ISAN Seeks Fishing & Boating Program Coordinator

November 6, 2016 By: Erin Block

The Invasive species Action Network (ISAN) is seeking to hire an individual to serve as staff lead for implementing a variety of invasive species prevention programs within the fishing and boating communities. This full-time position is based at ISAN’s office located in Livingston, MT.

Read more in the press release below.

ISAN Seeks Fishing & Boating Program Coordinator

Position Description

Invasive Species Action Network (ISAN) is seeking to hire an individual to serve as the staff lead for implementing a variety of invasive species prevention programs that involve the fishing and boating communities. The position is based at ISAN’s office located in Livingston, MT. This is a full time position that is funded for at least 18 months with the expectation that it will be a permanent position.

ISAN is a 501c-3 non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the human caused spread of invasive species. Additional Information about ISAN and some of our programs can be found at www.stopans.org and at www.cleanangling.org

Primary Duties

Conduct ISAN’s watercraft inspection station assessment program

This effort is a “Secret Shopper” program in which ISAN staff pose as recreational boaters and visit watercraft inspection stations. While the inspector(s) conduct the inspection, the ISAN staff evaluates their performance. ISAN currently provides this service statewide in Montana and Wyoming as well as at Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada.

The position will be responsible for all aspects of this program including, but not limited to:

  • Coordinating program with agencies who have contracted with ISAN
  • Scheduling all evaluations
  • Hiring and supervising temporary employees
  • Securing and maintaining boats and other equipment necessary for program
  • Completing all required reporting in a timely fashion
  • Providing insights and suggestions for improving the ISAN program

Supervise and Coordinate the Forest Pest Fly Tying Project

This program uses fishing fly tying to teach people about the threat of forest pest insects. The Fishing & Boating Program Coordinator will have the primary responsibility for all aspects of promoting and conducting this outreach program. The primary effort centers on training fly tiers to tie flies that can be used to identify selected forest pests. These tiers then conduct public fly tying demonstrations that engage the public in discussion about the forest pest problem.

The position will be responsible for all aspects of this program including, but not limited to:

  • Recruiting and training volunteer fly tiers
  • Coordinating with government agencies and other partners to provide demonstration tiers
  • Documenting all aspects of program
  • Promoting the program to garner attention for both the issue and the program

Coordinate ISAN’s Fishing Boot Cleaning Station program

ISAN has developed two styles of fishing boot cleaning stations that have been widely distributed in the Greater Yellowstone Area. ISAN secures funding from various partners and provides the cleaning stations free of charge to fly shops, fishing lodges, license agents and other locations that experience high angler traffic.

The position will be responsible for all aspects of this program including, but not limited to:

  • Maintaining ISAN’s supply of boot cleaning stations and supplies
  • Coordinating the delivery of stations
  • Maintaining the master list of all station locations
  • Maintaining and updating the web page for this program
  • Conducting evaluations with cleaning station locations to evaluate the program
  • Provide information and encouragement to all participants in the program
  • Seek media coverage of effort
  • Documenting all aspects of effort

Conduct Outreach Efforts Aimed at Select Communities

ISAN conducts different outreach efforts aimed at targeted audiences in the fishing and boating communities. This position will have a primary role in advancing a number of these programs. Examples include:

Clean Angling Program – This is an effort that targets the fly fishing community to encourage a cleaning effort among all fly anglers. The program is endorsed by many different companies and individuals and needs to be better coordinated to achieve results

Non-Motorized Boater Program- Non-motorized boaters have been identified as a community that needs to be better educated about both the problem of invasive species and the prevention actions that all boaters need to take. This program will work with both industry and individual boaters to achieve results.

These programs are examples of the types of outreach efforts this position will be involved in. They share similar duties which include but are not limited to:

  • Promoting the effort to individual recreationists
  • Promoting the effort to companies, associations and trade organizations
  • Generating media coverage of activities
  • Attending events to expand program exposure
  • Documenting all aspects of effort

Additional Duties

The duties listed above represent the primary activities for this position. However, there are many minor tasks which may be assigned to this position. In addition, this position is expected to provide support to other program areas when needed

Skills and Abilities

This position requires an individual who has a strong connection to the fishing and/or boating community. Most of the work involved will require developing and implementing programs that are directly targeted at fishing and boating. The successful applicant will have the following:

Required qualifications:

  • Must have proven superior written and verbal communication skills
  • Must have personal connections in some aspect of fishing and boating
  • Must be familiar with fly tying
  • Proven ability of detailed record keeping
  • Must be self-motivated
  • Must have the ability to carry 50 pounds for 50 ft
  • Must have current driver’s license
  • Must be capable of driving up to 500 miles in a day for multiple consecutive days
  • Must be familiar with standard computer programs (word processing, email, etc.)

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience in multiple aspects of fishing and boating communities
  • Established connections within the demonstration fly tying community
  • Experience with aquatic invasive species
  • Education or experience in marketing, advertising or program development
  • Experience with boat and vehicle maintenance
  • Advanced computer skills
  • Experience in social media

These skills and abilities are typically acquired through completion of a bachelor degree in a natural resource field, marketing or advertising, education, public relations or recreation combined with work experience. Relevant work experience may be substituted for education.

Compensation

Initial wage: $15.00 – $17.00 per hour DOE ISAN provides employer paid health insurance, employer contributions to a health savings account (HSA), vacation and holiday pay and employer contributions to a retirement program.

To Apply

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

  • Cover Letter – no more than 1 page
  • Resume
  • Responses to supplemental questions (see below)
  • Applications should be sent electronically to: [email protected]

Mailed applications may be sent to: Invasive Species Action Network 215 E. Lewis ST, #202 Livingston, MT 59047

Application Deadline – November 20, 2016

ISAN will work toward filling the position in a timely fashion after the application period ends. We expect the successful applicant will start in early 2017.

For additional information please email [email protected]

Supplemental questions

Limit your response to no more than 500 words total for both questions. You are not limited to 250 words per question but must not exceed 500 words combined.

  • This position requires complete familiarity with the fishing and boating communities. Please describe your experience within these communities.
  • This position is responsible for delivering and advancing several important programs and the ability to work productively with little direct supervision is critical. Tell us of an example from your life where you completed a project or achieved a desired outcome with little or no direct supervision.