Watersheds Senior Project Manager

Trellis Group; Washington; Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% Employer-paid Medical Insurance

Retirement plan with employer matching

Generous PTO and Vacation Policy

Four-week paid sabbatical

Training and development budget

Job summary

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead efforts in watershed resilience in the Pacific Northwest. This role involves coordinating initiatives across various partners, overseeing grants, and managing stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate has extensive project management experience, is passionate about environmental conservation, and excels in written and verbal communication. Competitive salary and generous benefits including a hybrid work schedule and professional development opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in relevant fields such as water resources or conservation.
• Experience with project management involving diverse stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building skills with utilities and nonprofits.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multi-partner initiatives to enhance watershed resilience.
• Develop and oversee grant compliance and budget management.
• Identify corporate engagement opportunities for funding.

Skills

Project management

Relationship-building

Facilitation

Clear written communication

Organizational skills

Education

BA/BS in relevant fields

Job description

Watersheds Senior Project Manager

About BEF

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit working on environmental solutions at the intersection of renewable energy and freshwater. Partnerships are key to our success. We build long-term relationships with our education, corporate, utility, philanthropic, Tribal, and conservation partners by first understanding their goals and needs and providing solutions that achieve those goals while achieving real, measurable environmental benefits.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for a skilled and collaborative project manager who is passionate about riparian and watershed resilience. The right candidate will join our Watersheds team and work alongside communities in Washington and the Colorado Basin to cultivate partnerships, identify funding opportunities, and engage a diverse range of stakeholders. The right candidate will coordinate multi-partner initiatives, supporting project strategy, managing resources and contractors, supporting convenings and peer‑learning programs, and implementing grant and funding decisions that advance watershed resilience at scale.

About BEF’s Watersheds Program

BEF's Watersheds Program champions an integrated, community‑based, whole watershed approach to overcoming barriers to restoring freshwater ecosystems. BEF is a trusted partner to a wide range of foundations, watershed organizations, community groups, government agencies, tribal nations, and water stewardship nonprofits. Our partners count on us to bring adaptive approaches, expertise, and a deep understanding of how to leverage resources and relationships to build much‑needed capacity to restore watersheds.

Why Join Us? Our Values Are:

Partnership: We believe we can accomplish more by working together.

Adaptability: We evolve, adapt, and apply what we learn to improve our approaches and outcomes.

Knowledge: We seek out and value diverse perspectives, embrace new ideas, and advance new approaches.

Innovation: We recognize that the scope and pace of the change we need demands innovation, drawing on knowledge from the past and new information and tools.

Integrity: We are honest with our employees, customers, and our partners. We seek to deliver outcomes that benefit the environment and people we serve.

Primary Duties:

Colorado Western Utility Watershed Resilience Initiative

1. Coordinate and support utility partners work sessions, setting agendas, advancing decisions and driving project milestones. Co‑design and co‑develop the mentorship curriculum, recruiting subject‑matter experts and shaping content strategy across convenings.
2. Develop a business case to demonstrate partnership opportunities and return on investment for watershed and wildfire resiliency projects.
3. Oversee grant compliance, contracting and budget management in partnership with BEF’s Finance and Operations teams.

Washington State Riparian Program

1. Lead the design and implementation of peer‑learning, site visits and other opportunities that elevate riparian stewardship and conservation.
2. Author technical briefs and synthesis products that inform program direction and partner decision‑making.
3. Serve on grant review team and program work groups.
4. Create communications materials that highlight partner achievements and surface lessons learned and innovations.
5. Manage expert contractors.

Creative Funding Initiatives

1. Identify and pursue corporate engagement and private sector investment opportunities that advance watershed resilience goals.
2. Partner with BEF's communications coordinator to develop compelling project narratives and outreach materials.
3. Leverage and expand utility and business partnerships to broaden the reach and impact of watershed resilience work.

Key Competencies:

1. Results Focused – Focuses on desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Gets the job done. Sets high standards for performance of self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; can be counted on to deliver consistent and high‑quality results.
2. Delivers Results – Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom‑line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
3. Advanced Technical Knowledge – Demonstrates an advanced understanding of the job and is viewed as a subject‑matter expert. Effectively applies knowledge and leverages resources to deliver high‑quality products/service.

Qualifications:

1. BA/BS or equivalent experience in relevant fields, including water resources, infrastructure, community development, conservation or conservation planning, community engagement, natural resource management, environmental science, or public policy.
2. Minimum 5+ years experience in water resources, infrastructure, community development, conservation or conservation planning, community engagement, natural resource management, environmental science, or public policy.
3. Experience with project management, working directly with Tribal, local, state, and federal governments, and/or private landowners and agricultural producers.
4. Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse partners such as utilities, nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations.
5. Facilitation and convening skills, including supporting peer‑learning sessions, workshops, or stakeholder meetings.
6. Clear written communication skills, including experience developing program communications, summaries, or materials that highlight partner work and program outcomes.
7. Organizational and project coordination skills, including tracking tasks, supporting grant reporting or invoicing, and managing multiple workstreams in a collaborative team environment.
8. Demonstrated ability to manage multi‑stakeholder projects – including supporting resource allocation, budget tracking, contractor coordination, and accountability for outcomes across workstreams.

Desired:

1. Demonstrated expertise in wildfire resilience, watershed restoration, and/or landscape conservation.
2. Experience working across disciplines and with diverse partners – including land management agencies, Tribal nations, conservation organizations, and/or local communities.

What’s in it for you:

1. Salary Range: $76,000–91,000 per year DOE.
2. 100% Employer‑paid Medical, Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability, Life insurance for employees; 75% subsidized for family/dependents.
3. Retirement plan with 5% employer matching contribution.
4. Generous PTO and Vacation Policy including alternative care and self‑care leave.
5. Four‑week paid sabbatical after first 6 years, then every 5 years thereafter.
6. Opportunity to grow through training and development including a generous paid professional development budget.
7. Hybrid work schedule.

Location: Hybrid, based in Puget Sound Area

Open until filled. BEF will review applications as they are received and will interview qualified candidates as they are identified. Our goal is to have this team member start work by 8/11/2026.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation is an EEO employer.