Navigation and Ecosystems Sustainability Program Coordinator (NESP) (Remote w/ 25% travel)

Job Description:

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE) is seeking a Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) Economic Coordinator to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP)—a long‑term effort focused on navigation improvements and ecosystem restoration across the upper Mississippi River Basin and Illinois Waterway System.

The NESP Economic Coordinator to help advance this work. The position centers on collaboration across broad, multi‑agency partnerships, with an emphasis on restoration ecology, science translation, interdisciplinary science needs, and effective communication. Experience with adaptive management and large‑river systems is highly desirable

WORK LOCATION:  Preferred location is LaCrosse, WI, however, this position may be remote however, if you reside within the five states in the upper Mississippi River Basis where NESP has authority: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.  Travel for scientific and partner meetings and occasional travel to the La Crosse, Wisconsin USGS office will be required as needed. 

About the contract/customer: NESP is a collaborative, multi‑agency program that advances large‑scale and small‑scale navigation measures, nonstructural navigation strategies, fish passage and dam point control measures, and a broad suite of ecosystem restoration projects. The upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) is one of the nation’s most valuable natural resources, supporting commercial and recreational fisheries, floodplain agriculture, drinking‑water supplies, migratory bird habitat, recreation, and a navigation system essential to U.S. agricultural exports.

The program’s success relies on strong coordination among federal and state partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Headquarters, Mississippi Valley Division, and the St. Paul, Rock Island, and St. Louis Districts), the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the USGS Supervisory Ecologist, the NESP Coordinator will contribute to planning, design, and adaptive management of NESP projects. Responsibilities include:

• Providing scientific and programmatic expertise to develop and implement adaptive management strategies through shared, multi‑agency approaches.
• Identifying critical data needs and relevant data sources.
• Assisting with conceptual model development and data collection, management, and analysis.
• Offering scientific and technical expertise related to mitigation, cultural resource considerations, and habitat restoration and rehabilitation projects.
• Working within existing partnership structures to identify, synthesize, and address science needs.
• Participating in NESP policy, budget, and programmatic discussions limited to information already publicly released; any out‑year discussions will remain general and non‑specific.
• Supporting strategic planning for key program elements, including project selection, adaptive management, cultural resource mitigation, and systemic mitigation.
• Evaluating issues facing the UMRS and identifying potential solutions or pathways to advance them.
• Engaging leadership and technical staff to develop positions and carry forward implementation responsibilities.
• Coordinating with Project Delivery Teams and similar groups.
• Assisting in developing and implementing communication strategies through agency channels.
• Reviewing Project Implementation Reports, NESP design materials, and fact sheets.
• Participating in NESP meetings, including Coordinating Committee and River Team meetings.
• Attending Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program Long‑Term Resource Monitoring meetings to identify opportunities for collaboration across programs.
• Traveling for project site visits, partner meetings, scientific meetings, and conferences (estimated average of 1–2 trips per month).

Qualifications

• Must be a US citizen able to pass a background check prior to starting which includes obtaining PIV government access.
• Master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree in ecology, biology, environmental/ecological restoration, or a closely related field that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Experience (1–2 years):
• • Planning and designing studies to address uncertainties in ecosystem restoration and evaluating restoration effects on riverine ecosystems.
  • Contributing to regional programmatic efforts for large‑scale restoration initiatives.
  • Providing scientific leadership on research and monitoring in support of restoration project implementation.
  • Applying adaptive management principles through shared, multi‑agency approaches to define system goals and objectives.
  • Identifying critical data needs and developing adaptive management strategies for restoration projects.
• Position is in LaCrosse, WI, however it you reside in one of the 5 listed states below, it can be REMOTE.
• Must be willing to travel approximately 25% as needed.

The candidate must reside within the five states in the upper Mississippi River Basis where NESP has authority: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.  Travel for scientific and partner meetings and occasional travel to the La Crosse, Wisconsin USGS office will be required as needed. 

Job ID

2026-21553
Work Type

Remote
Pay Range

$77,000 - $87,000 annually
Benefits

Regular - The company offers a comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) and a range of other voluntary benefits. Paid Time Off (PTO) is offered to regular full-time and part-time employees.
Company Description

Work Where it Matters

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE), an Akima company, is not just another federal systems support contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At ASE, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, ASE provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, ASE delivers solutions in maritime IT, systems engineering, and integration across the Department of Defense and stands ready to help improve operational performance at a reasonable and sustainable cost.

As an ASE employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.