Job Tag: Conservation

Ducks Unlimited is seeking an accomplished and driven individual to lead our Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) conservation programs in the Ducks Unlimited SRO. The DCP will assist and help lead the MAV teams based in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The DCP will serve as a member of the SRO Management Team and provide focused vision, strategic planning, and leadership to achieve Initiative conservation objectives that roll into regional goals. The DCP will target initiative specific conservation partnerships, investments, and lead priority policy efforts. The DCP will guide team collaboration for conservation and fundraising efforts with various stakeholders (e.g., DU volunteers, state and federal agencies, joint ventures, agricultural partners, private landowners, and other conservation organizations).

This position will report directly to the Managing Director of Conservation Programs (MDCP). Frequent travel is required.

Experience and Education:

Typically, the individual has a minimum of 10-years of progressively more responsible work experience in DU or other organizations and advanced training/degree(s) in conservation, wildlife, ecology, engineering, or another natural resource related field. At least 5-years of experience in supervising a group of staff across diverse programs. Experience in strategic program development, advancing partnerships, and leading broad stakeholder groups to achieve common goals is strongly desired.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Work with Regional biologists, engineers, and other SRO staff to develop diverse, sustainable, and resilient conservation delivery programs that will protect, restore, or enhance priority habitat in priority landscapes in the MAV.
Oversee the work of staff in program offices to deliver a broad suite of conservation programs, including lands (fee-title and conservation easements), wetland restoration and enhancements, extension programs for NRCS/agricultural partnerships, mitigation, and other conservation business opportunities.
Manage and support the Initiative budget and work closely with the Conservation Services Team to enhance business planning, improve program efficiencies, and ensure that annual budgets are developed in a fiscally responsible manner and delivered on schedule.
Work closely with fundraising staff in the region to support fundraising efforts.
Work with public policy staff both to support priority state and federal policy efforts.
Work closely with the Director of Conservation Planning and Science to ensure science support and evaluation for conservation programs.
Serve as a member of the SRO Management Team to help provide overall direction for the region, assist in key decisions, and help develop staff technical and leadership skills.
Work with Managing Director of Development, foundation staff, and state-based Directors of Development to establish strong working relations aimed at securing private funding in support of priority conservation programs.
Collaborate with Director of Fund-Raising and Volunteer Relations, state/based Regional Directors, volunteers, and staff in the MAV to help develop key policy objectives, major communications themes, and support grassroots fundraising efforts.
Work with staff and conservation partners to secure public funding to support priority conservation programs.
Coordinate conservation program development and implementation with other conservation organizations, agency partners and interested stakeholders to maximize efficiency of the partners’ collective efforts.
Incorporate biological, social, and economic information into conservation program development and implementation.
Work with MAV Land Protection staff to grow our conservation easement program and look for other opportunities.
Represent the SRO at regional and national conferences and on various boards and committees (e.g., Flyway Councils, Joint Ventures, etc.) to coordinate conservation with partners.
Demonstrate a creative approach to conservation program development and implementation.
Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work activities and complete tasks to meet deadlines.
Effectively prepare and present information on conservation programs to peers, colleagues, conservation partners and the public.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

The City of Virginia Beach is currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Horticulturist – Ornamental.

DUTIES:
Individual will assist and work directly in the execution of landscape and horticultural related duties with various community organizations and City teams

Oversee onsite nursery, hands on maintenance of municipal landscapes independently and with other team members through application of knowledge, practices, and principles of horticulture, landscape maintenance, and design

Identify plant diseases and recommend corrective action based on knowledge of plant biology, identification, propagation and culture

Apply pesticides and assist with trialing environmentally friendly pest and weed control options

Create landscape drawings/plans for projects

Utilize GIS Mapping software to plan and execute yearly fall and winter planting contracts and in- house planting projects

Select and recommend appropriate plant materials, procure, maintain, issue, inventory, and account for same

Coordinate and oversee contractual planting or other related landscape contracts, work closely with garden club and civic league representatives on various community projects and garden designs

Work closely with other teams within Parks and Recreation and other City teams to provide horticulture expertise, technical training, and implement landscape design plans

Lead various community groups in landscape and horticulture related projects

Provide presentations, horticulture walk and talks for a variety of community groups

MINIMUMS:
Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to four (4) years, including one (1) in a supervisory capacity, in the field of horticulture, utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Must have a current and valid drivers license.

