Manager, Habitat Restoration

Socket.dev; Walsingham; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is seeking a Habitat Restoration Manager to lead landscape-scale restoration across Ontario, coordinating with NGOs, government agencies, landowners and partners to enhance resilience and connectivity. The role emphasizes invasive species control and applying the latest restoration techniques.

You will guide staff, manage budgets and reporting, and ensure compliance with permits while fostering collaborative conservation across NCC lands in Ontario.

Qualifications

• Minimum college diploma or university degree in biology, ecology, resource management; 5+ years in conservation.
• Experience conducting habitat restoration and invasive species management, with Phragmites exposure preferred.
• Strong leadership and ability to coordinate complex projects with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working with rural communities and agricultural groups to reach conservation goals.
• Proven analytical, problem-solving, and budgeting skills; ability to manage multiple contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead landscape-scale restoration and invasive species control with partners.
• Support restoration planning and implementation across Ontario to protect priority targets.
• Manage funding agreements, reporting, and budgeting for government contracts.
• Engage stakeholders and landowners to demonstrate innovative restoration techniques.
• Ensure compliance with permits and policies; supervise restoration staff.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Phragmites control

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical

Travel

Education

Biology/Ecology degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

ArcGIS

Job description

Position:Habitat Restoration Manager, Ontario

Location:Hybrid, Norfolk County office minimum 3 days per week, ON

Position details: Full-time

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Manager, Habitat Restoration to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 20 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With office locations in all ten provinces across Canada, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Position Summary

This position will provide program management to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and partners through provision of advice and oversight for habitat restoration activities that focus on enhancing landscape resilience and connectivity. As a primary function, this role will be responsible for managing landscape-scale restoration including the management of invasive species through collaborative efforts that involve working closely with many external partners. The role will actively engage and coordinate and support NGOs, government agencies, Conservation Authorities, landowners and landowner groups, and other interest groups in management actions that have a direct and measurable impact at the landscape scale. The position will also provide advice to staff and oversight to contractors working on NCC and partner lands regarding the latest techniques, technology and strategies that will advance habitat restoration and invasive species management efforts. This work will address the greatest threats to native biodiversity on NCC lands in Ontario to maintain and restore priority conservation targets.

Key Responsibilities/Result Areas

• Provide leadership in planning and implementing landscape-scale control of invasive species management programs alongside key delivery partners, including delivery of the Ontario Phragmites Action program
• Provide support to NCC staff in planning and implementing restoration activities across Ontario region to advance conservation and protection of priority conservation targets
• Manage and deliver on invasive species management commitments to governments and other agencies as required by contract and funding agreements
• Build program support and awareness via communication and outreach efforts using networks of stakeholders and landowners to demonstrate innovative techniques
• Navigate and interpret government policy, permits and associated compliance to achieve tangible results on the ground
• Supervise habitat restoration staff providing guidance and leadership to achieve program deliverables
• Manage finances and reporting for government funding agreements and service contracts
• Provide leadership and support internally and externally to stewardship and restoration staff across Ontario regarding habitat restoration and invasive species management projects
• Maintain NCC’s capacity to support habitat restoration over time through fundraising, networking, monitoring and reporting on achievements
• Manage and support the maintenance of NCC’s habitat restoration specialized tools and equipment (MarshMasters, Fat Truck, boats etc.) and deliver training for their safe and effective operation

Position Requirements

• Minimum college diploma or university degree in biology, ecology, resource management - at least 5 years’ experience working in a conservation-related field with a wide variety of stakeholders and interest groups, including rural landowners
• Direct experience conducting habitat restoration including the management of invasive species, experience with Phragmites control strongly preferred
• Demonstrated leadership skills coordinating complex projects with multiple interests and achieving results
• Experience working with rural communities and agricultural groups to identify and achieve common conservation goals
• Creative analytical skills and the ability to adapt and problem solve to achieve success under challenging and diverse rules and processes
• Strong project management experience including grant writing and reporting skills, financial budgeting, tracking and reporting, and the ability to manage numerous agreements and deliverables simultaneously
• Supervisory and team building skills that support and accommodate diverse values and capacities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) of programs a must. Experience with the ArcGIS suite of programs including ArcMap and ArcGIS Collector an asset
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to create positive and productive working relationships with diverse internal and external groups and stakeholders with varying perspectives
• Must be prepared to travel and work flexible hours at times, including remote conditions, weekends and longer stays away from home
• Successful candidate must hold a valid Ontario driver’s licence to travel to work sites from time to time

Application Deadline

October 11, 2026 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at [e-mail] to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at [e-mail].