Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Wetland Director leads an organization's wetland and aquatic resources program, driving strategy, project delivery, regulatory compliance, and partnership development. This role balances field science (hydrology, ecology, habitat restoration), permitting and mitigation banking, program budgeting and grant administration, staff supervision, and community and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is a strategic, technically proficient conservation leader comfortable translating complex science into implementable project plans and measurable conservation outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Wetland Scientist or Senior Ecologist
Restoration Project Manager or Mitigation Project Manager
Regional Conservation Program Manager

Advancement To:

Director of Conservation Programs
Vice President / Senior Director of Natural Resources
Chief Conservation Officer / Executive Director (for non-profit organizations)

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Compliance Director
Natural Resources Program Manager
Mitigation Banking Business Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide strategic leadership and program direction for all wetland restoration, enhancement, creation, and preservation projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, conservation metrics, and funding requirements.
Develop long-term wetland program plans and annual workplans that set priorities for restoration, monitoring, mitigation banking, and scientific research to achieve measurable ecological and regulatory outcomes.
Oversee the design, permitting, and implementation of multi-site wetland restoration projects, coordinating engineers, ecologists, hydrologists, contractors, and landowners to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
Serve as the technical lead for wetland delineations, functional assessments, ecological baseline studies, and adaptive monitoring plans; synthesize field data to inform project design and success criteria.
Manage regulatory permitting processes, including preparation and submittal of Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permit packages, Nationwide Permit coordination, Section 10/404 mitigation plans, and NEPA documentation where applicable.
Establish and manage mitigation banking or in-lieu fee programs—conduct feasibility analyses, develop prospectuses, negotiate service area agreements, and ensure compliance with agency instrument requirements.
Lead grant development, proposal writing, and contract negotiations to secure public and private funding (federal/state grants, foundation funding, mitigation credits) and steward awarded funds to meet deliverables and reporting requirements.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory agencies (e.g., USACE, EPA, state environmental agencies), ensuring proactive communication and resolution of permitting or compliance issues.
Direct the preparation and review of engineering and ecological design documents, hydrologic and hydraulic models, planting plans, invasive species control plans, and long-term stewardship strategies.
Oversee budgeting, financial forecasting, and contract management for wetland programs—track project costs, manage vendor and subcontractor agreements, and ensure fiscal accountability for grants and operational funds.
Recruit, supervise, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of wetland scientists, restoration technicians, GIS analysts, and field staff; set performance expectations and support professional development.
Develop and implement monitoring and adaptive management frameworks, including performance metrics, monitoring protocols, data management plans, and periodic technical reporting to regulators and funders.
Lead community and stakeholder engagement initiatives—facilitate public meetings, coordinate landowner outreach, negotiate conservation easements, and build partnerships with NGOs, municipalities, and corporate practitioners.
Create and implement invasive species management strategies for restoration sites, including monitoring, mechanical and chemical control measures, and native species revegetation to maximize habitat resilience.
Maintain and advance GIS and remote sensing analyses to support site selection, watershed-scale planning, change detection, and post-restoration monitoring; oversee spatial data integrity and mapping deliverables.
Ensure all projects adhere to health and safety protocols, environmental protection best practices, and organizational sustainability policies during fieldwork and construction activities.
Develop and deliver technical briefings, presentations, and reports for boards, donors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders that clearly articulate project rationale, outcomes, and ecological benefits.
Lead ecological risk assessments and contingency planning for projects with potential impacts (flooding, erosion, invasive species), and design mitigation measures to reduce environmental and reputational risk.
Cultivate and manage vendor and consultant relationships; prepare scopes of work, evaluate proposals, administer contracts, and oversee quality assurance/quality control for technical deliverables.
Track emerging science, policy, and funding trends related to wetlands, climate resilience, blue carbon, and nature-based solutions; integrate new approaches (e.g., nature-based stormwater management) into program planning.
Ensure rigorous data management practices for field observations, monitoring datasets, and reporting, and leverage data to demonstrate restoration success, inform adaptive management, and support grant reporting.
Develop and implement long-term stewardship and land management plans for conserved and restored wetland properties, including easement enforcement and periodic condition assessments.
Advocate for wetland conservation and restoration at regional planning tables, policy forums, and public platforms to elevate program visibility and influence policy enabling better outcomes for aquatic resources.