Must have or obtain within 90 days of employment, a valid Pesticide Applicators License from the State of Virginia.

The Community Conservation Field Crew Lead will assist in the implementation of the District’s activities to address a wide variety of resource concerns in the urban, rural, and residential areas of Snohomish County and Camano Island. This position leads a crew in implementing green stormwater solutions, habitat restoration projects, wildfire resilience projects, and agricultural BMPs. This position reports to the Community Conservation Department Manager.

These are illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Typical work includes:

Lead a field crew to construct rain gardens and other green stormwater infrastructure, habitat restoration, wildfire resilience, and agricultural BMP projects on private and public properties.
Coordinate project logistics with CC Department Manager and Project Managers, including scheduling, equipment rental, materials purchase, project logistics, and task assignment.
Coordinate with Engineering and Outreach staff on project deliverables.
Provide logistical leadership and problem solving on project sites to meet project deliverables.
Daily transportation of crew members, equipment, and materials to and from job sites.
Provide on-site technical assistance and professional advice on stormwater management practices, wildfire resilience and defensible space, native plant landscaping, and urban agriculture.
Assist in the coordination and presentation of workshops and events, with occasional participation on weekends and evenings.
Ensure all safety protocols are adhered to at all work sites.
Ensure administrative tasks such as the CC crew production log, timesheets, and visa tracking are completed accurately and on time by crew members.
Provide oversight to crew members to ensure completion of assigned tasks.
Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Previous experience in a related position and ability to demonstrate competency in some or all of the skill areas needed for the responsibilities of this position.
Advanced understanding of and experience with planning and construction of green stormwater infrastructure projects such as rain gardens and bioswales and rain catchment systems.
Familiarity and experience with landscape design concepts, wildfire resilience, and urban agriculture and a willingness to expand those skills if necessary.
At least 2 years of professional experience in construction, landscaping, habitat restoration or other similar work.
A Bachelor’s degree in a compatible field of study or an alternative combination of education and experience.
Crew management skills.
Basic knowledge of drainage and water conveyance principles.
Basic knowledge of habitat restoration practices (e.g. identification or management of native and invasive species, planting trees, etc.)
Ability to motivate individuals to adopt and implement resource management practices on their property, which may include speaking in front of public groups, organizations, or clubs.
Ability to provide excellent customer service.
Flexibility and willingness to take on multiple projects.
Ability to organize and schedule.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely to and from the field.
Experience with heavy equipment, power tools and trailers.
Experience leading a crew to perform time-sensitive projects.
Field training experience. Must be able to properly train crew members on heavy equipment, construction safety, District BMPs.
Familiarity with construction safety practices.

Preferred qualifications

Experience in independently providing technical assistance.
Familiarity with plant identification.
Certification in pesticide and herbicide application.
Experience speaking to landowners and other members of the public about projects and their purpose.
Conversational Spanish language fluency.

SUMMARY

Under general direction, develops and administers water conservation programs in adherence to local, state, and federal requirements; educates, notifies, and instructs customers regarding efficient water use and practices; maintain records regarding water conservation activity; gathers, analyzes, and interprets data and information for the evaluation of customer water usage; develops and presents program concepts, processes, procedures and standards for city-wide implementation; develops media educational material; educate consumers at various community events and venues, including schools; participate in multi-agency community outreach events and activities.

Performs professional engineering work involved in design, CAD, surveying, mapping, construction, management and inspection of water, irrigation and landscaping projects.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises direct supervision over maintenance and office staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Water Conservation Duties

Manage a comprehensive municipal water conservation program to meet Utah’s regional water goals.
Evaluate new and existing water savings programs for potential water savings and new project implementation. Administer current water conservation programs and rebates.
Collect, interpret, and analyze water use data to disseminate usage data in a form that is usable/actionable for City water users (residents / businesses) to reduce water use, and evaluate progress towards meeting conservation goals among these water users. Recommend new water-saving equipment.
Develop and manage a water conservation public education and outreach program, including design and implementation of water conservation educational displays.
Participate in creating and promoting water conservation regulations and make policy recommendations for improvements of water conservation goals and objectives. Help forecast short-term and long-term water supply and demand.
Apply for and manage water conservation grants.
Serve as the City’s representative at community meetings to promote water conservation techniques.

