Project Coordinator III/Senior Mesic Habitat Restoration Coordinator

The position will support BLM Idaho implementation efforts specific to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (BIL/IRA) restoration program. The primary role will be to manage wetland/mesic habitat restoration projects and coordinate among agencies to deliver science-driven watershed scale conservation across jurisdictional boundaries. Duties will include partner coordination and outreach, technical assistance for field implementation, writing project monitoring reports, designing and identifying research needs, maintaining a statewide mesic restoration database, and helping annual partnership trainings. This position may lead seasonal technicians for implementation activities.

The BLM Idaho mesic restoration coordinator is hosted by Pheasants Forever, with day-to-day supervision by the BLM Aquatic Resources Program Lead. This position requires mission-critical travel with the flexibility to address annual work plan priorities, which can be up to one week per month. The location of the position is negotiable within southern Idaho, but preference is given to Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho and will require frequent travel throughout Idaho.

Applicants are encouraged to explore these resources to learn more about the BLM-IWJV partnership’s work:

● Inflation Reduction Act Will Fund Landscape Restoration

● Annual report for Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands

· Develop and implement a state-wide mesic habitat restoration strategy within sagebrush steppe habitats in Idaho.

· Coordinate with USFWS/BLM Partner Biologists and IDFG Habitat Biologists to assist BLM Idaho plan and implement mesic habitat restoration projects across jurisdictional boundaries.

· Manage a state-wide database for mesic habitat restoration efforts.

· Write and review NEPA documents, biological assessments, and assist with required Endangered Species Act Sec 7 Consultation.

· Provide technical assistance (stream ecology and fluvial morphology) and guidance to the state and federal agencies as well as landowners and non-government organizations (NGO’s).

· Coordinate and lead field crews for mesic and stream habitat projects submitted by field offices, districts, partners, and other agencies as part of BIL/IRA and other efforts.

· Write annual reports and provide regular updates on project implementation, monitoring and successes.

Communications Partnerships and Capacity-Building

· Work with BIL/IRA communications team to develop and maintain a communication plan for the mesic restoration strategy that defines overarching communications goals, objectives, target audiences, key messages, tactics, and tools.

· Work with federal and state partners in the program to identify goals and needs.

· Facilitate information and awareness on mesic conservation opportunities within the sagebrush biome to partners and the BLM staff.

· Build relationships and outreach material for landowners, ranchers on public land, local business-economic interests, non-governmental organizations, and local community groups (e.g., soil and water conservation districts, local area working groups, coordinated resource management groups, etc.). Duties may include workshops, field tours, group presentations and conferences.

· Coordinate conservation efforts where possible to use USDA Farm Bill Programs, USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program, Idaho Sage-Grouse Actions Team Grant funding, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, Inflation Reduction Act, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grants and other funding avenues to ensure “seamless” and integrated implementation of projects across the landscape.

· Work with state and local agencies to leverage support for future years of partnership projects.

· Coordinate assistance with state and federal agencies and local governments through the USFWS Conservation Partnership Branch (USFWS/BLM Partner Biologists).

· Provide landscape-level conservation planning, technical assistance and project prioritization support to the BLM and partners in out-year planning efforts.

· Work with agencies and partners to develop, facilitate, and coordinate local contracts and agreements.

· Showcase information from past and current projects to the public (i.e., presentations showing pre and post data for vegetation and wildlife populations, kiosk displays, social media posts, etc.)

· Communicate program requirements, complete site visits for stream alteration permit (surveys, inventories, design, monitoring) on identified mesic restoration projects