Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Wetland Manager leads planning, implementation and evaluation of wetland conservation and restoration projects to protect and enhance aquatic and wetland ecosystems. This role combines field-based wetland delineation and monitoring with project management, regulatory permitting (Clean Water Act/Section 404, state wetland rules), design of restoration and mitigation sites, grant and contract administration, stakeholder engagement, and supervision of staff, contractors and volunteers. The Wetland Manager ensures projects meet ecological performance standards, permit conditions and budget/time constraints while advancing organizational conservation goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wetland Technician or Field Technician (wetland monitoring, sampling)
Environmental Scientist / Ecologist with wetland experience
Restoration Ecologist or Hydrology Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Wetland Manager / Program Manager
Restoration Program Director / Conservation Projects Director
Mitigation Bank Manager or Regional Habitat Manager

Lateral Moves:

Habitat Restoration Manager
Environmental Compliance or Permitting Manager
Natural Resources Project Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the design, permitting, implementation and long-term management of wetland restoration, enhancement, creation and mitigation projects, including development of restoration plans, construction specifications, planting palettes and monitoring frameworks.
Conduct and/or supervise wetland delineations, habitat assessments and ecological surveys following federal, state and local protocols; prepare wetland delineation reports and maps suitable for permit submittals and regulatory review.
Manage regulatory permitting processes (Clean Water Act Section 404/401, state wetlands permits, NEPA-related documentation), prepare permit applications, coordinate agency consultations and ensure compliance with permit conditions throughout project lifecycle.
Develop and manage project budgets and schedules for multiple concurrent wetland projects; track expenditures, manage subcontractor invoices and report financial status to program leadership.
Design and implement scientifically rigorous monitoring plans (vegetation, hydrology, soil, water quality and functional assessments) to evaluate restoration performance against success criteria and adaptive management triggers.
Coordinate construction oversight and quality assurance/quality control during site grading, earthwork, channel restoration, plantings and installation of water control structures; collaborate with contractors and engineers to ensure work meets technical specifications.
Prepare technical reports, monitoring summaries, grant deliverables, environmental assessments and regulatory submittals that clearly document methods, results and project outcomes for funders, agencies and stakeholders.
Supervise, train and evaluate field staff, seasonal technicians, interns and subcontractors; develop field safety plans, standard operating procedures and training materials to ensure safe and consistent field operations.
Lead grant writing, proposal development and contract negotiation for state and federal funding (e.g., NOAA, EPA, USFWS, state conservation grants) and manage grant deliverables, reporting and compliance.
Maintain and analyze environmental datasets (hydrology logs, vegetation cover, water quality, GIS layers) to inform project design, adapt management practices and support regulatory reporting.
Develop and apply adaptive management strategies based on monitoring results; recommend and implement corrective actions such as supplemental plantings, invasive species treatments or hydrologic modifications.
Provide technical support and expertise to clients, partner agencies, landowners and community groups on wetland ecology, permitting options, mitigation banking and best management practices.
Lead stakeholder engagement, public outreach and community education activities including public meetings, site tours, interpretive signage and volunteer planting events to build local support and awareness.
Manage mitigation and conservation banking projects, including bank design, establishment, performance monitoring, credit accounting and long-term stewardship plans.
Perform hydrologic assessments, basic water budget analyses, sediment transport considerations and coordinate with engineers to integrate hydrology into wetland design and restoration solutions.
Conduct invasive species surveys and develop integrated pest management plans; coordinate and supervise mechanical, chemical and biological control work as appropriate.
Ensure environmental health and safety compliance in field and construction settings, maintain permits, insurance and incident reporting, and conduct regular safety briefings and tool-box talks.
Liaise with federal, state and local regulatory agencies, tribal governments and conservation organizations to secure approvals, coordinate multi-party projects and ensure alignment with regional conservation priorities.
Oversee procurement, contracting and vendor management for restoration supplies, native plants, erosion control materials and professional services; prepare scopes of work and manage contractor performance.
Integrate GIS and remote sensing (orthophotos, LiDAR) into site selection, design, monitoring and mapping; produce maps and spatial analyses to support decision-making and reporting.
Develop and maintain long-term site stewardship plans, including access control, monitoring schedules, adaptive maintenance, financial assurances and endowment or easement arrangements where applicable.
Advocate for wetland conservation by preparing technical briefs, contributing to policy discussions, and representing the organization in regional conservation networks and technical working groups.

Secondary Functions

Support applied research projects and pilot demonstrations to test novel restoration techniques and improve restoration success rates.
Maintain organized project documentation, field notebooks, data entry protocols and cloud-based project management folders for audit and grant compliance.
Assist in fundraising, donor stewardship and preparation of outreach materials (newsletters, website content, social media posts) to showcase project results and expand support.
Facilitate volunteer coordination for planting days, monitoring events and stewardship activities; develop volunteer training and safety materials.
Provide backup support for related programs such as upland habitat restoration, stream restoration or watershed-scale planning when project needs overlap.
Participate in internal planning meetings, strategic planning sessions and cross-functional teams to align wetland projects with broader organizational goals and metrics.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wetland delineation and functional assessment experience, including preparation of jurisdictional reports compliant with Clean Water Act criteria.
Regulatory permitting knowledge (CWA Section 404/401, state wetland statutes, NEPA processes) and agency coordination experience.
Restoration design and construction oversight: grading plans, hydrologic control structures, planting plans and erosion control.
Hydrology fundamentals: water budgets, groundwater-surface water interactions, tide and floodplain dynamics relevant to wetland function.
Vegetation ecology and native plant selection, including seed mixes, container and live-stake planting techniques.
Invasive species identification and implementation of integrated control methods (mechanical, chemical, biological).
Monitoring and adaptive management: development of monitoring protocols, statistical or trend analysis of ecological data and translating results into management actions.
GIS and mapping proficiency (ArcGIS, QGIS) and ability to produce maps and spatial analyses for design and reporting.
Field data collection tools and methods: GPS/GNSS, water-level loggers, flow meters, soil probes, and water quality sampling equipment.
Grant writing, grant management and preparation of technical deliverables for federal, state and private funders.
Project management skills: budgeting, scheduling, contracting, procurement and supervising multi-disciplinary teams.
Technical report writing and ability to translate scientific results into clear, auditable deliverables for regulators and stakeholders.
Familiarity with mitigation banking frameworks, credit accounting and long-term stewardship requirements.
Basic proficiency with relevant software: MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), project management tools, and data analysis packages (R, Python or statistical software) is a plus.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills for engaging regulators, landowners, contractors and community groups.
Leadership and team management: mentoring staff, delegating tasks, and building collaborative, safety-focused field teams.
Stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills with government agencies, private landowners and partner NGOs.
Problem-solving and adaptive thinking to modify field plans in response to unforeseen site conditions or monitoring results.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for compliance, documentation and grant reporting.
Time management and prioritization skills to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
Cultural competence and ability to work respectfully with tribal nations, diverse communities and private landowners.
Resilience and physical stamina for field work in variable weather and remote sites, with a focus on safe practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Restoration Ecology, Wetland Science, Hydrology, Environmental Management, or related graduate study.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wetland Science and Restoration Ecology
Hydrology / Water Resources
Ecology, Botany or Plant Sciences
Environmental Policy or Natural Resources Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–8 years of relevant field and project management experience; many employer postings seek 5+ years for a manager-level role.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive wetland restoration, delineation, permitting and project management experience, including demonstrated success leading teams and administering grants or mitigation projects; professional certifications such as Certified Wetland Scientist (or equivalent) and familiarity with state/federal permitting processes are highly desirable.