Sustainable Land Use Planning Specialist

Sustainable Land Use Planning Specialist– NHQ

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU), the world’s leading waterfowl and wetland conservation organization, is seeking a Sustainable Land Use Planning Specialist to develop a plan for land-use tracking, management and sustainable use for a portfolio of landscapes across North America with a focus on US lands and privately/corporately owned lands. The successful candidate will join a talented and enthusiastic team of professionals to support our GIS, Planning, Engineering and Conservation programs across the United States. This position will be a critical component of a growing team that supports DU’s Corporate Engagement, Land Protection, Ecosystem Service and Ecosystem Markets programs that seek to maximize the environmental, social and economic benefits that can be achieved though habitat protection, restoration, and management.

The successful candidate will serve as the project management and technical lead for DU’s efforts to track and maintain land inventories, assess landcover change and other material stressors related to native habitat, water and biodiversity, and conduct targeted conservation planning at a parcel and watershed level to address these challenges. The successful candidate will also evaluate the potential to improve sustainable land-use management though protection, restoration or habitat management, evaluate opportunities to build partnerships and funding streams, and track/account for land improvements in a clear and auditable manner. The successful candidate will be supported by colleagues from DU’s GIS, Land Protection, Conservation Delivery and Sustainability and Ecosystem Service programs and will be expected to manage the integration of these specialties into specific projects. The successful candidate will be given ample opportunity for professional growth and support to enhance both their technical and leadership skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate land inventories and data management with DU Staff and partners
• Lead collaborative efforts with DU Staff and partners to develop parcel, watershed and landscape conservation plans. This will include:
  • Desktop GIS analysis
  • Arranging field assessments with DU Field staff or consultants
  • Analysis of conservation alternatives
  • Development of conservation plans/recommendations
  • Identification and convening of stakeholders/collaborators
• Serve as a project manager for corporate land use and watershed planning projects
• Collaborate with DU Staff and Partners to apply a science-based lens to tracking and accounting of habitat improvements and help develop sound business rules for auditable land improvement accounting
• Collaborate with DU and our corporate partners to: 
  • critically review and provide guidance on the identification of nature-related risks and dependencies 
  • research, evaluate and document nationally and internationally relevant principles of sustainable land-use frameworks, case studies and a science-based decision-making process
  • Support the identification of overlap between corporate objectives and DU habitat projects
• Additional duties include:
  • Support DU’s internal efforts to conduct strategic land protection plans
  • Support targeted outreach to potential partners and landowners
  • Support integration of DU’s Land Protection, GIS, and Sustainability and Ecosystem Services data and planning

Qualifications:                        

Required:

• M.S. or B.S. plus 3-5 years of professional experience in Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Geography, Urban or Regional Planning, Conservation, Landscape Architecture or similar degree
• Experience in conservation planning or in land-use/watershed planning applicable to conservation planning, particularly across a diversity of landscapes
• Demonstrated experience utilizing geospatial data sets and geospatial tools, including the development of methodologies for and implementation of spatial analyses related to conservation planning
• Project management experience, particularly projects involving multiple stakeholders from a variety of sectors (NGOs, Private Corporations, Public Agencies etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge of ecology/ecosystem science, particularly with floodplains, wetlands, grasslands and forests
• Professional interests that align with DU’s conservation mission and vision
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with demonstrated experience writing and communicating both with technical and non-technical audiences
• Solid organizational skills
• Adaptability to work on a variety of topics and a strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and complete projects independently with a high degree of quality and rigor
• Strong interest in teamwork and creative problem solving with colleagues and collaborators
• Desire and demonstrated ability to identify and address personal knowledge gaps, to learn on the job, and to cultivate sources of knowledge, expertise, and skill; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams and Office.

Preferred but not required:

• Proficiency with ESRI products: ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online
• Specific experience working with wetlands and/or their associated uplands
• Strong quantitative skills including experience in R programming or similar coding language
• Familiarity with corporate disclosure frameworks around nature and biodiversity.

Reporting and Location: The successful candidate will report to DU’s GIS Manager at DU’s National Headquarters in Memphis, TN. There is a strong preference for the candidate to be physically located in our Memphis office, but an exceptional candidate with a proven ability to work independently may negotiate alternative work arrangements in one of DU’s regional or field offices at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Application Instructions: To apply, submit (1) a cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position, (2) a resume highlighting your qualifications, and (3) the names, daytime phone numbers and email addresses for 3 professional references. For internal candidates, log into https://workforcenow.adp.com with your employee credentials, click MYSELF, TALENT, CAREER CENTER and follow the prompts to APPLY. For external candidates, visit www.ducks.org/jobs, select the job title and follow the prompts to APPLY.

Applications will be accepted until Jan 2, 2025. For more information regarding the application process, please contact Human Resources at careers@ducks.org. For questions regarding the technical aspects of this position, please contact Nickolas “Nick” Smith (nrsmith@ducks.org).

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE: Salary commensurate with experience. 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; paid vacation; paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plan (including partial employer match); and tuition reimbursement.

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 opportunity 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.