Regional Manager of Conservation - Restoration

Ducks Unlimited Canada; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ducks Unlimited Canada is seeking a Regional Manager of Conservation to lead wetland and upland restoration efforts across the Prairie Provinces. You will manage a 25-person team, an $8–10M budget, and ensure program delivery within the regional scope.

The role emphasizes collaboration with National Business Units, Indigenous partners, and government or industry stakeholders to advance prairie habitat goals and secure sustainable funding.

Qualifications

• Eight years of conservation program delivery experience with partners and leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in a conservation-related field with a strong academic foundation.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the Prairie Provinces.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional objectives and delivery plans for habitat securement and restoration.
• Oversee regional budgeting and financial planning.
• Secure and manage funding for conservation initiatives.
• Develop and maintain relationships with conservation, industry, government and Indigenous partners.
• Represent the organization in regional and national forums.
• Collaborate with national teams to align priorities from an ecological perspective.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a conservation-related field

Job description

Reporting to the Director of Regional Operations (DRO), the Regional Manager of Conservation (RMC), is a key member of the Regional Leadership Team, responsible for leading wetland and upland restoration efforts across the Prairie Provinces, managing all functions and activities occurring in pursuit of DUC's business plan goals within a regional jurisdiction. The RMC - Restoration oversees a team of 25 staff, a budget of between $8M to $10M, and program delivery in the restoration team, while fostering collaboration across National Business Units and the regional delivery team(s). This role ensures sustainable funding for conservation programs and supports partnerships with Indigenous communities, government, industry, and other key partners or partner and collaborators.

Location: Hybrid within the Prairies Region with preference for Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton or Calgary.

• Oversee professional development within the regional team and create opportunities for individuals identified as potential leaders within DUC. This includes, in collaboration with Human Resources and the Regional Leadership Team, the development of succession planning within the region.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and professional development.
• Ensure DUC’s corporate policies are adhered to and efficiently implemented in the workplace. This includes serving as a role model in observing DUC policies and procedures.

Program Delivery

• Lead development of regional objectives and delivery plans for securement programming to support DUC’s strategic and business plans to meet annual habitat and non-mission-based objectives (CPRO).
• Collaborate with national teams to ensure consistency and appropriate priorities are established from an ecological perspective.
• Contribute, as requested, to development of national conservation plans and strategies.
• Set priorities and long-term goals for habitat securement and restoration.
• Oversee regional budgeting and financial planning.
• Secure and manage funding for conservation initiatives, including collaboration with Development team where appropriate.
• Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and organizational policies.
• Monitor and report on program outcomes and impact.

Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement

• Develop and maintain key relationships with conservation, industry, government and indigenous partners to ensure the successful implementation of conservation programming within the region. This is a shared and collaborative responsibility with other members of the Regional Leadership Team.
• Representing the organization in regional and national forums.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with other Regional Management Teams to ensure the delivery of annual objectives and success of the Region across the Provinces.
• Collaborate with national fundraising staff including CPRO and Sustainability Solutions, to advance DUC’s revenue generation goals.
• Collaborate with the Regional Leadership Team to assist Senior Leadership Team in stewarding DUC’s Board of Director members within the Region.
• Support development and stewardship of DUC’s identity with partners and clients as well as supporting national brand development initiatives.
• Collaborate with IGR Team to ensure the success and advancement of policy, regulation for the benefit of prairie habitat.

Qualifications & Education Requirements

• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in conservation program delivery working collaboratively with partners, along with a proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a team to achieve organizational goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in a conservation-related field, with a strong academic foundation in disciplines such as Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Biology/Ecology, Environmental Policy, or Conservation Law.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively within the Prairie Provinces is required.