SENIOR ENGINEER

HOOD RIVER, OREGON – FULL-TIME (EXEMPT)

Farmers Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization that operates at the intersection of water, energy, and agriculture. This is not your typical engineering position. FCA seeks a unique individual for its senior engineer. An ideal candidate would be an experienced engineer with eight plus years in the private or public sector and has the ability to communicate about complex engineering concepts with a variety of people, from institutional funders to irrigation district board members.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR US, HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL FIND

Our staff of 20 engineers, scientists, public policy experts, and strategy consultants believe that everyone can win – farmers, rivers, and communities. We formed 13 years ago to successfully bring an innovative fish screen technology to market. This farmer-developed technology, now known as the Farmers Screen, helps to keep fish and debris in rivers and out of water supplies.

Since that time, our work has expanded to help farmers modernize all aspects of their water delivery systems and to apply the Farmers Screen technology across all sectors. Staff work with water users, agencies, and organizations to design, finance, and implement large-scale solutions and technologies that improve water supplies, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and generate fish-friendly hydropower.

Our headquarters in Hood River, Oregon, inspires staff in both their professional and personal lives. Hood River’s abundant apple, pear, and cherry orchards and salmon-bearing streams provide daily context for our work. The Columbia River Gorge and nearby Mt. Hood provide endless opportunities for hiking, paddling, cycling, skiing, and kiteboarding. Hood River’s 1-hour commute to Portland lets staff live in a small, family-friendly town while also having easy access to all of the amenities that the city has to offer.

SO THAT’S US. NOW ABOUT THE WORK

In a typical week, a senior engineer could expect to work closely with the technical team, supporting FCA’s Irrigation Modernization Program and Farmers Screen projects. complete a variety of tasks and Essential duties include:

• Advise the technical team and work closely with the technical team leader in developing fully modernized irrigation systems which include the following tasks:

o Conducting initial meetings with irrigation district staff to develop appropriate project scopes for each proposed modernized irrigation system;

o Reviewing designs of these systems modeled by staff engineers in EPANET or similar software. o Reviewing engineering reports written by staff engineers for these proposed systems.

• Meet with governmental organizations and district staff to communicate operational hydraulic parameters of the Farmers Screen, and/or discuss screen design conditions with associated alternatives.

• Perform outreach to engineering firms and government agencies; • Maintain a strong understanding of current regulations associated with irrigation systems in western states; • Travel to potential project sites and project installations;

• Participate in FCA staff working sessions;

• Research and develop current and new technologies and solutions; and • Develop new tools for organizational efficiencies.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE, AMONG OTHER ASSETS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Engineering and eight plus years’ experience in water resources, river restoration, irrigation infrastructure, hydropower, or municipal water systems.

• Professional registration as an Oregon and/or Washington PE.

• Skills with developing relationships with agricultural and/or environmental communities, organizations, and/or individuals.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• A desire to grow as a person and mentor young professionals.

• Participate in business development opportunities.

• Comfortable with delivering oral presentations.

• Ability to interact with a broad range of people in a conference setting.

• Advanced skills in EPANET or other hydraulic modeling software, Civil 3D, and Microsoft Office Suite.

• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

• The ability to traverse uneven ground such as stream beds and agricultural fields.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with one or more of the following: o Water diversion and/or irrigation system design and construction o Creating hydraulic grade lines through natural and man-made systems as well as man-made systems; o Design or design review of stream restoration, fish passage, and/or fish screening projects; o Construction management/project management; and o Hydropower system development or design review

• Understands state and federal rules and regulations related to permitting and implementing irrigation modernization strategies, including the Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and related rules and regulations.

• Professional registration in other states. The candidate must be an innovative thinker with a proven track record for engineering design; someone who enjoys working with teams of people; and a person who is passionate about designing and implementing solutions that will benefit both the environment and agriculture. Above all, an ideal candidate would be able to work with and develop relationships with people of all industries, backgrounds, and beliefs. INTERESTED? SOME FINE PRINT ABOUT JOINING OUR TEAM Staff join us for our mission and our location, and they stay because we work together to meet our shared goals. We provide a competitive salary, vacation, health, dental, and retirement package, and believe that happy staff deliver the best outcomes. As such, we provide flexibility for staff to spend time doing what they love. We are an equal

opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is based on qualifications, merit, and business need; qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

TO APPLY

To apply for the position, please submit a cover letter and resume to info@fcasolutions.org with “Senior Engineer” as the subject of the email. Please do not contact FCA directly about this opportunity.

Applications should be addressed to: Julie Davies O’Shea, Executive Director Farmers Conservation Alliance 11 3rd St, Suite 101 Hood River, OR 97031 Position is open until filled.