Development Review Duties

Review subdivision plans, site plans and private contract projects for conformance with City ordinances, policies, standards, and accepted engineering practices; meet with architects, engineers, and developers to provide review of development concept and design.

Project Engineering Duties

Act as a project engineer; research applicable codes, regulations, and requirements for assigned projects; develop and oversee the development of construction plans and specifications.
Perform bid phase services, including planning and directing a pre-bid conference, interpretation of plans and specifications, preparation of addenda, analysis of bids, and the recommendation of award; obtain necessary outside agency permits, and right-of-way descriptions for property acquisition by City’s property agent
Coordinate construction phase services, including construction administration, testing, and inspection; prepare and administer construction phase documents, including progress payments, field changes, change orders, and ensure compliance with plans, specifications, and contract documents, provide interpretations as required.
Respond to and resolve citizen inquiries and complaints; conduct detailed investigations to determine any problems, responsibilities, and feasible solutions; prepare correspondence and coordinate with interested parties, foster teamwork and cooperation with other divisions, agencies, and stakeholders

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

Experience: Two years’ experience in civil engineering or related field.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Utah Driver’s License
Possession of State Fundamentals of Engineering Certificate (E.I.T.), preferred.

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks a Habitat Program Manager to oversee the Authority’s Habitat Stewardship Program in partnership with Field Operations to deliver fuels management, conservation grazing, ecosystem function and other annual stewardship work.

Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture, and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. Since 1993 the Open Space Authority has protected almost 30,000 acres of natural and working lands across the Santa Clara Valley. Our agency manages and conserves a network of open space lands and natural resources, while providing compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses, with a focus on increasing equity of access to the outdoors for all our constituents.

We know our continued success depends on our employees and the work they do. We are committed to providing a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages growth and development; and acknowledges individual and team achievements.
The Ideal Candidate

As a member of the Natural Resources Department, the Habitat Program manager will oversee and implement many of the annual stewardship and land management projects for the agency in partnership with the Field Operations team and one direct report.

The ideal candidate will have experience implementing wildfire resiliency projects, habitat restoration and understand ecology and wildlife habitat relationships. You will excel in collaboration, project management and working across teams and organizations. Knowledge of botanical resources, conservation grazing, fuels, fire and other ways of understanding habitats will be critical to this position’s success.

You are interested in a work environment with a dynamic combination of field work and office work, of directly implementing work and planning the work. You will enjoy learning, challenging yourself and helping the department or organization deliver important projects. You have strong relationship building skills and thrive in collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders. You have an interest in growing your own leadership skills and helping to guide the department’s vision and work. As a leader you are excited to provide mentorship and support growth opportunities for other Natural Resources department staff.
Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in natural resource management, botany, environmental resources, biological sciences, environmental studies or related field; and
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience implementing natural resource management programs and projects.
Master’s degree preferred but not required.
Ability to conduct effective research and make recommendations.
Experience with effective project management methods.
Strong scientific and technical writing with excellent vocabulary and grammar.
Applied knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and ArcGIS software.

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℠.

The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities – including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that different people bring 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 Associate Director of River Restoration will lead American Rivers’ efforts to grow the practice of dam removal in Missouri and Iowa as a tool for river restoration, aquatic connectivity, and public safety. They will be American Rivers’ primary Central Region staff member in Missouri and Iowa focused upon: building successful aquatic connectivity programs and partnerships, developing/implementing on-the-ground projects focused on increasing free-flowing river miles, and helping identify federal and state policy needs to advance aquatic connectivity. The successful candidate must demonstrate an ability to communicate technical information and concepts to non-expert audiences, aiming to enhance understanding, engagement, and informed decision-making.

This person will have the desire to grow in this position, gain expertise in dam removal, and the initiative to cultivate additional dam removal projects. This includes leading an effort to strategically build regional capacity to remove dams with nonprofit, municipal, state, federal, and Tribal partners. They will be responsible for Iowa and Missouri’s long-term contribution to helping put American Rivers and our partners on a trajectory toward removing 30,000 dams nationally by 2050.

