Manager, Conservation Programs I

Ducks Unlimited is seeking a full-time Manager of Conservation Programs in Fort Collins, CO. The role involves leading conservation efforts, supervising staff, managing projects, and overseeing budgets. Candidates should have a relevant degree and experience in conservation planning, project management, and grant writing. The position requires strong leadership and communication skills, with responsibilities including habitat delivery and collaboration with various teams to enhance conservation initiatives in Colorado.
Ducks Unlimited’ s (DU) Great Plains Region has an opening for a full-time Manager of Conservation Programs (MCP) in Colorado based out of our Fort Collins, Colorado Field Office. The MCP will lead and advance DU’s conservation efforts in Colorado with direct supervision of biological staff, coordination of project management tasks with engineers, fiscal oversight, and reporting. This position will report directly to the Director of Conservation Programs for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming also based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

DU is the continent’s leader in waterfowl and wetlands conservation. DU has conserved more than nineteen million acres across the continent and employs over nine hundred employees nationwide. In Colorado, DU has conservation projects statewide with a focus on key migration, nesting, and wintering habitats along the South Platte River, San Luis Valley, Arkansas River Valley, and North Park as well as wetland conservation projects focused on community engagement and education along the Front Range and other heavily visited sites.

DU seeks a self-motivated and dynamic team player with proven leadership abilities and experience in conservation program planning, project management, entrepreneurial problem solving, budgeting, supervision, hiring, partnership development, grant writing, and private fundraising.

Qualifications:

Experience and Education

Candidate must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree with preference toward degrees in a wildlife conservation or natural resources related field. An advanced degree is preferred. A waterfowl and/or wetland science education and employment background, supervisory experience, as well as experience in grant writing and administration is highly desirable. Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills are required.

Responsibilities

The MCP for Colorado will be part of the Great Plains Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. The individual will be highly motivated and be an experienced professional that will lead and advance DU’s conservation efforts in Colorado.

The principal responsibility of the MCP position is to develop and implement the Great Plains Region habitat delivery program for Colorado, including supervising, managing, and leading a staff of biologists and land managers that will help with leveraging public funding, and delivering the program on budget.

Other Direct Responsibilities:
• Serve as the primary decision maker to deliver, direct, or assist with on-the-ground conservation projects within the priority areas of Colorado and other areas of DU’s Great Plains Region.
• Following DU National and Regional Strategic and Business plans, cooperate with the Great Plains Region team to identify and pursue new opportunities and increase project deliveries in Colorado.
• Working in close collaboration with DU Conservation Services, Engineering Services, Director of Conservation Programs, and MCPs for Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming to manage all aspects of the habitat delivery budget.
• Set and manage annual fiscal year budgets and goals (acres, public revenue, direct net cost, and private major gift recognition).
• Build the annual fiscal year budgets to ensure maximum alignment of program needs and funding availability.
• Work closely with Development and Foundation fundraising staff to support DU’s conservation and budget goals.
• Direct oversight, training, and management of Biologists and other assigned Conservation staff.
• Collaborate with fellow MCPs on multi-state conservation efforts.
• Represent DU with regional conservation partnerships including state wildlife and resource agencies, Joint Ventures, and other landscape level planning coalitions and boards.
• Solicit, write, review, and administer public grants, including North American Wetlands Conservations Act, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart, U.S. Department of Agriculture grants, Colorado Wetlands Program grants, Colorado Water Conservation Board grants, and other national, regional, and Colorado conservation funding programs.
• Develop and steward relationships with public agencies, private landowners, conservation non-profit organizations, land trusts, and other local partner groups.
• Provide technical assistance and give presentations to grassroots staff, DU donors, and DU volunteers private landowners, and conservation partners on the protection, management, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands and adjacent uplands.
• Develop, negotiate, and enforce formal agreements in collaboration with DU Conservation Services staff.
• Serve as the point of contact for Great Plains Region Conservation Planning (Science) and Public Policy staff in Colorado and assist with those efforts.
• Create communications, articles, education, and outreach highlighting DU’s work and accomplishments in coordination with DU communications staff.
• Coordinate with Regional and National Lands Staff on Wetlands America Trust habitat protection efforts as well as assisting land trusts and other entities with conservation realty and habitat protection.
• Conduct other duties as assigned necessary to fulfill DU’s mission of wetland conservation.

Candidate must be able and willing to travel frequently, including overnight and long-distance travel from time to time. This position will require occasional outside work, in inclement weather, and may require physical exertion or lifting as needed. Please reach out to John Denton, Director of Conservation Programs – CO, KS, NE, WY at (308) 258-4682 if there are any questions about the position.

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunities 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.