Manager of Conservation Programs - Mitigation (Long Island, NY)

Manager of Conservation Programs - Mitigation

Long Island, NY

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) has an opening for a Manager of Conservation Programs position in Aquatic Resource Mitigation for work primarily in Long Island, NY. The successful candidate will join a highly motivated, interdisciplinary conservation team responsible for delivering and managing a growing coastal aquatic resource mitigation program. This full-time, salaried position will be responsible for mitigation project delivery, management coordination, and monitoring primarily on Long Island in tidal and freshwater settings. This will be a remotely based position, within proximity of Long Island.  

Qualifications:

Candidates must have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (with advanced degree preferred) in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Management, or an applicable related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 7-10 years of related experience in natural resource management.
• Excellent management, written and oral communication, and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to write mitigation plans and monitoring reports are required.
• Ability to quickly synthesize and explain complex information from disparate sources to various stakeholder groups.
• Applicants must have knowledge of state and federal wetland regulations, policies and laws.
• Budget management, expense position awareness, expense forecasting.
• 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, soil and erosion control permits.
• General familiarity with land protection mechanisms and documents is desired.
• Knowledge of coastal ecology, restoration and management is desired. 
• Self-motivated, goal oriented and self-starter, with ability to drive results.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As part of Ducks Unlimited’s growing regional mitigation program, the successful candidate will work with Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State agencies and consulting firms on wetland mitigation projects located primarily in Long Island. 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 include staff oversight, budget management, procurement of subcontracts, subcontract management, forecasting, project expense position project Implementation, and management of staff to deliver multi-year, complex mitigation projects. This role will require coordination with lands staff securing various real estate instruments (e.g., fee acquisition, easements).

• Working collaboratively to secure wetland restoration projects.
• Working collaboratively with other team members to permit projects.
• Performing annual 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 permanent and 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 Long Island, to upstate New York and coastal states, occasionally outside of the northeast 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 range varies based on experience and geographic location, and ranges from $80,000 to $110,000. 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:  Please fill out the application materials and attach your (a) cover letter, (b) resume, and (c) three professional references.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through January 31st, 2026, or until a qualified applicant is identified.