The position will report to American Rivers’ Central Region while being an active participant within American Rivers’ Dam Removal Community of Practice, our collaboration of staff across the country working to scale dam removal.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

No less than 5 years of applicable professional experience in the conservation field, related to river restoration, aquatic connectivity, dam removal, fisheries habitat, geomorphology, hydrology and/or engineering
Understanding of effective river restoration approaches, including demonstrated interest in advancing the practice of dam removal
Prior experience in securing funding from government grants, foundations, and/or major donors to complete projects and sustain programs
Demonstrated experience and strength in the following areas: project management, verbal
and written communications, critical thinking, and the ability to work independently while managing multiple projects and priorities
Demonstrates initiative and creativity, and continually strives to improve program
operations
Demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and an ability to
work with others with varying perspectives and values
Excellent personal organization and time management skills
Ability to travel as needed, sometimes overnight, is required

LOCATION: Central Region; remote working location within Missouri or Iowa

The Land Protection Manager will work with a multidisciplinary team of environmental, communications, and development professionals to conserve land critical to habitat protection, fostering climate resilience and mitigation, safeguarding drinking water supplies, and preserving farmland. This is an exciting time for Westchester Land Trust, with a greater emphasis on strategic proactive land protection utilizing innovative tools for land protection and funding. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic ambassador for Westchester Land Trust that will leverage GIS and other resources to help develop a compelling call to action for land protection and work directly with landowners to protect their land.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS (75%)

Participate in the update and implementation of the organization’s strategic conservation plan, including GIS cooccurrence modeling and mapping, data collection and analysis, and reporting.
Implement a new proactive land protection program, based on GIS analysis, conservation partnerships, and funding opportunities. This includes strategic outreach and education to individual, organizational/institutional, and commercial landowners.
Respond to and assess inbound inquiries regarding land protection opportunities.
Coordinate and conduct prospective land protection project site visits, evaluate and document conservation values, and determine alignment with WLT’s land protection strategy, strategic plan, and capacity.
Perform/secure required due diligence (i.e., land surveys, appraisals, title review, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, etc.).
Develop detailed land protection project profiles and deal sheets including estimated acquisition, legal, stewardship endowment, and opening costs.
Develop comprehensive conservation opportunity project profiles for proactive acquisitions and conservation easements.
Work with Westchester Land Trust’s attorneys to develop tailored conservation easement terms that meet IRS requirements and industry best practices.
Coordinate real estate closings; maintain highly accurate recordkeeping for all land transactions.
Integrate with stewardship staff for seamless transitions from land protection projects to nature preserve or conservation easement.
Serve as the organization’s GIS asset manager. Prepare GIS maps for land protection project presentations and documentation. Provide GIS support to stewardship, communications, and development.
Work alongside the development and grants teams to prospect funding sources and support foundation relations with grant proposals, budgeting, reporting, and program implementation.
Attend all meetings of the Land Preservation Committee of the Board of Directors; work with the Vice President of Conservation to present land protection projects for approval of the Board.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT and RELATIONSHIP BUILDING (10%)

Build and nurture relationships with community partners through educational programming, meetings and public presentations including state and municipal governments, real estate offices, attorneys, and conservation partnerships.

LAND PROTECTION REPORTING and STORYTELLING (10%)

Monitor and evaluate the impact of land protection projects and partnerships, using data to refine strategies and approaches.
Report regularly to leadership and funders on land protection metrics.
Generate story narratives and testimonials, photos, videos, and data points to collaborate with communications staff to support land protection collateral and messaging.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY (5%)

Meaningfully contribute to Westchester Land Trust’s culture of care.
Participate in developing annual work plans, budgets, and reports.
Assist WLT staff with outreach, education, and fundraising events as needed.
Assist WLT staff with other projects as needed.

ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. We are seeking a leader who can compassionately support and elevate a team of expert staff, collaboratively engage with the variety of stakeholders in our region, uphold the organization’s excellent reputation and financial stability, and communicate our vision of healthy rivers cherished by all communities. ShoreRivers’ next Executive Director will lead our impactful work by embodying our core values: solutions-oriented, optimistic, community-centered, and trusted.

ShoreRivers is a strong, regional Riverkeeper organization that formed from the merger of three local organizations in 2017. Our core focus is the waterways of the Chester, Choptank, Sassafras, Miles, and Wye rivers, Eastern Bay, and the Bayside Creeks. The Executive Director will be joining a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a 40-year history, $7 million budget, staff of 30+ professionals, and hundreds of volunteers. In 2024, ShoreRivers launched a three-year strategic plan that both honors our grassroots legacy and charts a course for us as a regional leader.

