New Mexico Project Manager or Engineer I

Shelby American, Inc.; Arlington (VA); Remote; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization seeks a Project Manager or Engineer to improve water quality and habitat in New Mexico and Arizona. This role combines field and office work, managing restoration projects and engaging with diverse stakeholders. The successful candidate will contribute to habitat restoration and AML reclamation efforts while fostering partnerships across the region.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Reimbursement for work-related travel

Qualifications

• 1-4 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience with construction oversight and project management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage abandoned mine land reclamation and construction projects.
• Coordinate water and soil quality monitoring activities.
• Fundraise for program and project support.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Collaboration

Water Quality

Fisheries

Education

Applicable Science or Engineering Degree

Tools

Civil 3D

ArcGIS

Job description

All Jobs > New Mexico Project Manager or Engineer I

New Mexico Project Manager or Engineer I
Fully Remote • NM • Southwest Conservation Program

Full-time

Description

ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED

Trout Unlimited (TU) brings together diverse interests to care for and recover the rivers and streams on which we all depend. We are a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. Our dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 25 offices across the country.

POSITION SUMMARY

This is an exciting opportunity to join Trout Unlimited and use your talents to improve water quality, habitat and native fisheries in New Mexico and Arizona impacted by land-use, climate change, and degradation from historic hard-rock mining. TU is hiring a self-motivated and highly capable Project Manager or Engineer-I to facilitate and execute an existing suite of habitat and stream restoration projects, while also developing abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects in the southwest. The role will offer technical experience with existing staff while also offering opportunities to lead their own projects from start to finish, which will consist of developing conceptual designs, obtaining project funding, managing project implementation, and completing grant/funder reports. This is a unique opportunity that blends both field and office work in a vast and diverse landscape spanning both New Mexico and Arizona in support of native Rio Grande cutthroat, Gila trout, and Apache trout species.

This position will unite diverse interests and drive tangible, action-oriented efforts to support native trout species across a large geographical area. The position will split 60% of their time supporting existing habitat restoration projects, and the other 40% expanding the southwestern AML program. Given that split of duties, TU is seeking a well-rounded and technically sound candidate with experience in fisheries, water resources, and managing environmentally contaminated sites. Collaboration will also be critical in this role given the diverse stakeholder group already established across both states between USFS, BLM, FWS, NMED, ADEQ, industry, and other NGO organizations. Externally, the role will expand TU’s base of private and public partners. Internally, the role will collaborate closely with a cross-departmental team that includes the Southwest Program Director, Western AML Program Director and staff from New Mexico and Arizona teams to advance conservation efforts within Priority Waters.

TU has secured two years of funding for this position. The successful applicant will work with TU staff and stakeholders to secure additional funding for project activities and to cover core operational costs to sustain the program and this position in future years. The duty station for this position is flexible, but the desired geographic location would be the greater Albuquerque area since the position requires travel across both New Mexico and Arizona. This position is considered remotely located. Additional travel to occasional staff meetings and conferences outside the state will be necessary and it should be noted that a high frequency of travel (>60%) could be required during field season that can commonly last from May until December every year.

TU started its Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program in 2004 to address what the organization feels is one of the most important, yet least addressed issues facing headwater streams in the West. The tone around AML work is changing however, with the recent passage of the Good Samaritan Reclamation of Hardrock Mines Act, and a renewed commitment from the mining industry to support projects that have a net-positive effect on nature-based climate goals. This opportunity has been developed through both long-term and recent mining industry partnerships in the Southwest. Corporate funding and programmatic support from this industry has been critical to the development of TU’s AML program and over 60 phases of corresponding reclamation during the past decade. This position will look to foster these relationships, while developing and delivering a pipeline of projects across the southwest.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and coordinate abandoned mine land reclamation and construction projects of varying scope; construction oversight and verification of design specifications during implementation.
• Develop requests for proposals, evaluate proposals, and solicit contractor bids for projects with varying deliverables and budget.
• Coordinate and implement water, soil quality, and macroinvertebrate monitoring activities on TU-led projects, as well as agency projects; interpretation of water/soil chemistry results to support decision-making regarding project success and future reclamation needs.
• Manage engineering and/or outside consultants to complete necessary designs that meet project deliverables and can be implemented in the field.
• Conduct desktop in-house conceptual engineering designs for TU-led projects.
• Work with local/regional partners and TU staff to fundraise for both program and project support, including identifying potential funding sources, drafting grant proposals, and developing relationships with funders.
• Scientific writing of watershed-based plans, post-project reports, and concept papers.
• Outreach and travel to TU functions and volunteer chapter meetings across the state.
• Engage private landowners, as well as representatives from local, state, and federal organizations, in project work across ownership boundaries.
• Act as a technical resource and work closely with other TU staff and stakeholders to develop and implement other TU restoration/reclamation projects.
• Perform administrative duties including contracting, grant reporting, invoicing, and budget management.

Requirements

• Minimum 1-4 years of relevant professional experience
• Preferred degree of study: An applicable science or engineering discipline with relation to water resources, civil, environmental, geotechnical, geological, or mining preferred.
• Experience with construction oversight, reclamation, and management of complex projects is preferred.
• OSHA HAZWOPER 40hr, and current 8 hr refresher a plus
• For Engineers: Current engineer in training (EIT) registration with State of New Mexico, or other state. If not, desire to take fundamentals of engineering exam is a plus.
• Experience with fisheries, water quality, or fluvial geomorphology a plus.
• Understanding of CERCLA and NEPA
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as well as ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with modeling programs, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and other engineering programs.
• Willingness to travel within the region; Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required.
• Applicants should be able to lift >50 pounds and be proficient in backcountry hiking.
• High energy and a passion for protecting and restoring trout fisheries and their watersheds.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. At TU, we value diversity, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and healthy rivers and streams. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package, as well as reimbursement for work-related travel at standard state/federal rates. The starting salary range is between $65,000 and $70,000 with room for growth depending on experience and qualifications. Title and compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications and experience level, internal equity, alignment with market data, and geographic differences.

We will begin reviewing applications middle of June 2025 and the position will be open until filled.