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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Ecologist Director

💰 $ - $

WildlifeConservationEcologyLeadership

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Ecologist Director leads strategic conservation science and applied wildlife ecology programs across landscapes. This senior role combines leadership, advanced ecological science, and operational program management to design and deliver effective species and habitat conservation outcomes. The Director oversees monitoring and research (population modeling, telemetry, camera trapping, acoustic surveys), ensures compliance with ESA and NEPA, secures and manages grant funding, directs cross-disciplinary teams, and represents the organization to federal/state agencies, tribes, landowners, and stakeholders.

This position requires deep technical expertise (wildlife population dynamics, habitat assessment, GIS/remote sensing, statistical analysis), proven leadership in multi‑partner projects, and a track record of delivering measurable conservation results.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Wildlife Ecologist / Senior Wildlife Biologist
  • Conservation Scientist or Habitat Restoration Lead
  • Field Research Program Manager or Regional Biologist

Advancement To:

  • Director of Conservation Programs
  • Chief Science Officer / VP of Science & Conservation
  • Executive Director (for small-to-mid NGOs) or Senior Program Officer for agencies

Lateral Moves:

  • Habitat Restoration Manager
  • Environmental Compliance / Permitting Manager
  • Natural Resources Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the development, implementation, and adaptive management of large-scale wildlife conservation programs focused on species recovery, population stability, and landscape-scale habitat connectivity; set scientific priorities and measurable performance indicators.
  • Direct and supervise multi-disciplinary teams (field biologists, data analysts, GIS specialists, contractors) including hiring, mentoring, performance management, and professional development to build capacity and high-performing conservation teams.
  • Design, oversee, and participate in rigorous field monitoring programs using telemetry (VHF/GPS), camera traps, acoustic monitoring, point counts, line transects, and standardized survey protocols to estimate abundance, survival, movement, and habitat use.
  • Develop and apply quantitative population models (population viability analysis, mark–recapture, occupancy, integrated population models) and statistical analyses using R, Python, or equivalent tools to inform management decisions and risk assessments.
  • Lead GIS and remote sensing workflows (ArcGIS, QGIS, lidar, satellite imagery) to map habitat, model species distribution, identify corridors, and support landscape prioritization and restoration planning.
  • Prepare, submit, and manage competitive grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts; develop budgets, manage expenditures, ensure compliance with funder requirements, and deliver timely reporting.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance with federal and state wildlife laws and regulations (Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act), lead permit applications, and coordinate technical documentation for NEPA analyses and environmental impact statements.
  • Develop species recovery plans, conservation action plans, and habitat management prescriptions informed by best available science, stakeholder input, and adaptive management principles.
  • Serve as the principal scientific advisor to senior leadership and external partners on wildlife policy, regulatory risk, mitigation strategies, and conservation priorities; translate technical results into clear policy and management recommendations.
  • Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with federal and state wildlife agencies, tribes, municipalities, private landowners, NGOs, academic institutions, and industry to advance conservation objectives and facilitate multi-stakeholder projects.
  • Oversee data management, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), metadata standards, and long-term monitoring databases; ensure datasets are accessible, reproducible, and suitable for trend analysis and reporting.
  • Lead development and delivery of high-quality technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, management briefs, and public-facing communications that summarize monitoring results, conservation outcomes, and recommendations.
  • Manage multi-project budgets, financial forecasting, procurement, vendor selection, and contract oversight to ensure projects meet objectives within scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Design and implement adaptive management cycles: hypothesis formulation, monitoring design, analysis, and iterative adjustment of management actions based on monitoring results.
  • Oversee applied research projects with external partners and academic collaborators; supervise experimental design, sampling protocols, and ethical field practices to ensure scientific rigor and animal welfare compliance.
  • Coordinate invasive species monitoring and control programs, working with restoration teams to prioritize actions that improve habitat quality and native species resilience.
  • Lead communications and outreach strategies to engage stakeholders, convene technical working groups, deliver community presentations, and represent the organization at conferences and regulatory hearings.
  • Integrate climate change vulnerability assessments and resilience planning into species and habitat conservation strategies; prioritize actions that increase ecosystem adaptation and connectivity.
