Project Manager (Environmental and Natural Resources) - ECOnorthwest

ECOnorthwest, the Pacific Northwest’s largest economics consulting firm, has an immediate opening for a full-time Project Manager or Senior Project Manager to support our Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Area. If you love public policy, there are few better fits anywhere in the U.S. ECO has weighed in on everything from tax reform and rent control to dam removals and drug legalization. It's the rare job that allows you to get paid to think about how to improve the community that you live in. See examples of past ECOnorthwest projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a background in economics or public policy master's degree program or similar who has experience managing projects—ideally in a consulting setting. We’d love to consider you for this position if you enjoy analyzing data and doing applied economic analysis to inform and illuminate complex public policy issues, especially involving water, forests, agriculture, climate, and renewable energy, and are looking to work for a firm that leads with its values.   

About ECOnorthwest

ECOnorthwest is an economics and public policy consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Seattle, Bend, Boise, Eugene, and Los Angeles. For 50 years, ECO has led economic policy analysis supporting public decision-making related to urban development, social and educational policies, and natural resources.

In the Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Area, our team focuses on evidence-based analysis using tools and methods from economics that informs major public policy decisions involving natural resources and the environment. Typical work includes evaluating benefits, costs, risks, and tradeoffs of natural resource management decisions for state and federal agencies, such as the federal resource management agencies, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state-level equivalents. The resources include water supply and water quality, forests and wildfire, public lands and recreation, ecosystem services, and climate adaptation and mitigation. Projects include advising executives and / or agency leadership on key policy objectives, or funding and financing decisions. This generally happens as part of larger interdisciplinary teams involving partners from other organizations, including scientists and engineers. Environmental justice and equity considerations are always a component of this work. 

Job Description

At ECOnorthwest, Project Managers:

·       Help design and manage multiple projects and proposal efforts simultaneously, including delegating tasks to more junior staff and/or researchers with specialized skillsets. 

·       Manage the development and QA/QC of deliverables.

·       Track budgets with a focus on profitable project delivery.

·       Interface directly with clients and manage upwards to the senior team members in the firm. 

·       Coordinate with Project Directors and practice leads on marketing efforts, develop their own professional networks, and are involved in business development activities. 

The core competencies needed for the role include: communication, self-direction, team coordination, and expertise in economic data and methods. 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for Project Manager is someone with project management experience, particularly in a consulting setting, who also has the technical skills needed to help design and contribute to project work. In addition, successful Project Managers can interact professionally with clients, delegate work to others, and are interested in assisting with business development activities to grow the firm. Candidates with nearly the qualifications are also encouraged to apply and will be considered for other more junior positions. 

Required Qualifications

We request that your resume and cover letter address these qualifications to the fullest extent possible.

·      Master’s Degree (or more advanced) in Natural Resource Economics, Public Policy, or a related field OR 5 years experience in lieu of degree

·      At least two years of project management experience, including managing internal staff, clients, scope of works, budgets, and timelines

·      Exceptional organizational and time management skills

·      Excellent writing and oral communication skills

·      Willingness to dive into topics that may be outside your immediate area of expertise with intellectual curiosity and confidence

·      Ability to synthesize complex information from a variety of disciplines, including economics, policy, and natural sciences (e.g., biology, ecology, water resources, etc.)

·      Proficiency in applied economics methods including econometrics and other relevant qualitative, quantitative, and / or statistical methods

·      Applied experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

·      Public speaking skills, networking skills, and the ability to represent the firm in public and interface with clients from diverse backgrounds

Desired Qualifications

We do not expect candidates to have experience in all of these areas, but demonstrating knowledge and experience in these areas will help us understand potential areas of focus and expertise relevant to the job.

·      Applied experience using Stata, R, Python or similar statistical analysis program for regressions and data visualization

·      Familiarity with public data sources (e.g., U.S. Census Data, USDA agricultural statistics, population forecasts, QCEW data, etc.)

·      Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the theories and principles of environmental equity, especially as they relate to the impacts on racially minoritized and/or lower-income groups and communities

·      Knowledge of survey and sampling design, analysis, and communication

·      Experience developing proposals for prospective projects

·      Familiarity with or experience in forestry or agricultural economics and the economic principles and analytical techniques used in the management of these resources

·      Familiarity with or experience with development, analysis, and implementation of climate-related policies for natural and/or built environments. Specifically, GHG emissions reduction or sequestration related to transportation, energy, buildings, industrial processes, agriculture, or forestry and climate resiliency and adaptation related to heat, wildfire, drought, flooding, extreme storms, population migration (both wildlife and human), and more.

·      Experience completing socioeconomic studies to fulfill NEPA requirements

·      Familiarity with benefit-cost analysis, policy analysis under environmental statutes (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, etc.), principles of economic valuation (e.g., market and non-market valuation techniques, discounting and discount rates, data collection and assessment, etc.)

·      Experience with spatial analysis and associated GIS tools including ESRI-based or QGIS

·      Familiarity with input-output modeling and associated software (e.g., IMPLAN, REMI)

Location

Portland, Bend, Seattle, or Los Angeles 

ECOnorthwest offers a hybrid work schedule. To ensure opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, with the exception of remote workers, employees are expected to prioritize in-office work Tuesday through Thursday. 

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this full-time exempt position will be commensurate with experience and market rates, roughly ranging from $83,000 to $97,000 (project manager) and $98,000 to $111,000 (senior project manager).  This position is eligible for full company benefits including medical/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 401(k), and paid holidays. The position is also eligible for quarterly production bonuses and year-end profit sharing.

Deadline

Open until filled.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

DEI Statement

ECOnorthwest is committed to the work of improving its diversity and inclusiveness as a workplace. Our best work draws on teams within and beyond ECOnorthwest who have diverse backgrounds and experiences that reflect the communities we work with. Thus, we actively seek applicants who would expand the diversity of lived experiences within our team.

Required Application Materials

We use TCR Hire to receive employment applications, including your resume, cover letter, and answers to the supplemental questions. Please submit a cover letter and resume in PDF format. Please address in the cover letter the ways in which you meet the requirements for the position you are applying for, and how your lived and professional experiences can help ECONorthwest deliver high-quality products to our clients.