Senior Specialist, Riparian Connectivity

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of NWF is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist to join our Western Water Program based in the Upper Rio Grande Basin of Colorado or New Mexico. NWF’s Water for Wildlife goal is “to protect and restore the natural function and quality of the nation’s waters, wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations.” The availability of water for wildlife and people in the Western U.S. is subject to long-term aridification, extreme heat events and forest fires, habitat degradation, and severely competing interests for scarce water resources. The quantity and quality of water in the West is heavily dependent on the lands that surround the West’s waterways, including the riparian and wetland areas that filter, enhance, and extend water supplies.

NWF’s Western Water Program is seeking a Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist to focus on conserving and restoring riparian connectivity in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. This position will provide cross-jurisdictional leadership with the goal of fostering a a well-connected, collaborative, and functional riparian corridor network, while strengthening the conditions that are necessary to support long-term riparian conservation efforts. The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will also support the Western Water Program’s broader efforts to achieve the following vision: “There is adequate water for people and wildlife in the West through sustainable and equitable land and water management policies and practices. Headwaters and riparian ecosystems that are critical to water quality and quantity are conserved, restored, and resilient to support wildlife habitat and equitable community needs.” The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will provide leadership on riparian conservation and restoration in the Upper Rio Grande Basin to the Western Water team and lead coalitions and projects that help to achieve this vision, while collaborating across NWF regions and programs to achieve greater benefits for water in the West.

NWF’s Western Water priorities support the implementation of the National Wildlife Federation’s strategic plan and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan, while advancing efforts to magnify and elevate water-focused conservation efforts to address environmental injustice in the West.

The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist reports to the Director of Western Water while working closely with other members of the Western Water Program, and staff from across NWF’s Western Regions and relevant national and regional programs (e.g., Wildlife, Public Lands, Water, Tribal Partnerships, Hispanics Enjoy Camping and Hunting Outdoors (HECHO)) with a specific goal to advance riparian connectivity in the Upper Rio Grande Basin and beyond.

Major Areas of Responsibility (and Principal Duties)

The primary focus of the Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will be to oversee the Western Water Program’s Riparian Conservation and Restoration work in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. This work will focus on supporting local partners, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance riparian conservation and restoration, while providing leadership to address priorities identified through the ‘Ribbons of Life Initiative’ and the resulting Upper Rio Grande Riparian Action Plan.  

In this role, the Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will be expected to do the following with a geographic focus on the Upper Rio Grande Basin of northern New Mexico and the San Luis Valley of Colorado:

• Cultivate effective partnerships: Build authentic relationships with local stakeholders throughout the Upper Rio Grande Basin, learn priorities, and identify areas where additional support is needed to advance riparian connectivity efforts. Participate in existing stakeholder, partnership, and collaboration meetings to learn from local experts and support existing work. Identify specific actions that would add value to existing riparian work in the Upper Rio Grande Basin that is guided by existing activities and expertise. Cultivate and main