This position offers a competitive benefits package (see more below) and a salary range between $140,000–$170,000, based on experience. Position begins January 2, 2026, or a mutually agreed upon date. Employees work in-person with flexibility in their schedule when appropriate. This fulltime position is exempt salaried and “at-will,” and reports to a Board of Governors. The Executive Director will work out of both the Chestertown and Easton offices and must live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland within the communities we serve. This position requires flexibility to work longer hours, weekends, and travel as needed.

The Great Basin Institute (GBI), based in Reno, NV, is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West. The Institute advances ecological literacy, professional development, and natural/cultural/recreation resource management through educational outreach and direct service programs.

GBI’s Basin and Range Forestry Program (BRF) is expanding their team by hiring two new Program Coordinators. As a result of the growth of the program, these new positions are intended to strengthen the program’s capacity to deliver exceptional results and make a more significant impact on program initiatives. Basin and Range Forestry plays a pivotal role in supporting critical USFS initiatives, including post-fire recovery, hazardous fuels removal, NEPA planning, and community protection. Through these efforts, the program makes a meaningful impact on the environment, ensuring sustainable and resilient ecosystems for the benefit of all.

The Program Coordinators will work collaboratively with our existing team to support program logistics, operations, and management of GBI field personnel in California and Nevada. GBI forestry field crews work with USFS specialists on a variety of field-based projects including layout and marking, stand surveys, wildlife and botany surveys, vegetation management, and other resource management initiatives.

The Forestry Program Coordinator works with GBI staff to recruit, place and manage forestry crews, coordinate project logistics and scheduling, perform payroll, expense-report and other administrative duties, as well as to ensure compliance with grant and agency rules and regulations

The Forestry Program Coordinator will encounter a variety of opportunities for professional development, including: gaining insight to the operational policies and procedures of a mid-sized (and growing) environmental non-profit organization; exposure to a spectrum of forestry resource management positions and approaches for supporting them; strengthening interactive skills through communication with diverse professional staff (GBI and USFS); and ability to effectively support the success of a mission-driven enterprise. As the program continues to grow and develop we are adding additional roles and responsibilities that will support the team’s sustainability and high quality of work.

To perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Bachelor’s degree, with experience that demonstrates an ability to manage complex projects;
Experience (at least 1 year) with project management, including scheduling, logistics, personnel management, recruitment and retention, and/or training;
Ability to learn new database systems and follow procedural documents (e.g., payroll review procedures);
Attention to detail, and ability to audit data systems;
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and/or Google suite of programs (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Project;Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) to manage, present and track program information;
Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, with diverse audiences;
Strongly developed organizational skills and ability to self-motivate;
Familiarity and alignment with mission-driven nonprofit organizations strongly preferred;
Willingness to travel occasionally to conduct site visits at service locations principally in CA and NV;
Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic office environment, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the BRF Program and the mission of GBI;
Valid, state-issued driver’s license and familiarity with safe-driving practices, preferred; and
Ability to pass an FBI criminal background and National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) check.

The Urban Conservation Project Manager provides technical and operational support to the Connecticut Chapter’s Urban Conservation Program, with a focus on planting trees where they are most needed. This role will develop, manage, and implement urban forestry projects to advance the Program’s strategies and initiatives including analysis, development, and implementation of local and multi-scale tree planting projects in collaboration with a diverse set of partners. Their work will result in the implementation of tangible place-based tree-planting projects, policies, and practices that incorporate ecological and social co-benefits to improve local and regional water quality, air quality, and quality of life for the benefit of both people and nature in a changing climate.

The Urban Conservation Program builds on the Conservancy’s science-based, collaborative, results-oriented approach, and its record of contributing creative and effective solutions, such as tree planting, to conservation challenges in cities. We work to improve the quality of life for residents and communities using equitable nature-based solutions (i.e., tree planting) to reduce storm water runoff, reduce urban heat island effect and flooding, improve air quality, and increase access to nature for all residents in cities. Our program operates with an equity-minded approach and a desire for continued learning about socio-historical context of historic underrepresentation, questions assumptions, and makes evidence-based decisions a regular practice. This position will be a key addition to a highly effective and motivated cross-functional team helping to address urban challenges across local, state, national, and international scales. This position will report to the Connecticut Urban Conservation Director. This is a hybrid position based out of our New Haven, CT office.

This is a termed grant-funded position with funding secured through 2028.