British Columbia Program Director

Location: British Columbia, Canada

Reports to: VP of Conservation

Status: Full-time, regular exempt employee

The Organization:

Wild Salmon Center (WSC) works to protect and conserve wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim; some of the most beautiful and productive rivers left on the planet. These “salmon strongholds” are home to bears, bald eagles, orcas, and more than 130 other species that depend on wild salmon. Stronghold rivers also support thriving coastal cultures and economies and have sustained First Nations and Indigenous communities for millennia.

Wild Salmon Center is a leading conservation organization which features a strong, team oriented culture, outstanding colleagues, a broad network of partners, excellent salary and benefits, and supports professional growth while providing the chance to be part of a core team advancing and implementing vital watershed conservation and restoration efforts.

The Position Summary:

The Director of British Columbia (B.C.) is a new position at WSC and will be a full-time, regular exempt employee, eligible for all WSC benefits. The position will be based in British Columbia and will work with WSC team members to establish a conservation program that secures the long-term health of wild salmon and steelhead populations and their ecosystems throughout the province. The position will report to the Vice President of Conservation.

This position will build from WSC’s 30+ years of experience protecting and recovering wild salmon populations and their habitats in the North Pacific, and the organization’s 10+ years of partnership-based conservation efforts in British Columbia. The B.C. Director will serve as the organization’s strategic lead and primary point of contact for all campaigns, initiatives, projects, and partnerships in British Columbia. The B.C. Director will develop, oversee, and implement multi-year campaigns and initiatives and will respond to short-term opportunities, threats, and needs as they arise, while building new partnerships and strengthening existing ones to win durable outcomes for British Columbia’s globally important wild salmon and steelhead watersheds.

Primary Work Activities:

Building from WSC’s current initiatives and partnerships, the person in this role will scope, develop, and implement the organization’s British Columbia conservation program with ambitious but achievable goals. These include habitat, wild fish management, and partnership engagement priorities that result in measurable, on-the-ground improvements that benefit wild salmon ecosystems. Primary activities will include:

• Develop strategic plans, long-term goals (5-10 years), and annual work plans and budgets aligned with the organization’s mission to safeguard the North Pacific’s and British Columbia’s wild salmon and steelhead strongholds.
• Develop and advance strategies in partnership with First Nations, non-governmental organizations, government ministries, and other civil society groups to conserve important terrestrial and marine habitat via British Columbia’s commitments to Indigenous reconciliation, land use planning, old growth timber protection, climate action, mining reform, and biodiversity conservation, including protection of 30% of the province by 2030.
• Leverage Canada’s historic Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative to promote the reduction of mixed-stock fishing and a transition to Indigenous-led stock-selective fisheries.
• Together with WSC colleagues and partners, develop and implement bi-lateral strategies focused on protecting transboundary watersheds from the risks of mining and other extractive industries, and advance strategies to improve conservation outcomes in fisheries management, including improving the US-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty.
• Work with WSC’s Science team to integrate existing projects and partnerships into the B.C. program and incorporate the best available science into new habitat and wild fish goals and activities.
• Coordinate with WSC’s Development team to secure short and long-term funding for the B.C program by educating and engaging current B.C. funders, building relationships with new donors and foundations, preparing grant requests and reports, and leading site visits to B.C.’s stronghold watersheds.
• Coordinate with WSC’s Communications team to develop external materials that educate and motivate WSC’s target audiences on key salmon and steelhead issues.
• Advocate and strengthen wild fish management policies through current partnership efforts related to net-pen aquaculture reform / elimination off the B.C. coast.
• Support emerging efforts towards hatchery reform, to reduce the risks posed by new and existing hatchery programs and improve outcomes for wild salmon populations that are the focus of current hatchery production.
• Develop strategies to identify provincial and federal funding streams and policy avenues to implement WSC’s initiatives in British Columbia.
• Develop, lead, and manage partnerships and coalitions to collaboratively identify, develop, and advance conservation campaigns and priorities including the coordination of regular meetings and conferences focused on wild salmon protection.
• Help identify, cultivate, engage, and grow WSC’s partnership network in B.C., with an emphasis on working with First Nations, science partners, and civil society groups working on the long-term protection of wild salmon ecosystems.

Qualifications Summary:

• Demonstrated track record related to Primary Work Activities (above) and Qualifications Summary (below).
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively complex professional experience working on natural resource policy issues, and experience working on habitat, wild fish management, and conservation partnerships in British Columbia.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, including progression in managing staff to leading dynamic teams and coalitions.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships as well as working collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups, including First Nations.
• Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically to achieve program goals in a dynamic environment with minimal supervision.
• Experience representing an organization to diverse stakeholders and audiences.
• Ability to accurately communicate and distill complex legal, technical, and scientific information to diverse audiences, including legislators, the media, stakeholders, donors, and the public in writing, presentations, and conversations.
• Experience managing complex processes and projects while balancing multiple priorities and consistently meeting deadlines with high quality work.
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to attend meetings and workshops outside of regular work hours, including occasional weekends and evenings.
• Passion for and commitment to the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and the wild fish they sustain.

Compensation:

The pay range for this full-time position is between $105,000-$118,000 (US) commensurate with experience.

Additionally, a comprehensive benefits package, designed to help WSC employees stay healthy and plan for their financial future, includes:

• 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (includes employee/spouse, employee/dependent(s), as well as a partial premium for full family coverage)
• Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) plan that matches at 125% for the first 6% of salary contributed
• Four weeks of paid vacation (to start), two weeks of sick and eleven paid holidays Flexible Spending Account (health & dependent care)
• Support for continuing education
• Cell phone allowance & monthly stipend
• Flexible hybrid work schedule
• Outstanding work culture, including regular opportunities to visit and connect with WSC staff, local and Indigenous communities, and salmon watersheds

To Apply:
Submit cover letter, CV, and a writing sample to careers@wildsalmoncenter.org and include “B.C. Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through Friday, October 11, 2024.

Wild Salmon Center is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We will gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please reach out to our People & Culture Manager at eellis@wildsalmoncenter.org in advance to request assistance.