  • Implement and maintain field safety programs, training, and protocols including GPS/communication plans, wildlife handling certifications, and occupational safety procedures for remote field operations.
  • Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies and methods (drones/UAVs, automated acoustic identification, eDNA, machine learning) to improve monitoring efficiency and data quality.
  • Negotiate and manage conservation easements, land agreements, and mitigation banking partnerships that align with species recovery goals and long-term habitat protection objectives.
  • Monitor project performance against KPIs and prepare executive briefings, grant reports, and deliverables for boards, funders, and regulatory agencies.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc technical assistance requests from internal teams and partner organizations (e.g., species-specific surveys, habitat assessments).
  • Contribute to organizational strategy by advising on science priorities, fundraising opportunities, and risk management related to wildlife programs.
  • Represent the organization in multi-agency committees, technical advisory panels, and stakeholder workshops to align conservation actions and leverage resources.
  • Provide mentorship and training programs for early-career biologists and interns, including protocol training and scientific communication skill-building.
  • Support development of education and citizen science initiatives (volunteer transects, community monitoring) that expand monitoring coverage and public engagement.
  • Help refine data workflows and tools to improve cross-team collaborations, data discovery, and reproducibility of scientific analyses.
  • Coordinate logistics for field seasons: equipment procurement, travel planning, permitting, and health and safety briefings.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Wildlife population monitoring and survey design (mark-recapture, transects, point counts, occupancy modeling).
  • Advanced statistical analysis and modeling (R, Python, Bayesian methods, population viability analysis).
  • GIS and remote sensing (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, spatial analysis, habitat suitability modeling).
  • Telemetry and tracking technologies (VHF, GPS, satellite telemetry) and associated data processing.
  • Acoustic monitoring and automated species detection workflows; camera trap deployment and image processing.
  • Regulatory compliance expertise: Endangered Species Act (ESA), NEPA processes, state wildlife permitting and mitigation requirements.
  • Grant writing, fund development, and financial management for multi-year conservation projects.
  • Database design and management (SQL, relational databases, data QA/QC, metadata standards).
  • Field program logistics and safety management for remote and multi-site operations.
  • Restoration ecology and habitat management techniques (invasive species control, revegetation, corridor creation).
  • eDNA sampling methods, laboratory coordination, and interpretation of molecular data (preferred).
  • Familiarity with conservation planning tools (Marxan, Zonation) and decision support systems.
  • experience with stakeholder engagement tools, public presentations, and technical report writing.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic leadership and program management with the ability to set vision and translate into operational plans.
  • Clear, persuasive science communication tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Collaborative relationship-building across agencies, tribes, private landowners, NGOs, and academic partners.
  • Mentoring and team development to grow staff capacity and retain high-performing teams.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to manage stakeholder interests and land-use trade-offs.
  • Strong project and time management, able to balance concurrent programs and deadlines.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving, especially for adaptive management decisions under uncertainty.
  • Political savvy and diplomacy for navigating regulatory, community, and interagency contexts.
  • Attention to detail in data quality, reporting, and compliance documentation.
  • Resilience and flexibility to lead field operations under changing conditions and priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree or PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a closely related discipline is strongly preferred for science leadership roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Wildlife Ecology / Wildlife Biology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology / Population Ecology
  • Environmental Science / Natural Resources Management
  • Geographic Information Science / Remote Sensing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8–15+ years of progressive experience in wildlife ecology, conservation program leadership, and applied field research.

Preferred:

  • 10+ years of relevant experience with a minimum of 5 years in supervisory or program director roles.
  • Demonstrated experience managing multi-partner projects, federal/state permitting (ESA, NEPA), grant-funded programs, and large field teams.
  • Proven record of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and successful grant proposals.
  • Experience working with federal agencies (USFWS, NOAA, USFS, BLM), state wildlife agencies, tribes, and private landowners.
  • Track record implementing advanced monitoring techniques (telemetry, camera traps, acoustic surveys) and integrating GIS/remote sensing into conservation planning.
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