Group Meeting Facilitator / Coordinator

This service is to provide Meeting Facilitation and Coordination support to the ongoing development and implementation of the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP). Services include Structured Decision-Making expertise and guidance in the collaboration with The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) and the updating and implementation of the MRRP’s Science and Adaptive Management Plan (SAMP) for the piping plover and pallid sturgeon on the Missouri River. 

Structured Decision Making (SDM) is an approach for careful and organized analysis of natural resource management decisions. Based in decision theory and risk analysis, SDM encompasses a simple set of concepts and helpful steps, rather than a rigidly-prescribed approach for problem solving. The core SDM concepts and steps to better decision making are useful across all types of decisions: from individuals making minor or personal decisions to complex public sector decisions involving multiple decision makers, scientists and other stakeholders.

How does SDM relate to Adaptive Management (ARM)? For those decisions that are iterated over time, actions taken early on may result in learning that improves management later, provided that an appropriate monitoring program is in place to provide the feedback. Adaptive management, then, is a special case of structured decision making for decisions that are iterated or linked over time

This opportunity will require the selected candidate to be onsite when necessary but will be a hybrid with virtual facilitation tasks. The ability to travel to the work site when needed is critical for this position. 

The primary objectives of the ideal Group Meeting Coordinator / Facilitator are to:

• Provide Structured Decision-Making expertise to the MRRP
• Support USACE on when and how to use Strategic Decision Making (SDM) within the collaborative stakeholder process
• Lead collaborative SDM engagements between agency and stakeholders to increase understanding of complex issues such as the planning and design of IRCs and preparation for future test flow from Fort Peck Dam.
• Use and maintain specialized decision analysis tools to help display impacts and effects of actions on Human Considerations
• Lead agency and stakeholders through trade-off discussions based on decision analysis tools

The main goal of these workshops is to help Tribes and stakeholders understand the information available, to facilitate the two-way communication of information between USACE, Tribes and stakeholders, and to build trust to minimize the possibilities of misunderstandings that can lead to threats to the implementation of the program..

The ideal candidate for the Group Meeting Facilitator / Coordinator position will support the following Support Swim Lanes:

Task 1 – Facilitation of 6 total In-person virtual MRRIC and Adaptive Management (AM) Meetings / Workshops including

• 2 AM Workshops (April 2023 and 2024)
• MRRIC Plenary Meetings (July & November 2023 and 2024.

Task 2 – Facilitation, planning, and participation of regular webinars and calls including

• HC Work Group and Joint Work Group Calls
• AM Team Calls
• AM Technical Team calls
• MRRIC Plenary
• Fall Science Webinar Meetings in 2023 and 2024

Task 3 – Research and development of annual AM Technical Team content

• Responsible for participating on the AM Team and for the HC topics of discussion
• Lead the ProSidian Engagement team to research and document the required content for MRRIC’s Fall Science and AM Workshops
• Gather information from sources for preparation
• Utilization of decision analysis tools to integrate HC concerns envisioned in the Adaptive Management Plan
• Assist in conveying aspects to a relevant strategic plan

Task 4 - Strategic Decision Making (SDM) Processes

• Design, organize and facilitate workshop series’ to engage tribes and stakeholders with USACE about issues of interest in implementation of the MRRP.
• Gather, Analyze, Present, and Explain information in virtual interactive workshop settings
• Facilitate and coordinate two parallel workshops regarding the Missouri River and Fort Peck Dam virtually involving agendas, approaches, meeting logistics, development of workshop content, decision analysis tool modification, data analysis, preparing presentations, workshop facilitation, and post-call meeting notes

Task 5 – Additional Tasks As Necessary

• Perform additional support on the above-mentioned tasks as necessary to support the MRRP implementation process