Easement Program Project Manager - Remote

Easement Program Project Manager – 1 Position Available

Remote Work

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an American nonprofit conservation organization 501(c) with a mission to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl.  This mission closely parallels the goals and mission of one of DU’s biggest partners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and specifically their conservation easement programs administered through the Farm Bill. The NRCS’s Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program Floodplain Easements (EWPP-FPE) restore and conserve thousands of acres of wetland and grassland habitat each year. In partnership with NRCS, DU is assisting NRCS with the delivery of conservation easement programs to increase NRCS’s capacity to meet growing funding levels. This position will be home-officed, however, will be expected to travel for team meetings and trainings held by DU and NRCS as necessary.   

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a detailed tracking spreadsheet or project management tool to assist in easement project management.
  • Following NRCS policy standards, review easement agreement packages and quality check them to ensure each is complete and accurate.
  • Regularly communicate the status of each task associated with a project to NRCS State Office staff and/or eligible entity.
  • Tracking each assigned easement project actions from obligation (project start) through acquisition (project completion) will be done following current NRCS protocols.
  • Analysis of project completion timelines and proposed actions necessary to complete acquisition.
  • Work with NRCS State Office or EPD staff to review application packages and document decisions. Work with Field or State offices and/or eligible entities to compile items needed for program application, fund obligation and closing.
  • Assist NRCS with naming and uploading all documents to appropriate NRCS Business Tools, including Conservation Desktop (CD), ProTracts, National Easement Staging Tool (NEST), Document Management Solution (DMS), and Program Activity Management Solution (PAMS).
  • Develop requisition packages and review requisition packages for completeness.  Enter packages into appropriate software system to order any needed due diligence items.  
  • Complete an easement success story for each assigned project following acquisition.
  • Participate in regular team meetings to ensure project coordination follows timelines and any issues are resolved or elevated quickly. 
• Coordinate cross discipline meetings to keep projects moving forward. Capture concepts and actions from meetings and turn them into tangible actions to assist NRCS Project Manager.
• Draft letters, agendas, and meeting outlines based on team feedback.
• Produce and maintain a current summary of completed projects – accessible to DU and NRCS for reporting. 
• Maintain a solid understanding of ACEP and RCPP policy, bulletins, national instructions, and program deadlines by Fiscal Year. 
• Assist the NRCS EPD with State ACEP support and other projects as assigned based on individual State needs. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Preferred candidates must have a bachelor's degree in wildlife, environmental science, restoration ecology or related conservation field, preferably a M.S. The successful candidate must have demonstrated the ability to think strategically, manage multiple assignments with different deadlines, and adopt new approaches in response to changing circumstances. The candidate must be willing and able to travel as needed, including some overnight travel. This position will consist of office work; no fieldwork will be required. 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience in private land conservation, conservation easements, agriculture industry, contract administration and/or state, local, or government operations. 
• An ability to learn and translate information into action.
• Experience and proven ability to encourage collaboration among diverse project partners, with an ability to create and thrive in a team environment.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work activities and complete tasks to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with proven ability to convey information clearly. 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability, style, and personality to foster collaborative problem-solving and resolve or diffuse conflict.
• Computer literacy with a proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and database management programs.
• Ability to work independently and maintain a high level of productivity in a remote work environment.

These positions will report directly to DU’s Manager of Conservation Programs – USDA Partnerships. These positions are for a 4-year term with the opportunity to extend based upon funding availability.  

Benefits/Salary: Salary $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience & education. 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; three weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plan (including partial employer match); and tuition reimbursement.

Application: Please fill out the application materials at www.ducks.org/jobs and attach a cover letter and resume indicating your qualifications and why you are interested in the position. The position will be open until filled. Please direct any questions to the Ducks Unlimited Human Resources department.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until a qualified applicant is identified. Qualified applications will be batched for interviews. DU would like to fill these positions as soon as possible.  

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, 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.