Rangeland Specialist

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Owyhee Watershed Council

Adrian, Ontario, or Jordan Valley, Oregon

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary: DOE

Position Summary

The Rangeland Specialist serves as the lead coordinator for the Malheur Rangeland Partnership (MRP) and directs the Owyhee Watershed Council’s rangeland and upland conservation activities. This position works collaboratively with private landowners, state and federal agencies, and conservation partners to advance shared conservation goals at the landscape scale by strengthening cross jurisdictional coordination through planning and implementation of restoration projects. The role covers cross- jurisdictional projects in Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho.

Supervision

This position is hosted by the Owyhee Watershed Council and the day to day supervisor will be the council’s executive director.

The Malheur Rangeland Partnership Steering Committee (minimum 5 members) will review the coordinator’s performance after a six-month probation period and then at the annual hiring anniversary. There will be multiple colleagues with local sage-grouse and sagebrush steppe knowledge and experience that will be available to guide and assist you while you integrate into this position.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

1. Partnership Meeting Facilitation and Convening

  • Organize and facilitate 4–6 full collaborative meetings per year, including agenda development, scheduling, venue arrangements, presentations, and documentation.
  • Facilitate sub-group or issue-specific meetings as needed, maintaining timely pre- and post-meeting communication.
  • Lead Project Review and Technical Committee meetings with consistent documentation and follow-up.

 

2. Outreach, Education & Engagement

  • Deliver 1–2 workshops annually to promote restoration methods, science, and policy.
  • Attend partner meetings (e.g., SWCDs, watershed councils, Weed Management Areas, RFPAs, NRCS, BLM) to ensure two-way communication and alignment of goals.
  • Conduct outreach with landowners, livestock producers, and public land managers.
  • Develop communications products to publicize partnership successes and opportunities- webpage on SageCon website, quarterly updates

 

3. Project & Data Management

  • Maintain a centralized treatment database to prevent duplication and guide planning, with confidentiality agreements where needed.
  • Update and apply county-wide prioritization frameworks for conservation investments.
  • Use GIS tools to map threats and opportunities across the MRP landscape.

 

4. Policy Integration & Collaboration

  • Coordinate with other LIT Coordinators, SageCon, and relevant partners on policy, funding, and science updates.
  • Align efforts with the State Sage-Grouse Action Plan, BLM RMPA, and cross-boundary restoration strategies.
  • Maintain strong relationships among landowners, agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

 

5. Funding Development & Grant Management

  • Identify and pursue funding opportunities for restoration, wildfire recovery, and capacity-building projects.
  • Prepare funding proposals and manage awarded grants to meet deliverables, timelines, and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure project activities comply with funder requirements and align with the OWC and MRP mission and goals.

Qualifications / Experience Level Required:

Required Qualifications
  • 3–5 years of experience in rangeland management, watershed coordination, ranching or related discipline
  • Demonstrated facilitation skills with diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Proven track record in grant writing and project management.
  • GIS proficiency (ArcMap or equivalent).
  • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Ability to travel frequently and independently to remote areas within Malheur and Owyhee Counties, with occasional statewide/regional travel. Must have a valid drivers license and have the ability to operate an ATV. Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; work in all types of weather conditions.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in rangeland management, natural resources policy or management, public affairs, or related field.
  • Knowledge of sagebrush steppe ecology and sage-grouse conservation strategies.
  • Experience working with federal, state, and local land management agencies.
  • Familiarity with NRCS programs, cost-share funding, and conservation agreements (e.g., CCAAs).
  • Experience in wildfire recovery planning and upland restoration techniques.

Position Scope & Working Conditions
  • Combination of office-based administrative work and field-based project coordination and hosting occasional evening meetings and events
  • Regular travel within the service area; occasional travel to regional/state meetings.
  • Requires ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
  • Flexibility to work at an office in Adrian, Ontario, or Jordan Valley with occasional telework
  • A flexible work schedule of 30-40 hours a week

Questions If you would like more information about the job, please contact Michaelann Seiders mseidersowc@qwestoffice.net

To Apply If interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to Michaelann Seiders mseidersowc@qwestoffice.net

This position is flexible in its structure and may be filled in an employee structure or as a contractor.

If you think that you would excel in this position but have a different skill set or background than what is described above we encourage you to reach out and talk to us about your interest and qualifications.

Housing: No

Contact:

Michaelann Seiders

mseidersowc@qwestoffice.net

Apply for This Position: mseidersowc@qwestoffice.net

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