean Water Hub.
• Support volunteer use of the Clean Water Hub to communicate with the public, policymakers and the media about water quality information collected by volunteers.

Communications

• Develop content for IWLA website, social media, and publications, including Outdoor America magazine.
• Serve as liaison between League members and chapters; other volunteers; state agencies responsible for water quality, public health, and natural resource management; and the national office of the IWLA.
• Collaborate with the Clean Water Program Director and IWLA communications department to proactively engage print, broadcast and other media using volunteer-collected water quality data on a local, state and/or regional scale.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, natural resources management, natural sciences, or related field.
• Proven knowledge of stream monitoring protocols, macroinvertebrate identification, and field equipment used for water quality monitoring.
• Two years of experience directly coordinating volunteers engaged in water quality monitoring or other citizen science activities.
• Understanding of quality assurance / quality controls for data collection and analysis.
• Interest and demonstrated experience in environmental education, volunteer management, community outreach and water quality assessment.
• Experience with public speaking and providing engaging training workshops online and in person.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to organize and manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, or other database/mapping platforms to organize, visualize, manipulate and understand complex data sets.
• Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of staff, members, volunteers, and colleague organizations.
• Experience with social media (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
• Possess a valid driver’s license and own a car for travel.
• Ability to work from home or a location other than traditional leased office space.
• Ability and willingness to travel including for multiple days consecutively and overnight.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work involves both physical exertion and sedentary activities and includes work that involves exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain.
• Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, push, and pull, and to lift up to 50 pounds, in the performance of both office-related and field duties.
• Must be able to operate office equipment.
• Must have vision and hearing corrected to be able to perform essential job functions.
• Must be able to maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.
• Must be able to perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position. Salary is between $40,000 and $42,000, commensurate with experience, with an excellent health care, leave, retirement, and other benefits package. Compensation will be dependent on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to sos@iwla.org. No phone calls please.

The Izaak Walton League of America is an equal opportunity employer.