Creek Restoration Outreach Manager - Job Description

The California Urban Streams Partnership (CUSP) is seeking a Restoration & Outreach Manager who will perform stream assessments, outreach & workshops, and restoration activities under the supervision of CUSP’s Restoration and Policy Director, to further the protection and restoration of California’s creeks with particular emphasis on San Francisco Bay watersheds.

Job tasks and assignments include:

• Provide outreach, education, training, and technical assistance activities to Contra Costa County and Alameda County creek & watershed groups, property owners, and government agencies to encourage and implement restoration methods to address common stream management concerns such as bank stability and erosion:

  • Assist four to eight (4-8) Contra Costa County property owners per year with soil bioengineering projects to address their creek management issues. 

  • Coordinate the involvement of the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD), watershed groups, and property owner projects for workshops.

  • Conduct post-project assessments of CUSP-assisted property owner projects and provide reports to the County on the assessments.

  • Participate in four events per year involving watershed organizations, friends of creek meetings, and/or County sponsored watershed events.

  • Plan and carry out, with the CUSP Restoration & Outreach Director, hands-on watershed and creek restoration projects for schools (funding dependent)

• Track the progress of the CUSP-managed restoration project on Codornices Creek at Kains Ave on the Berkeley/Albany border.

  • Engage the neighborhood and local volunteers in planting, site management, and weeding projects.

• Assist in the production of CUSP’s California Streaming newsletter (pending funding).

• Represent CUSP before the state legislature, agencies and public forums on policy matters of importance to the urban streams and watershed community.

Terms of employment:

This job position is for a part-time employee ranging from 8-24 hours/week.  The expected salary rate is between $40-60/hour depending on experience, with potential for raises each year. Vacation and sick leave are pro-rated.  This part-time regular non-exempt position is not eligible for health, dental, and vision at this time.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a passion for urban streams, applied fluvial geomorphology, restoration design, environmental detective work, and community engagement. This unusual position is for a stream/creek enthusiast who combines technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills to assess stream and stormwater functions, processes, and disturbances on properties, write reports with recommendations, and apply streambank soil bioengineering techniques to protect natural stream values in highly urbanized environments. This person will enjoy public engagement and outreach including organizing meetings and workshops, reaching out to members of the public and agencies, and writing newsletters and other communications.

Experience with reading and interpreting landscapes and disturbances in stream channels is desired but not expected. Some baseline knowledge and an ability to learn is required. CUSP is willing to provide a motivated and committed candidate with training for stream assessments, bioengineering, and report writing.

Desirable skills to meet the needs of the position include:

• Field experience working in stream environments

• Familiarity with stream processes and geomorphology

• ·Training in environmental or landscape planning

• Technical reading and writing skills

• Familiarity with regulatory agencies and frameworks

• Experience and interest in working with the public

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter that briefly responds to these prompts:

• Why are you interested in this job?

• What is the most relevant experience that has prepared you for this job?

• Describe a pivotal moment you had in nature

to: CUStreams@gmail.com by May 1, 2025. No calls please.