Regional Director

POSITION:
Regional Director – Shasta-Cascade

OFFICE

LOCATION:

Mt. Shasta, CA (in person)

FUNCTIONAL AREA:

Program

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Full-Time, Exempt

REPORTS TO:

VP of Conservation

Position Summary:

Cal Trout is seeking an experienced and strategic

Regional Director to oversee conservation efforts in the Shasta-Cascade region. This role is responsible for leading regional initiatives, setting and achieving conservation goals, managing staff and partnerships, and delivering on Cal Trout’s mission to ensure resilient wild fish in healthy waters. The Regional Director will lead efforts to recover the region’s salmon, steelhead, and native trout across its critical spring-fed and coldwater landscapes.

Stretching from the Klamath River and its Scott and Shasta River tributaries to the volcanic headwaters of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen, the Shasta-Cascade holds some of California’s most important coldwater refugia for wild fish. Its spring-fed rivers, including the McCloud, Fall, and Pit, provide stable cold flows that will be increasingly vital as the climate warms. Sacramento River tributaries such as Butte, Mill, and Deer Creeks support some of the last remaining wild populations of spring-run Chinook salmon, while Battle Creek is the focus of a major salmon and steelhead restoration effort.

In the Klamath basin, the removal of four mainstem dams has opened a historic opportunity to restore salmon and steelhead runs, and the Scott and Shasta Rivers remain critical to the recovery of threatened coho salmon. This is an in-person position based in Cal Trout’s Mt. Shasta office.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Regional Leadership & Oversight

• Lead and manage Cal Trout’s conservation efforts in the Shasta-Cascade region, including the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, Pit, and Fall River watersheds;
  Sacramento River tributaries including Butte Creek, Big Chico Creek, Battle Creek, Mill Creek, and Deer Creek; and the Klamath River and its tributaries, including the Scott River and Shasta River
• Develop and implement strategic plans, conservation priorities, and project pipelines for the region.
• Ensure successful delivery of conservation initiatives, restoration projects, and advocacy efforts.
• Supervise and support regional staff based in the Mt. Shasta and Chico offices, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team across both locations.
• Serve as a key representative for Cal Trout in the region, strengthening relationships with stakeholders, agencies, and partners.

Goal Setting & Conservation Strategy

• Establish and track measurable conservation goalsthat align with Cal Trout’s statewide objectives.
• Oversee project development, implementation, and evaluation to maximize ecological impact.
• Advance restoration and fish recovery in the Klamath basin following dam removal, working with tribes, agencies, and partners to restore habitat and support the return of salmon and steelhead to newly reopened waters.
• Secure and manage funding for regional conservation projects, including grants, partnerships, and philanthropic support.
• Advocate for science-driven conservation policies that support the region’s watersheds and fisheries.

External Relations & Advocacy

• Build and maintain partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, NGOs, and other conservation stakeholders.
• Represent Cal Trout in public forums, stakeholder meetings, and policy discussions related to regional and statewide conservation efforts.
• Engage with local communities, tribes, and private landowners to promote sustainable water and fisheries management.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Master’s degree(or equivalent experience) in fisheries science, ecology, conservation biology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in conservation…