Secondary Functions

Support development of outreach materials, technical fact sheets, case studies, and marketing content that communicate project impacts to non-technical audiences and prospective funders.
Contribute to organizational strategy by identifying new program opportunities, potential revenue streams (mitigation credits, fee-for-service restoration), and collaborative partnerships.
Assist with internal cross-program initiatives such as watershed planning, climate adaptation projects, and community resilience efforts to integrate wetland-based solutions.
Participate in organizational leadership meetings, provide program updates, and support grant audit responses and compliance reviews as needed.
Serve as an organizational spokesperson at conferences, workshops, and public hearings to represent wetland program priorities and share lessons learned.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wetland ecology and restoration design — demonstrated experience developing and executing restoration plans, planting schemes, and hydrologic treatments that restore wetland function.
Regulatory permitting expertise — deep familiarity with Clean Water Act Section 404/401 processes, USACE permitting, state-level wetland regulations, and NEPA processes.
Mitigation banking and in-lieu fee program development — experience with prospectus creation, service area definition, wetland crediting, instrument negotiation, and long-term compliance.
Hydrology and hydrogeomorphic assessment — ability to interpret watershed dynamics, model flows, and design water control structures to achieve target hydroperiods.
Geospatial analysis (GIS) and remote sensing — proficient with ArcGIS/QGIS, spatial analysis, mapping, and use of aerial imagery/LiDAR to support site selection and monitoring.
Project management and contract administration — skill in scoping, scheduling, budgeting, contractor oversight, and procurement for multi-disciplinary projects.
Ecological monitoring and data analysis — design and implement monitoring protocols, analyze biological and water quality data, and report against performance metrics.
Grants and fund development — proven record writing competitive grants, managing grant budgets, and satisfying funder reporting requirements.
Invasive species management and revegetation techniques — knowledge of control methods, native plant propagation, seed mixes, and long-term site maintenance.
Technical writing and reporting — produce clear technical reports, permit applications, environmental assessments, and scientific summaries for diverse audiences.
Health & safety and field operations — field crew safety oversight, familiarity with OSHA or field-specific safety standards.
Budgeting and financial oversight — experience creating program budgets, financial forecasting, and reconciliation for complex restoration portfolios.

Soft Skills

Strategic leadership and vision — ability to set program priorities, drive outcomes, and align teams around measurable conservation goals.
Stakeholder engagement and diplomacy — strong interpersonal skills to build trust with regulators, landowners, funders, and community groups.
Communication and presentation — translate technical concepts into clear, persuasive messaging for boards, donors, public audiences, and regulators.
Problem solving and adaptive management — pragmatic, data-driven decision-making to resolve field challenges and pivot project designs when necessary.
Team building and mentorship — coach, recruit, and retain high-performing multidisciplinary teams; foster inclusive, collaborative culture.
Negotiation and conflict resolution — manage conflicting priorities among partners and agencies to achieve consent-based solutions.
Time management and prioritization — manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining quality and meeting statutory deadlines.
Attention to detail — ensure regulatory compliance, accurate monitoring data, and complete documentation in permits and reports.
Resilience and flexibility — comfortable working in field conditions, dynamic regulatory environments, and shifting funding landscapes.
Community outreach and education — experience leading public-facing programs, volunteer days, and educational partnerships.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Wetland Science, Hydrology, Biology, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree (M.S. or M.E.) in Wetland Science, Ecology, Hydrology, Environmental Management, or related discipline; professional certifications (e.g., Professional Wetland Scientist, Certified Ecologist) are strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wetland Ecology
Hydrology and Water Resources
Restoration Ecology
Environmental Science / Conservation Biology
Environmental Engineering
Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 7–15 years of progressively responsible experience in wetland ecology, restoration, or aquatic resource management.

Preferred:

10+ years leading wetland restoration and mitigation programs, including direct supervisory responsibility.
Demonstrated history securing and managing federal/state grants and private funding.
Experience with mitigation banking or in-lieu fee program establishment and compliance.
Proven track record of navigating regulatory permitting (USACE Section 404/401, state permits, NEPA) and successfully delivering projects through the full lifecycle from design to long-term stewardship.
Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, large project budgets, and external contractor relationships.
Prior experience working with tribal, municipal, and community partners and demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement and public outreach.