Watershed Coordinator

Midshore RIVERKEEPER® Conservancy (MRC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and celebration of the waterways of Maryland’s mid Eastern Shore. These comprise the Choptank River and its tributaries, Eastern Bay, and the Miles and Wye Rivers. The organization serves as an advocate for the health of these tributaries and the living resources they support.

MRC serves as an advocate at every level and an uncompromising voice for our waterways. Our two Riverkeepers (Choptank Riverkeeper and Miles-Wye Riverkeeper), working in conjunction with our executive director and supported by a talented staff, lead this effort. MRC engages in legal, legislative, and policy advocacy at the state and local levels, provides ongoing robust education and outreach to our communities, and attracts grant money to design and construct innovative and effective pollution-reducing and restoration projects. Many of these projects are in collaboration with farmers and agricultural landowners.

Our staff provide on-the-water vigilance through weekly river patrols and water testing, work to strengthen and enforce environmental policies, assess and address pollution sources, and seek to work collaboratively with our community constituencies to reduce watershed pollution in meaningful ways.

The Position

MRC seeks a Watershed Coordinator who will work the following schedule.

May through September:
Thursday through Monday, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. During these months, this employee will operate our Pumpout Boat, pumping out waste from sailboats and cruise boats in the Miles and Wye Rivers, and will have responsibility for maintaining such boat.

October through April:
The Watershed Coordinator will have normal Monday through Friday hours. Our Watershed Coordinator will engage in water quality testing, oyster restoration, river patrols, will help manage our fifty water tester volunteers, will engage in community outreach, regulatory and permit enforcement, will work with other staff on a variety of projects, and will assist in fundraising and events.

Our Watershed Coordinator will contribute to MRC’s general communications and outreach efforts to increase awareness of our work in the community and the importance of clean water, including contributing content to MRC’s newsletters, commenting on proposed regulatory and legislative changes, speaking regularly at public forums, and writing for local media publications.

Desired Qualifications

• A willingness to work the required schedule, Thursday-Monday including weekends and holidays during the May through September months, and normal workdays, Monday-Friday during October through April.
• A strong commitment to environmental protection, and an understanding of, and commitment to, MRC’s mission.
• An outgoing and congenial personality.
• An understanding of environmental and regulatory issues that affect water quality.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills, and the ability to identify and develop innovative solutions to pollution threats.
• Ability to be diplomatic in adversarial situations.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills and IT skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage others.
• Ability to work as a team player and collaborate effectively with other MRC staff, partners, and volunteers.
• Employee must have or obtain a boating license valid in the state of Maryland.
• Relevant work experience and on-the-water experience a plus.