A thriving future for California’s environment and communities requires bold vision, creative problem- solving, and relentless determination. This is a critical decade for action and River Partners is growing our team of talented, dedicated change-makers to meet the challenge head on. Join us!

Who We Are

A tenacious nonprofit founded in 1998, River Partners brings life back to California rivers. We advance an innovative model of conservation that harnesses the power of restored riverways to create a thriving future for the state’s environment and communities.

Blending modern farming practices, cutting-edge science, and diverse alliances, River Partners reforests and reconnects river landscapes and critical wildlife corridors at an unprecedented pace and scale. We’ve restored more habitat along impaired California rivers than anyone else in the western U.S., having led hundreds of projects across nearly 20,000 acres throughout California. Our efforts result in a suite of tangible wins for struggling wildlife, flood safety, climate resiliency, water conservation, healthy communities, and strong local economies.

We are growing fast and looking for passionate team members to help us increase our pace and scale of restoration.

Why We Do It

Healthy rivers are essential for a vibrant California. They provide fresh water for growing our food, economy, communities, and wildlife found nowhere else. Rivers support more species and in greater numbers than any other ecosystem in California—making our state a worldwide biodiversity hotspot. Yet just 5% of our native riverside habitat remains. What’s left needs reviving.

The actions we take during this decade will decide California's future. With their exponential benefits for wildlife, natural resources, and communities, healthy rivers are critical for a flourishing Golden State for generations to come.

Why You Should Join Us

River Partners offers competitive salaries and benefits, including comprehensive health care insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with immediate employer matching, paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance programs, other well-being benefits.

We’re proud of our supportive culture and focus on work-life balance.

Position Description:

The Restoration Ecologist works with River Partners’ science, field implementation, and development teams to identify, develop and execute riparian habitat restoration projects.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities of This Position Include:

• Managing complex large-scale restoration project.

• Developing and building good rapport with external partners.
• Writing quality plans, reports, and articles.
• Managing multi-million dollar budgets for restoration, mitigation, and consulting projects.
• Assisting in the development of new restoration projects.
• Providing recommendation for problematic soil conditions on existing projects.
• Evaluating soil conditions for new projects to assist in project planning
• Managing the Enterprise geographic information system (GIS).
• Proactively communicating with team members to improve habitat restoration and implementation techniques.
• Securing permits from local, state and federal agencies.
• Conducting vegetation and biological monitoring and studies.
• Training and supervising entry-level biologists and interns.
• Meeting multiple deadlines and providing outstanding customer relations.
• Developing and delivering presentations to the scientific community, government agencies and the public.
• Attending public events, fairs and meetings to promote the organization and its mission.
• Working independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• May involve travel and/or long hours and weekends in a variety of field conditions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Possess the enthusiasm and drive to assist River Partners in fulfilling its mission.
• Enjoy working with diverse people and organizations to get things done.
• Creatively solve problems and delight in learning new skills.
• Effectively communicate complicated soil science findings orally and in writing.
• Possess knowledge of and experience with basic irrigation techniques and a knowledge of soil chemistry, physics and plant science.
• Possess advanced knowledge of California native plants, riparian ecology, and river hydrology.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a team and independently.
• Possess an understanding of statistics, experimental design and data collection.
• Experience collecting, organizing, and analyzing field data.
• Demonstrate good organizational skills, ability to work under multiple deadlines, and flexibility to handle changing priorities.
• Be able to remain dedicated and focused on multiple tasks.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Words, Excel, Access, and other programs.

Qualifications:

• MS or equivalent work experience in ecology, plant biology, soil science, agriculture or natural resource science or related scientific field.
• Three to five years of appropriate work experience.
• Successful candidates must possess a valid driver’s license with no restrictions.

River Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

River Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, religion, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or any other protected group status or non-job related characteristic as directed by law.