Watershed Advisors Jobs (NOW HIRING)

National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer a regular, 2-Year term position that will support the implementation of watershed restoration and health projects across the National Forest System, with an initial focus on the Colorado River Basin. The Watershed Technician will support program data management and impact metrics tracking, provide back-end administrative support to NFF’s Western Slope In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Program, and assist NFF field teams implementing watershed restoration on National Forest System lands.

About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1990. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.

Position Function: The Watershed Technician reports to the Watershed Program Specialist and is a member of NFF’s Enterprise Programs team. The incumbent is responsible for supporting work across three core areas: (1) watershed program metrics and data management; (2) back-end administrative support for NFF’s Western Slope In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Program; and (3) technical support and project coordination for NFF Field Teams implementing watershed restoration projects across the Colorado River Basin and other priority watersheds. The Watershed Technician works closely with the Watershed Program Specialist, Field Coordinators, program partners, contractors, and agency staff to ensure projects are well-documented, well-administered, and delivered effectively on the ground. On ILF Program work specifically, the Watershed Program Specialist leads project development and holds primary external relationships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, contractors, and landowners; the Watershed Technician supports through back-end administration, recordkeeping, and documentation. On field implementation work, NFF Field Teams hold primary ownership and day-to-day project management. The Watershed Technician contributes subject matter expertise to advise field staff and may provide direct project coordination as time-limited bridge capacity in geographies without field team presence.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Watershed Technician will:

Metrics and Data Management

• Assist with maintaining program databases that track key watershed restoration project information such as locations, treatments, and outcomes, across the NFF watershed portfolio, supporting data integrity and quality control.
• Provide input and analysis to support the ongoing refinement of NFF’s watershed impact metrics framework, in coordination with the Watershed Program Specialist and Enterprise Programs staff.
• Compile and help synthesize monitoring data from field teams and partners to support program reporting, grant deliverables, and internal learning products.
• Assist with preparing data summaries and visualizations that communicate program progress and outcomes to internal and external audiences.
• Help maintain spatial data layers in ArcGIS Online or similar platforms to support the tracking and assessment of watershed projects across the National Forest System.

ILF Program Administrative Support

• Maintain the Regulatory In-lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS) ledger for NFF’s Western Slope In-Lieu Fee Program, including credit transactions, project tracking entries, and required updates.
• Support financial tracking and accounting for the ILF Program, including reconciliation of fee receipts, project expenditures, and credit balances, in coordination with the Watershed Program Specialist and NFF Finance team.
• Prepare draft annual reports, monitoring summaries, and other regulatory documentation required under the ILF Program Instrument and associated permit conditions, for review and finalization by the Watershed Program Specialist.
• Assist in the preparation of project-related documents such as contracts, scopes of work, and task orders, for consultants and contractors engaged on ILF projects, under the direction of the Watershed Program Specialist.
• Maintain organized program records, correspondence files, and project tracking systems to ensure accurate and auditable program administration.
• Track policy developments related to Section 404/401 wetland and waters permitting, mitigation banking, and ILF programs, and flag relevant updates for the Watershed Program Specialist.

Field Team Technical Support and Project Coordination

NFF Field Teams hold primary ownership and day-to-day management of watershed restoration projects in their geographies. Consistent with NFF’s Enterprise Programs framing, the Watershed Technician complements and strengthens field team expertise, adding subject matter capacity that helps field staff, advance technically rigorous watershed restoration work. Where NFF does not have a field team member in a given geography, the Technician may provide time-limited bridge capacity for direct project coordination, with the intent of transitioning the work into field program ownership once capacity is in place.

• Serve as a subject matter resource on watershed restoration methods, such as low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR), meadow restoration, and riparian improvement, for NFF Field Coordinators and field staff implementing projects on National Forest System lands.
• Provide technical advice to field teams on project design, treatment selection, monitoring protocols, and implementation methods, drawing on watershed science expertise that complements the generalist knowledge of many field staff.
• Support field teams with review of project designs, contractor deliverables, monitoring plans, and related implementation documents to strengthen technical quality and alignment with NFF’s watershed restoration practice.
• Participate in field site visits at field team request as a technical resource, contributing to photo-documentation, data collection, and quality assurance of on-the-ground restoration activities.
• Support field teams with grant and partner reporting by synthesizing technical data, monitoring results, and programmatic inputs across multiple projects and regions.
• Help surface and share lessons learned across NFF’s watershed restoration portfolio, bringing a cross-regional perspective to inform field decision-making and troubleshoot common challenges.
• Where NFF does not have a field team member in a Colorado River Basin geography, support direct project coordination as bridge capacity including contract preparation, scheduling, permitting coordination, budget tracking, and partner engagement, with the intent of transitioning the work to field program ownership once field capacity is established.
• Build and maintain working relationships with U.S. Forest Service staff, conservation NGO partners, state agencies, tribal partners, and other stakeholders in support of, rather than replacement of, field team-led partnerships, in coordination with the Watershed Program Specialist.

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Watershed Technician to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in watershed science, hydrology, natural resource management, environmental science, conservation biology, or a closely related field. Relevant professional experience may substitute.
• At least three years of work experience with conservation programs, project planning, and/or coordinating project implementation.
• Demonstrated involvement in project planning, coordination, accomplishment and budget tracking, and project operations management that involves multiple implementation partners, contractors, and funding sources.
• Experience with data management and environmental monitoring; familiarity with spatial analysis and GIS platforms such as ArcGIS Online preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with watershed science, riparian or wetland ecology, and/or stream restoration concepts and methods.
• Familiarity with federal land management, U.S. Forest Service programs, and/or regulatory frameworks such as Section 404/401 of the Clean Water Act is strongly preferred.
• Commitment to the mission of the NFF and familiarity with the U.S. Forest Service purpose and National Forest System management.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Watershed Technician to possess the following proven abilities and skills:

• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks, deadlines, and information streams in a well-organized manner.
• Proficiency with data management tools, spreadsheets (Excel or equivalent), and database platforms; ability to synthesize and clearly present complex data to diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with GIS tools such as ArcGIS Online helpful; willingness to build spatial data skills on the job.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate reports, regulatory documentation, and correspondence for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a geographically dispersed team, and to collaborate with partners from federal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, academia, tribes, and the private sector.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people with differing and sometimes conflicting opinions, and to maintain neutrality.
• Comfort with and willingness to work outdoors in varied field conditions, including remote terrain.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the Four Corners states (CO, UT, AZ, NM) and occasionally beyond, and to maintain a flexible work schedule that includes occasional weekend or evening events.
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License.

Location: The location for this position is flexible within the Four Corners states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Applicants must be able to travel regularly throughout this geography. This position is a work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The starting salary range for this position is $75,000 to $86,250, with the ability to grow to $97,500 based on performance outcomes over time and assessed annually. NFF monitors mandated state minimum wage updates. Individual state conditions will be honored during the offer process.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878–$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost.

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate.

Flexibility and Time Off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave, and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service).
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs.
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on August 15, 2026, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer — meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly.