San Joaquin Valley Outreach Coordinator

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Trout Unlimited (TU) is America's largest and oldest coldwater conservation organization. TU's mission is to protect, reconnect, and restore trout and salmon populations and their habitat, and to sustain this work by building a diverse movement of businesses, people, and communities dedicated to that effort. TU has nearly 150,000 members and over 400 local chapters nationwide, including 10,000 members in California.

Trout Unlimited is seeking a qualified individual to serve as its new San Joaquin Valley Outreach Coordinator. The Outreach Coordinator will join a talented TU team working to reverse the loss of salmon and steelhead in the San Joaquin River and to give voice to the people who live in the Valley and care about the River and its value to their communities.

Background and Need

TU is part of a broad coalition working to address the loss of salmon and steelhead from the San Joaquin River between Fresno and the Merced River following the construction of Friant Dam in 1942. In 2006 the parties reached a historic agreement that intends to provide greater water supply reliability, improve the condition of native fishes and also restore Chinook (king) salmon. The San Joaquin River Restoration Agreement will result in enhanced opportunities for recreation (including angling) in and around the river in the Fresno area. Farther downstream, TU is also working to improve fisheries on the San Joaquin and its major tributaries such as the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers.

Although salmon and steelhead were for a time completely lost from the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and the Merced River confluence, fishing remains one of the most popular activities in the region. Today, the entire San Joaquin River is gaining a new life. The Outreach Coordinator will engage fishermen and women, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts to make sure their voices are heard.

Position Description

The San Joaquin Valley Outreach Coordinator is an education, organizing, and advocacy position designed to expand and diversify the support base for river restoration within the San Joaquin Valley. Primary objectives of this position are:

1. To educate and organize sportsmen and women in the greater Fresno area on the opportunities provided by the San Joaquin River Restoration Agreement.
2. To identify and recruit key sportsmen and sportswomen opinion leaders, sporting organizations, and businesses in the San Joaquin Valley and to establish and maintain relationships with these individuals and groups.
3. To work with TU's partners under the Restoration Agreement to organize and execute events that will highlight the recreational, sporting, and community values associated with a "living" San Joaquin River.
4. To bring children and families into contact with the reborn river, and help it regain its rightful place as part of the Valley’s cultural heritage.
5. To develop reliable contacts in the news media within the project geography, and to develop and deliver timely and effective media content.
6. To develop and deliver effective outreach/educational materials to diverse communities of sportsmen and women, including translation of such materials for non-English speaking anglers, through a variety of communications channels and resources.

The Outreach Coordinator will lead TU's effort to develop collaborative relationships with existing organizations and like-minded groups in the target geography, as a source for local information, strategic advice, and counsel on effective outreach approaches for some of the region's underrepresented demographics. As part of this grass roots effort, the Outreach Coordinator will recruit new members to TU, educating sportsmen and women about TU's local chapter model with a goal of establishing a TU chapter in the San Joaquin Valley.

Additional areas of focus for the Outreach Coordinator will include engaging children and young adults in underserved communities within the San Joaquin Valley in educational or recreational events or programs focused on connecting with the river. The Outreach Coordinator will also be responsible for developing and delivering presentations to clubs, and associations at conferences and other events.

The Regional Outreach Coordinator will be mentored and supported by TU's California Field Director, and will join a broader Central Valley team that includes our California Science Director, California Water Policy Director, and California Director.

Qualifications:

• Understanding of San Joaquin Valley communities, including political and economic conditions.
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in communications, natural resource sciences, or other fields pertinent to the position's requirements.
• Outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills, and the ability to work with a wide range of partners and constituencies.
• Ability to work independently, as a self-starter, and to work effectively as part of a team.
• Proficiency in written and oral Spanish. Working knowledge and or/proficiency in other languages spoken regularly in the San Joaquin Valley would also be considered a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Experience with social media and online communications (esp. blogging) a plus.
• Willingness and ability to travel around the southern Central Valley (primarily in the greater Fresno area). Valid California driver's license and own vehicle required.
• Demonstrated commitment to river and fisheries conservation needed; healthy obsession with fish or fishing preferred.
• Professional experience in volunteer coordination, public outreach, media, campaign advocacy a plus.

Location and Compensation

The salary will be commensurate with experience, non-profit scale. It will be located in Fresno or another convenient San Joaquin Valley town.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, references, and a writing sample by email to:

Sam Davidson / California Field Director / sdavidson@tu.org. Include "San Joaquin Valley Outreach Coordinator" in the subject line.

No phone inquiries, please. Applications will be accepted until at least March 15, and the position will remain open until filled.