Reforestation Carbon Program Manager

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. • Ridgeland, MS

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Southern Region of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) is seeking an experienced restoration ecologist, forester, mitigation specialist, or natural resource professional to identify, plan and implement high-caliber reforestation carbon programs through the voluntary carbon market to provide climate mitigation and support water quality, flood reduction, and wildlife habitat goals in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) of DU’s Southern Region (SRO). We seek a highly motivated individual with excellent project management skills to lead a team of DU’s Southern Regional biologists, engineers, real estate specialists, GIS technicians, and other professionals working with private landowners and partners to identify and develop opportunities to restore bottomland hardwood forests in the MAV. The successful candidate will be responsible for the management and growth of DU’s new reforestation carbon program, Flyway Forests, by coordinating internally across DU departments and externally with project partners and private landowners. The successful candidate will be expected to lead landowner outreach and manage the Flyway Forests program. Flyway Forests program delivery entails marketing and outreach, an extensive and iterative enrollment process, site prep, tree planting, conservation easements, and performance monitoring. This candidate will understand the voluntary carbon market reforestation methodologies enough to determine good candidate sites and explain the requirements to landowners. They will create partnerships with enrollment partners, engage directly in landowner outreach, participate in site selection, and oversee the execution of purchase agreements. They will be responsible for leading diligence activities in coordination with DU lands program staff and contractors. They will direct the planning, procurement, implementation, and oversight of restoration activities (including site preparation and tree planting). After tree planting, this candidate will coordinate conservation easement closing with regional and national DU lands program staff. This role requires exceptional project management skills and attention to detail to ensure workstreams are efficient as well as documented for carbon registry compliance. An essential function of this job is building trust with private landowners and program partners (including investors, real estate brokers, and public agencies) through transparency, responsiveness, and high-quality work. This position requires exceptional interpersonal skills and attention to detail to ensure consistency across voluntary carbon market methodology requirements, DU conservation easements, and project activities. The successful applicant will build on a 3,500-acre pilot and help scale the Flyway Forests strategic plan to enroll up to 20,000 acres by 2030 by tapping into existing and emerging environmental markets (e.g., carbon, water, and biodiversity).

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. in Wetland Ecology, Forestry, Natural Resource Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of related experience is desired (graduate degree can be substituted for experience).
• Experience focused on ecological restoration, environmental markets, and/or program development.
• Ability to develop and/or synthesize scientific information.
• Ability to communicate science-based information to fundraising, marketing and public policy staff.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Understanding of voluntary carbon market reforestation methodologies.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to manage an interdisciplinary team through leading by example is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify, plan and implement high-caliber reforestation carbon programs through the voluntary carbon market.
• Support water quality, flood reduction, and wildlife habitat goals in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV).
• Lead a team of DU’s Southern Regional biologists, engineers, real estate specialists, GIS technicians, and other professionals.
• Work with private landowners and partners to identify and develop opportunities to restore bottomland hardwood forests in the MAV.
• Manage and grow DU’s new reforestation carbon program, Flyway Forests.
• Coordinate internally across DU departments and externally with project partners and private landowners.
• Lead landowner outreach and manage the Flyway Forests program.
• Oversee Flyway Forests program delivery, including marketing and outreach, enrollment process, site prep, tree planting, conservation easements, and performance monitoring.
• Determine good candidate sites and explain reforestation methodology requirements to landowners.
• Create partnerships with enrollment partners.
• Engage directly in landowner outreach.
• Participate in site selection.
• Oversee the execution of purchase agreements.
• Lead diligence activities in coordination with DU lands program staff and contractors.
• Direct the planning, procurement, implementation, and oversight of restoration activities.
• Coordinate conservation easement closing with regional and national DU lands program staff.
• Ensure workstreams are efficient and documented for carbon registry compliance.
• Build trust with private landowners and program partners through transparency, responsiveness, and high-quality work.
• Ensure consistency across voluntary carbon market methodology requirements, DU conservation easements, and project activities.
• Scale the Flyway Forests strategic plan to enroll up to 20,000 acres by 2030.
• Tap into existing and emerging environmental markets (e.g., carbon, water, and biodiversity).
• Develop and/or synthesize scientific information.
• Communicate science-based information to fundraising, marketing and public policy staff.
• Lead by example in managing an interdisciplinary team.

Benefits

• Comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage.
• Paid vacation.
• Paid sick leave.
• 10 paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan (including partial employer match).
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior