Director of Conservation Programs

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU), the world’s leading wetland and waterfowl conservation organization, is seeking qualified candidates for a Director of Conservation Programs (DCP) for our Idaho and Utah conservation programs, which includes the Great Salt Lake Initiative. The DCP will provide programmatic leadership, partnership development, and conservation project delivery support with direct supervision of biological staff by coordinating project management tasks and overseeing fiscal management of this area. DU is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to become part of the Western Region’s team of biologists, engineers, fundraisers, and other professionals, and to help lead, grow, and implement DU’s conservation efforts in this priority landscape. This position will report directly to the Director of Conservation Programs for the North Pacific Flyway. The location for this position is office-based in the Salt Lake City area (Centerville, UT). 

DU’s North Pacific Flyway conservation program focuses on restoring, enhancing, and protecting mission critical wetland and working land habitats in the states of Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Since the late 1990s, DU has conserved more than 280,000 acres across freshwater, coastal wetlands and agricultural landscapes in these states. The Great Salt Lake Initiative is DU’s regional conservation strategy to protect, enhance and restore wetlands and habitats beneficial to waterfowl throughout the Great Salt Lake ecosystem with an ambitious accomplishment goal of 50,000 acres by 2035. Additionally, this position will oversee program delivery and partnership development in Idaho, as part of DU’s Wings and Wetlands Initiative. 

DU seeks a self-motivated, well-organized individual with proven abilities in leadership, program management, partnership development and stewardship, strategic and business planning, budget and personnel administration, and programmatic fundraising. The minimum requirements for this position are: 

• 10+ years of related experience in wetland restoration, working landscape conservation, and wildlife habitat management,
• Agency, NGO, or corporate management or directorate level experience,
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills, 
• Knowledge of state and federal land conservation programs, grant opportunities, and relevant policies and regulations is required, 
• Program and staff supervisory experience, and 
• Proven grant writing, editing, and administration skills. 

• An advanced degree in ecology, biology, or environmental sciences
• A waterfowl biology and wetland ecology background, 
• A track record in successful partnership building,
• Direct experience with planning and implementing conservation projects in Great Basin landscapes,
• Coordination of large scale, multi-disciplinary environmental restoration projects, 
• Familiarity with current science, issues and conservation efforts within the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem, and 
• Experience working with volunteers, board members, and donors.

• →Provide direct supervision to multiple biologists in area of responsibility. 
• →Provide program leadership and strategic direction to a Conservation Area Team that consists of biologists, professional engineers, environmental compliance, and accounting staff. 
• →Identify and secure funding for on-the-ground conservation projects including wetland restoration/enhancement and land protection.
• →Cultivate partnerships with representatives and staff from agencies, NGOs, corporations, and individuals to support waterfowl and wetland conservation in this area, 
• →Provide guidance and support to staff to assist them with implementing effective and sustainable conservation actions that are mission-centric and fiscally responsible. 
• →Regularly monitor program expenditures and revenues, and coordinate with Conservation Area Team to ensure financial projections are updated and reliable.
• →Inform supervising DCP and other DU senior leadership of program activities, challenges, opportunities, and successes in area of responsibility.
• →Assist Conservation Area Team staff with scoping, budget development and timelines when preparing proposals and funding solicitations. 
• →Provide quality assurance and control for proposal submittals and grant administration tasks.
• →Assist Conservation Area Team staff with agreement and contract development and execution. 
• →Serve as member of the DU’s Western Region Conservation Leadership Team, and work on strategic planning, budgeting, and staffing issues as requested by Director of Operations. 
• →Work cooperatively with DU’s communications team to regularly produce content and marketing materials for area of responsibility.
• →Support DU’s National Leadership staff with program and policy tasks, as assigned. 
• →Attend professional meetings within the region and in other locations in the U.S. to represent DU and promote waterfowl and wetland conservation partnerships and programs. 
• →Provide relevant support to DU private fundraising, policy, and donor engagement activities. 
• →Conduct other duties as assigned that are deemed necessary to fulfill DU’s mission of wetland conservation.
• →Candidate must be willing and able to travel, including overnight travel. 

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 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, gender identity, gender expression, 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.