Transboundary Rivers Communications Strategist
Location: Vancouver or Victoria, B.C.
Status: Part-time contracted position (0.5 - 0.8 FTE)

Position Summary
Conservation communications strategist to develop and lead integrated communications advancing policies that protect transboundary waterways shared by British Columbia and downstream U.S. states.

This position is based out of the Vancouver or Victoria region in British Columbia, to maximize proximity to key provincial decision makers and B.C. media outlets. The successful applicant will work with conservation and community partners throughout the province and region, including Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho, to manage internal and external communications. This includes developing an overall strategy and narrative for change, and implementing it through media relations, advertising, marketing, and social media. This position will also develop promotional campaign products.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks
• Identify and maintain contact with relevant media outlets and community partners
• Develop and promote the B.C.-U.S. transboundary rivers story with local, national and international media outlets
• Develop a strategy for implementing change at a policy level, targeting key decision-makers, that can be implemented through communications
• Develop and implement strategic and integrated communication plans for print and electronic media; includes drafting/finalizing communications materials, op-eds, press releases, web content, blog posts, and other necessary media platforms.

Qualifications
• Advanced degree and minimum 5 years of communications/media experience;
• Established relationships with B.C. and Canadian journalists and major media outlets;
• A clear understanding of and familiarity with the B.C. government, decision makers, environmental campaigns, and how to effect change in B.C. and Canada;
• Ability to work and achieve results while working autonomously;
• Proficiency using Canadian Press writing style and online project management systems;
• Ability to travel, occasionally in small aircraft and boats, and to work weekends and evenings
• Online engagement skills, including social media, blogging, and web writing;
• Experience managing supporter data with systems such as Salesforce is recommended;
• Experience working on public policy campaigns is recommended;
• Previous experience with B.C. environmental campaigns recommended;
• Previous experience with B.C. government relations is optimal, though not required;
• Basic photography/videography skills, as well as editing, is recommended.
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Please send your questions and applications materials (letter of interest, resume, three references, and three writing samples) to Michael Jamison (mjamison@npca.org) and Mary Catharine Martin (mc@salmonstate.org) by June 24, 2018.
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University of Montana
AK / BC Transboundary Rivers Research Scientist 
Location: Southeast Alaska
Status: Full-time position (1.0 FTE, 12-month position)

Position Summary
The Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) invites applications for a Research Scientist to work under the supervision of FLBS Senior Scientist to complete the research assigned to this temporary position.  The appointee is expected to be both highly independent and collaborative, and s/he will have significant leeway in the scope and design of components of the larger project. A key requirement is that the individual have the ability to see intellectually and technically complex projects through to their conclusion, which will involve developing methodological approaches and reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data and results from the project. Great autonomy and ability to exhibit independent decision making is expected in designing and implementing strategies for achieving shared research goals.

This position will ideally be based out of Juneau, Alaska or another Southeast Alaska community to maximize proximity to watersheds, communities, tribal governments, and State and Federal agencies. 

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks 
  • The primary responsibility of this appointee is to provide technical expertise and coordination for the establishment of baseline/reference condition, environmental impact, and risk assessment for legacy, current and proposed hard rock mining projects in the British Columbia headwaters of AK/BC international watersheds (Taku, Stikine and Unuk Rivers). In addition, the appointee will develop and coordinate research activities, identify key information gaps and priorities, and develop research plans for funding and implementation in subsequent years.
  • Appointee will work with a well-established network of academic, governmental agency, Tribal and NGO partners, as well as a small Scientific Advisory Committee comprised of academic and agency experts who will provide guidance, technical expertise and increased access to emerging research on these rivers, and to relevant data/research.
  • Specific responsibilities include:
  • Develop, initiate, analyze and store an inventory of historical, on-going and planned data collection in the AK/BC transboundary watersheds with partners across the transboundary watersheds.
  • Coordinate communication and collaboration across Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, including public presentations on findings, and providing technical expertise and support of partners and stakeholders.
  • Initiate assessment of effects pathways, stressors and receptors in the transboundary watersheds from mining and mine-related activities; and identify potential pathways of impact, stressors and ecological vulnerabilities (fish, water, aquatic life, terrestrial life) to current and proposed mining development.
  • Develop and complete a ‘Gap Analysis’ with respect to baseline, environmental impact and long-term monitoring in the AK/BC transboundary watersheds.
  • Prioritize future scientific activities based on the findings from the initial data and research inventory, and with input from the scientific advisory committee (SAC), develop a list of priority science, monitoring activities and corresponding research plans.
  • Coordinate a minimum of one transboundary watershed science workshop including regional partners, aimed at fostering a science network, supporting the data inventory and data needs efforts.​

Required Qualifications
  • M.S. in environmental or aquatic sciences, or related field, with the ability to represent the University of Montana, Flathead Lake Biological Station to governments, agencies and partners
  • Demonstrated experience of excellent research capabilities required to carry out innovative and thoughtful research
  • Demonstrated ability to identify analyze and summarize relevant literature
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas and concepts (both orally and in writing) to scientific and non-scientific audiences
  • Ability and willingness to undertake collaborative research across multiple jurisdictions and entities
  • Demonstrated ability to live and work for long periods in remote settings during all times of the year and to make appropriate field/backcountry decisions ‘on the fly’
  • Demonstrated ability to perform physical labor (e.g., lift up to 60 lbs.)
  • Extensive working knowledge of standard computer applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.)
  • Willingness to live in or near Juneau or Ketchikan, Alaska, and to travel extensively in the transboundary watersheds across British Columbia/Alaska with additional travel to Montana and CA/US government capitals
  • Valid passport or ability to obtain is absolutely required
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 Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated ability to publish original research in landscape/watershed ecology
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate agency and public policy interactions at the federal, state, Tribal and local levels
  • Experience and familiarity with governmental environmental impact assessment processes and documents


​The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of leadership, diversity, engagement and sustainability.