Director of Conservation

Our mission
· Klamath Irrigation District

We represent our Patrons before government agencies, the legislature, Congress, and in such forums as appropriate for the perfection and protection of their water rights. We defend the District from actions which would diminish our effectiveness and function. We further promote the conservation of water, soil, and other natural resources.

The Klamath Basin sits at the crossroads of agriculture, endangered species, tribal rights, and federal water policy - and the decisions made here ripple across theWest. As our Director of Conservation, you'd lead Klamath Irrigation District's stewardship of water, soil, and habitat: building the science, programs, partnerships, and modernized infrastructure that let working farms and a healthy basin share the same landscape. It's a director's seat with real autonomy, real stakes, and a District with the will to act.

Right now that work includes coordinating the District's Habitat Conservation Plan - a multi-year effort under the Endangered Species Act that this role would help research, shape, and carry forward.

Our mission comes first

Klamath Irrigation District exists to deliver water to the farms and lands of the Klamath Project — that is our priority task. Every part of this role —conservation, modernization, grants, and ESA work — serves that mission by securing and protecting reliable water delivery for our patrons. We're looking for someone whose expertise strengthens that purpose and who shares our commitment tothe farming families we serve.

• Coordinate the District's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under Section
  10 of the Endangered Species Act - guiding the research, the application, and the conservation measures it requires, alongside our team and counsel.
• Drive the District's modernization: pursue, administer, and report on grants that fund conservation infrastructure - piping, canal lining, SCADA, hydropower, and more.
• Lead the District's conservation and natural-resource programs - water efficiency, soil health, water quality, habitat, and drought response.
• Ground our positions in the best available science: monitoring, data, and analysis the District and its partners can stand behind.
• Build and maintain working relationships through regular coordination with tribal and agency partners, neighboring districts, researchers, and the patrons we serve.
• Help our farming families adopt practices that conserve water and strengthen the basin.

This is a deeply collaborative role, built on routine coordination and synchronization meetings with partners across the Klamath Watershed.

Tribal nations

You're work closely and regularly with your counterparts in the
Klamath Tribes
, the Yurok Tribe
, the
Karuk Tribe
, and the Modoc Nation - ongoing, central relationships maintained through regular coordination and synchronization meetings.

Agency partners

• USFWS
• ODFW
• CDFW
• NOAA
• NMFS
• NRCS
• USDA
• FEMA
• & others

Academic partners

• Univ. of Oregon
• Cal Poly
• & others

• Above all, a genuine commitment to the District's mission - delivering water to the farms and lands of the Klamath Project - and a conviction that conservation should strengthen that purpose.
• A PhD in environmental science, natural resources, hydrology, fisheries, or a related field with roughly two years of experience - or a bachelor’s degree backed by substantial field experience.
• Familiarity with the Endangered Species Act and the Section
  10 / Habitat Conservation Plan process - a strong asset, given the HCP work ahead.
• Experience pursuing and managing grants - writing competitive proposals, administering awards, and…