Job Title: Shasta-Cascade Project Manager
Office Location: Chico, CA.
Function Area: Program
Classification: Full-Time Exempt
Compensation: $64,000 to $73,000 / Annually
Position Summary
California Trout seeks a motivated, highly organized Project Manager to develop and implement conservation projects on Sacramento River tributaries. Based in Chico, the Project Manager will join a dedicated team working to restore native, wild fish populations, with an emphasis on the Battle Creek watershed and CalTrout’s Dams Out Campaign.
The Project Manager will lead restoration, science, planning, monitoring, and partnership projects from concept through feasibility, design, permitting, funding, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The role also involves building partnerships, securing funding, promoting science and water policy, and leading public outreach. Projects will restore rivers and aquatic ecosystems while uplifting surrounding communities.
The successful candidate will work with Tribes, landowners, agricultural partners, state and federal agencies, consultants, contractors, funders, and community organizations. The role requires strong project management, excellent written and oral communication, sound field judgment, and grant and contract administration experience. The Project Manager will work independently and on schedule within organizational policy, while collaborating with a diverse team to advance durable, partnership-driven solutions that benefit fish, freshwater ecosystems, and communities.
Roles & Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include project development and grant writing, project management and administration, building strategic partnerships, legal and policy analysis, and facilitation of project teams and technical advisory committees. The Project Manager will be responsible for achieving regional conservation objectives and existing grant deliverables while also helping shape new projects and innovative long-term strategies for restoring native, wild fish populations throughout the Sacramento River Drainage. Initial focus will be on assisting CalTrout’s Dams Out Initiative through close coordination with CalTrout’s Connectivity Team to advance removal of PG&E’s Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project dams, restoring habitat and natural flows for Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Primary responsibilities include the following:
- Project Leadership: Lead project teams and technical experts to deliver scientifically sound, permit-ready projects on time, on budget, and in line with grant and partner commitments. Oversee design, permitting, construction for restoration projects, and lead science and monitoring programs.
- Coordination: Convene and facilitate technical advisory committees that bring together diverse partners and interested parties to guide projects and decision-making.
- Partner Engagement: Build relationships with Tribes, landowners, agricultural producers, irrigation districts, agencies, funders, community partners, and private consultants, and facilitate meetings, site visits, and collaborative decisions.
- Project Development: Identify and advance priority restoration projects across the Sacramento River tributaries, including concepts, scopes, budgets, schedules, feasibility assessments, and funding proposals.
- Grant and Contract Management: Working with grant team and administrative staff to write grants and manage deliverables, budgets, invoicing, reports, and consultant and contractor agreements in coordination with CalTrout staff.
- Field Work and Monitoring: Conduct site visits, construction oversight, habitat monitoring, and data collection to support projects.
- Regulatory Compliance: Manage permitting and ensure compliance with laws, permits, agreements, safety protocols, and environmental review.
- Policy and Outreach: Working with CalTrout’s legal and policy staff to analyze legal and policy issues, promote science-based water policy, and lead public outreach.
- Reporting and Communications: Prepare reports, funder updates, presentations, and public materials that convey the importance of projects.
- Budget and Risk Management: Track budgets, schedules, and risks, resolve issues early, and maintain high-quality project records.
Requirements & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of related experience, or a master’s degree, in natural resource management, conservation, biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries biology, geomorphology, hydrology, environmental science, environmental engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience managing environmental restoration, watershed planning, natural resource, water management, or conservation projects from concept through implementation and reporting.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets, contractors, deadlines, and deliverables effectively.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write grants and reports, prepare partner updates, develop clear scopes of work, and communicate complex conservation issues to a wide range of audiences.
- Experience working with private landowners, Tribes, agricultural partners, irrigation districts, consultants, contractors, state and federal agencies, funders, or community-based organizations.
- Familiarity with salmonid ecology, watershed restoration, fish passage, streamflow enhancement, hydrology, geomorphology, riparian restoration, or working lands conservation. Experience in the Sacramento River drainage is preferred.
- Knowledge of California environmental permitting, grant compliance, contracting, construction oversight, or restoration implementation is preferred.
- Ability to work independently in an office and field setting while contributing to a collaborative regional team.
- GIS, field data collection, monitoring, budget tracking, construction inspection, or data management experience is a plus.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly to field sites, partner meetings, and project locations.
Physical Demands
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
- Ability to operate a motor vehicle to commute to and from remote work sites.
- Ability to occasionally tolerate uncomfortable outdoor working conditions, including rain, cold temperatures, hot sun, moving water, and uneven terrain.
Benefits: California Trout offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience; health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan with matching, generous holidays, PTO benefits, and sabbatical leave.
California Trout (CalTrout) is a highly recognized and effective 501(c)(3) conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco. For more than 50 years, CalTrout has championed initiatives focused on solving complex resource issues that balance the needs of fish and people. CalTrout has six regionally based offices located in key geographies where wild fish influence local communities. Our professional staff drives innovative, science-based solutions that work for the diverse interests of fish, farms, commerce, and the community. CalTrout is backed by a passionate Board of Directors, committed donors, and a strong membership base.
Diversity: CalTrout does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.