Manager of Conservation Programs - Mitigation

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. is seeking a Manager of Conservation Programs - Mitigation based in Ridgeland, MS. This full-time role involves managing and delivering wetland mitigation projects, coordinating with state agencies and stakeholders, and overseeing project budgets. Candidates should have a relevant degree, strong communication skills, and experience with wetland regulations and project management. The position is on-site and reports to the Director of Conservation Programs.
Manager of Conservation Programs - Mitigation

Mississippi Alluvial Valley

The Southern Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) has an opening for a Manager of Conservation Programs position in Wetland Mitigation. The successful candidate will join a highly motivated, interdisciplinary conservation team responsible for delivering and managing a growing wetland mitigation program. This full-time, salaried position will be responsible for mitigation project delivery, management coordination, and monitoring primarily in Mississippi. This position will be on-site, reporting to the Director of the Conservation Programs located in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Qualifications

Candidates must have the following qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree (with master’s degree preferred) in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Management, or an applicable related field from an accredited college or university.
• Excellent management, written and oral communication, and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to write mitigation plans and monitoring reports are required.
• Ability to synthesize and explain complex data from disparate sources to various stakeholder groups.
• Self-motivated, goal oriented and self-starter.
• Applicants must have knowledge of state and federal wetland regulations, policies and laws.
• Desired experience includes seeking out wetland restoration opportunities, wetland mitigation implementation, vegetative sampling protocol, invasive species control, hydrology monitoring, wetland delineation, wetland permitting through state level permitting agencies/ the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state historic preservation office permits, threatened and endangered species permits, soil and erosion control permits.
• General familiarity with land protection mechanisms and documents is desired.
• Budget management, expense position awareness, expense forecasting.

Duties and Responsibilities

As part of Ducks Unlimited’s growing regional mitigation program, the successful candidate will work with state agencies, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and consulting firms on wetland mitigation projects located primarily in Mississippi. Workload will primarily be focused on advancing mitigation projects through all phases of Mitigation Project delivery, including partner coordination, contracting, subcontractor management, budgetary management, acquisition, delineation of aquatic resources, permitting, coordinating construction oversight, monitoring, and adaptive management. Essential responsibilities budget management, procurement of subcontracts, subcontract management, forecasting, project expense position project Implementation. This role will require coordination with lands staff securing various real-estate instruments (e.g., fee acquisition, easements). The successful candidate will assist with development of long-term management plans, and baseline condition reports for easement properties using established templates.
• Working collaboratively to secure wetland restoration projects
• Working collaboratively with other team members to permit projects
• Performing annual monitoring and reporting requirements including biological and accounting reports
• Representing DU with regulatory partners
• Identifying adaptive management needs and implementing adaptive management plans through oversight and coordination of seasonal staff, volunteers, and subcontractors
• Writing mitigation plans and permitting for wetland restoration projects and adaptive management.
• Develop and steward collaborative relationships with state agencies, partnering organizations, and land trusts
• Field work may require strenuous outdoor activity in difficult environmental conditions.
• Position will travel throughout Mississippi and surrounding states, occasionally outside of the southeast for conferences and meetings
• Willingness to work outside of normal business hours, work independently, travel overnight, work in inclement weather, and ability to work with minimal supervision in remote environments is required.
• Always represent DU in a professional manner

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE: Salary commensurate with experience. We work hard to encourage everyone at Ducks Unlimited to bring their authentic selves to work every day. DU offers an exceptional benefit package that includes comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage; three weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plan (including partial employer match); and tuition reimbursement.

To apply: [1] complete application materials and [2] attach your (a) cover letter, (b) resume, and (c) three professional references.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through June 20, 2025, or until a qualified applicant is identified.

Questions regarding the position can be addressed to Tim Willis., Director of Conservation Programs, at (601) 206-5454.

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, military status, disability, age, or genetic information except where age or gender is a bona fide occupational qualification as allowed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.