Sentinel Landscape Program Manager, FWRC

Mississippi State University; Starkville (MS); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University is seeking a Sentinel Landscape Program Manager to lead the EMSL partnership, coordinate an implementation plan, and align resources for military readiness and conservation across multiple agencies and landowners.

The role requires strong collaboration, organizational skills, and the ability to navigate complex partnerships while pursuing funding opportunities and reporting on outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources, forestry, wildlife, agriculture, environmental planning, public administration, military/community planning, or related field.
• 5 years of experience relevant to duties described above.

Responsibilities

• Foster trust and build partnerships across federal, state, local, NGOs, and private landowners.
• Support EMSL leadership in governance, strategic planning, and implementation.
• Coordinate development of steering committee and partner working groups.
• Lead actions translating goals into measurable strategies and funding opportunities.
• Coordinate data sharing to assess impacts and support informed decisions.
• Facilitate regular Steering Committee and partnership meetings, managing agendas and tasks.
• Develop EMSL Five-Year Implementation Plan and annual updates, including work plans and funding strategies.
• Coordinate implementation across EMSL goals and monitor progress.

Skills

Relationship building

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Public speaking

Communication

Grant coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

GIS

Grant management software

Job description

Position Function:

The Sentinel Landscape Program Manager (Sentinel Landscape Coordinator) serves as the primary point of contact for the partnership and is responsible for building trusted relationships among federal, state, local, academic, nonprofit, industry, Tribal, and private landowner partners. Working under the direction of the EMSL Leadership Team, the Coordinator will facilitate collaboration, align resources, support implementation of landscape priorities, pursue funding opportunities, and measure the partnership's performance and impact.
The Coordinator will foster strong connections and clear communication across local, state, regional, and federal partners, to support military readiness and local communities’ needs where interest and priorities align. Support partner success, drive implementation of shared conservation, land-use, and community goals.
The position requires a collaborative leader who is highly organized, mission-focused, and capable of navigating complex partnerships while maintaining trust with agencies, landowners, elected officials, military installations, and community stakeholders.

Salary Grade

17

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The East Mississippi Sentinel Landscape (EMSL) has officially been selected for designation by the federal Sentinel Landscapes Partnership (SLP), recognizing the region’s national importance to military readiness, working lands conservation, and long-term landscape resilience. The EMSL protects nationally critical pilot training missions while also strengthening working lands, conservation efforts, outdoor recreation, and rural way of life.
The Sentinel Landscape Program Manager (Sentinel Landscape Coordinator) serves as the principal coordinator and facilitator of the EMSL, providing leadership for the development and implementation of the EMSL Five-Year Implementation Plan and advancing the shared priorities of military readiness, working lands conservation, ecosystem restoration, and rural economic resilience.
The Coordinator will be an employee of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC) at Mississippi State University (MSU). The mission of FWRC is to expand through research the fundamental and applied knowledge upon which forestry, forest products, and wildlife and fisheries disciplines are based. FWRC aims to assist in conserving, developing, and using the forest, forest products, wildlife and fisheries resources of Mississippi and the nation through research, technology transfer, and other service activities.
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations that work with landowners and land managers to advance sustainable land use practices around military installations and ranges. The partnership aligns the objectives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and Department of War to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, bolster agricultural and forestry economies, increase public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance landscape resilience.

Anticipated Appointment Date:

October 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Foster trust, connectedness, relationships, strong networks, and partnerships across federal, state, local, and non-governmental organizations, as well as private landowners.
2. Support the EMSL Leadership Team in governance, decision-making, strategic planning, and implementation.
3. Build capacity and support the development of a steering committee and partner working groups.
4. Catalyze collective action and investment in landscape priorities by translating goals into measurable strategies and actions.
5. Lead collaborative data sharing to assess and share impacts, and enable informed decision-making across the partnership.
6. Convene and facilitate regular Steering Committee and partnership meetings, managing agendas and ensuring effective communication and task management
7. Ensure alignment with administration priorities
8. Foster collaboration and consensus among diverse stakeholders while maintaining focus on shared landscape goals.
9. Lead development, implementation, and annual updates of the EMSL Five-Year Implementation Plan, including:
   • a. Annual work plans
   • b. Landscape performance targets
   • c. Acreage goals
   • d. Assignment of lead partners
   • e. Funding strategies
   • f. Shared performance metrics
   • g. Governance procedures
   • h. Conflict-resolution processes
10. Coordinate implementation activities across all EMSL goals and support adaptive management through continuous evaluation and partner feedback.
11. Identify, pursue, and coordinate funding opportunities that support EMSL priorities.
12. Coordinate efforts supporting military readiness through compatible land use planning.
13. Coordinate implementation of landscape-scale conservation priorities.
14. Coordinate implementation with the Mississippi State Wildlife Action Plan, SECAS Blueprint, and other regional conservation initiatives.
15. Develop, collect, and report metrics demonstrating the return on investment of EMSL coordination and produce annual reports documenting progress toward military readiness, conservation, working lands, and economic resilience objectives.
16. Prepare reports, briefings, presentations, and communications for EMSL Leadership Team and partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources, forestry, wildlife, agriculture, environmental planning, public administration, military/community planning, or related field.
• 5 years of experience relevant to duties described above.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related discipline.
• Experience with REPI, OLDCC, USDA conservation programs, or Sentinel Landscapes.
• Knowledge of military land-use compatibility and aviation operations.
• Experience with forestry, prescribed fire, watershed restoration, or working lands.
• GIS literacy or experience coordinating geospatial initiatives.
• Knowledge of Mississippi's agricultural, forestry, and natural resource sectors.
• Experience administering grants and cooperative agreements.
• Demonstrated success preparing grant applications, strategic plans, technical reports, or public presentations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to communicate effectively.
2. Knowledge of word processing and spread sheet programs.
3. Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills required.
4. Experience coordinating multi-agency partnerships or collaborative initiatives.
5. Strong project management and organizational skills.
6. Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
7. Ability to facilitate meetings and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
8. Ability to work effectively with private landowners and rural communities.
9. Commitment to voluntary, incentive-based conservation.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
2. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
3. No or very limited physical effort required.

Screening Date:

October 8, 2026, until filled.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

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