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Associate Director, Dam Removal
American Rivers
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on Nov 8, 2024
TITLE: Associate Director, Dam Removal
CLASSIFICATION: Associate Director I
DEPARTMENT: Conservation
REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Restoration Program
LOCATION: Remote
EFFECTIVE: October 31, 2024
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote
mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean,
abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and
partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers℠.
American Rivers centers the ongoing work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all that
we do. The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities, and we seek to
build and embody this diversity in our organization and throughout the conservation field. The
life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that everyone brings to our work provides
perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to our effectiveness in
protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and conserving clean water for people and
nature.
JOB SUMMARY
The Dam Safety Associate Director will build partnerships, implement policies, and provide expertise to
expand the national practice of dam removal as a dam safety solution and help put American Rivers and
our partners on the trajectory toward removing 30,000 unsafe, obsolete, or uneconomical dams by 2050.
The Associate Director will be responsible for evaluating existing dam safety and dam removal programs;
developing dam removal guidance, tools, and resources for dam safety programs; and guiding our staff to
develop campaigns that increase the practice of dam removal in dam safety programs. The Associate
Director will be an integral part of work closely with American Rivers’ National Dam Removal Program
working with us to help expand programmatic reach and impact.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Dam Removal Program Information Compilation. Compile and maintain information on state dam
removal programs and funding sources. Provide recommendations and guidance to transfer
program-building and funding knowledge between states, working with American Rivers’ regional
staff and partners. Identify opportunities to develop or expand state programs and funding sources.
• Dam Removal Guidance.
o Work with dam removal experts to develop dam removal guidance for state dam safety
agencies and federal agencies, with an emphasis on FEMA’s National Dam Safety
Program.
o Develop and maintain guidance on dam removal funding sources.
o Contribute to American Rivers’ library of dam removal resources for the dam removal
community.
• Dam Removal Data Sharing.
o Collaborate with the USACE National Inventory of Dams to provide dam removal data
annually collected by American Rivers’ staff.
o Track and maintain data on low-head dam removals from American Rivers’ database of
dam removals.
• Technical Assistance.
o Woking with American Rivers’ Dam Removal and Regional teams, provide technical
assistance to select state programs to develop or strengthen dam removal work with an
emphasis on state dam safety offices.
o Work with partners to support and improve state dam safety programs to include dam
removal work and dam removal project funding.
• Ensure that all work activities advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice goals and values as
part of American Rivers’ Core Values.
• Represent American Rivers in public forums, conferences, project meetings, negotiations, and
other events.
• Be an active teammate within the Dam Removal Program and Dam Removal Community of Practice,
collaborating with colleagues on project/program ideas, working with team leaders to
develop/implement effective dam removal strategies, and participating in team events.
• Seek out professional development opportunities, including conferences, workshops, and trainings.
• Travel as needed to represent American Rivers and the Dam Removal Program.
• Perform related duties as required to expand dam removal practice and set American Rivers and the
nation on a trajectory toward removing 30,000 dams by 2050.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in river restoration, dam removal, dam safety, or an appropriate
combination of education and relevant experience in an adjacent field.
• Understanding of river restoration and/or dam safety approaches, including demonstrated interest
in advancing the practice of dam removal.
• A team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work well with
a diverse range of people.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and the ability to
effectively communicate with partners and agency representatives in decision-making, consensusbuilding, and collaboration.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated experience meeting challenging project deadlines.
• Demonstrated strength in critical thinking, judgment, dependability, and initiative.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• The ability and willingness to travel.
• Consistent exercise of professional discretion and independent judgement.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience in state and/or federal policies related to river restoration, dam removal, or dam safety.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
LOCATION
The work of this role may be conducted remotely with full access to American Rivers’ operating systems
and technology. There are times that the work will need to be conducted in-person, with travel
estimated 3-5 days every other month. Other occasional regional and national travel to meetings and
training may be required.
COMPENSATION
The anticipated salary range for this position is $58,656-$65,000, depending on experience and
qualifications. Full-time employee benefits include health, dental, and life insurance; a retirement plan,
training budget, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, four weeks of paid vacation, paid sabbaticals every seven
years, and a 3% retirement match. American Rivers offers TIAA-CREF Social Choice, including green
impact, as an investment option.
COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY
Our community’s core values motivate us to Lead with Collaboration and Trust, Infuse Equity and
Justice, Deliver Results, and Ensure Staff and Volunteers Thrive. American Rivers offers staff professional
development and training opportunities, engages in equitable hiring and retention practices, has taken
the Green 2.0 pay equity pledge and participates in the transparency report, provides “no meetings”
weeks, and hosts People of Color, Accessibility, LGBTQAI+, Women’s Leadership, Parents and Caregivers,
and DEIJ affinity groups and committees led by staff and board members.
American Rivers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request reasonable accommodation, please contact the Human Resources department at 202-243-7550 or humanresources@americanrivers.org. Please note that one week’s advance notice is preferred.
Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States.
American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates of all personal and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply