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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Program Analyst

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

A Wetland Program Analyst provides technical, regulatory, and programmatic support for wetland monitoring, restoration, protection, and permitting programs. This role combines field-based wetland delineation and monitoring with stakeholder engagement, data management, GIS analysis, and regulatory review (including Clean Water Act Section 404 and state wetland laws). The ideal candidate translates scientific data into actionable program outcomes, produces high-quality technical reports, supports grant and budget management, and advances wetland conservation through policy development and multi-agency coordination.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Environmental Technician or Field Technician with wetland delineation experience
  • Biological Field Specialist, Wetland Ecologist Assistant, or Restoration Technician
  • GIS Technician or Water Quality Technician with experience supporting wetland projects

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wetland Program Analyst / Wetland Specialist
  • Wetland Program Manager or Wetland Coordinator
  • Restoration Program Manager or Environmental Compliance Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Water Quality Analyst or Watershed Coordinator
  • Habitat Restoration Planner or Ecological Monitoring Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead design and implementation of wetland monitoring programs, including development of monitoring plans, selection of sampling protocols, QA/QC procedures, and schedule coordination to assess wetland function, condition, and trends over time.
  • Conduct and supervise wetland delineations, vegetation surveys, soil and hydrology assessments in accordance with federal (e.g., Corps of Engineers Regional Supplement) and state wetland delineation guidance to support permitting and compliance.
  • Review and evaluate permit applications and mitigation plans for Clean Water Act Section 404 and state wetland programs; provide technical recommendations, written comments, and conditions to ensure avoidance, minimization, and compensation for permitted impacts.
  • Prepare, interpret, and present technical wetland assessments, ecological risk analyses, and restoration feasibility studies that synthesize field data, literature, and regulatory requirements for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Manage wetland data systems and geodatabases (ArcGIS, FGDC-compliant metadata), ensuring accurate spatial and tabular records for monitoring results, delineation polygons, mitigation site tracking, and compliance inspections.
  • Apply remote sensing and GIS analyses (imagery interpretation, change detection, LiDAR-derived hydrologic modeling) to map wetland extent, assess landscape connectivity, and prioritize restoration or conservation actions at watershed scales.
  • Design and oversee field sampling campaigns including biological sampling (vegetation, macroinvertebrates), water quality sampling, sediment sampling, and installation/maintenance of monitoring stations; ensure field safety and data integrity.
  • Coordinate multi-agency and multi-stakeholder working groups, public meetings, and technical advisory committees to develop coordinated wetland policy, regional wetland strategies, and inter-jurisdictional monitoring agreements.
  • Write and manage grant proposals and contracts (federal, state, and foundation funding), prepare budgets, scopes of work, and deliverables; monitor project expenditures and ensure timely reporting to funders.
  • Develop and update technical guidance documents, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials for wetland delineation, monitoring, and mitigation success criteria to improve program consistency and capacity.
  • Conduct statistical and trend analyses of monitoring data using R, Python, or statistical packages to evaluate program performance, detect environmental change, and inform adaptive management recommendations.
  • Oversee mitigation project design, implementation, and monitoring; evaluate mitigation bank and in-lieu fee proposals; enforce performance standards and recommend corrective actions for underperforming mitigation sites.
  • Provide regulatory interpretation and policy support for wetland protection programs, including preparing memos, policy briefs, and permit conditions consistent with Clean Water Act, NEPA, state regulations, and local ordinances.
  • Lead quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) for wetland program datasets and reports; implement data validation procedures, maintain chain-of-custody for samples, and ensure compliance with laboratory QA/QC standards.
  • Prepare clear, technically rigorous reports, permit review memos, GIS maps, and presentations for agency leadership, elected officials, and the public that translate complex scientific data into actionable recommendations.
  • Support enforcement and compliance activities by conducting site inspections, documenting violations related to unauthorized wetland impacts, and participating in the development of remediation or enforcement plans.
  • Manage consultants and contractors conducting wetland delineations, monitoring, or restoration; evaluate proposals, manage scopes of work, review deliverables for technical adequacy, and ensure contractual compliance.
  • Integrate climate resilience and watershed-scale planning into wetland restoration and conservation projects by assessing sea-level rise, hydrologic alteration, and landscape connectivity in project design and prioritization.
  • Maintain and expand partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, non-profits, landowners, and academic institutions to leverage resources, coordinate monitoring efforts, and promote wetland conservation initiatives.
  • Provide training, technical assistance, and capacity building for agency staff, local governments, and community partners in wetland delineation techniques, monitoring methods, regulatory compliance, and restoration best practices.
  • Track and summarize legislative and regulatory developments related to wetlands, water quality, and habitat protection; advise program leadership on potential impacts to permitting, funding, and program priorities.
  • Prepare and present program funding justifications, work plans, and performance metrics for internal budgeting processes, grant applications, and federal/state program reviews.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain and improve wetland program databases, dashboards, and interactive mapping tools to support transparent public access to monitoring results and permit actions.
  • Respond to public information requests, provide technical guidance to landowners and developers, and facilitate dispute resolution related to wetland boundaries and permit decisions.
  • Support development of performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for wetland restoration and mitigation success for annual program reporting.
  • Assist in interdisciplinary watershed planning efforts, integrating wetland function into flood risk reduction, water quality improvement, and biodiversity conservation initiatives.
  • Participate in research collaborations and applied science projects with universities and agencies to advance wetland science, new monitoring techniques, and remote sensing methodologies.
  • Provide on-call support for emergency response related to wetland impacts (e.g., spills, unauthorized fill) and coordinate rapid assessments and mitigation planning when needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Wetland delineation and vegetation identification skills consistent with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Manual and applicable Regional Supplements.
  • Knowledge of federal and state wetland statutes and regulations (Clean Water Act Section 404, state wetland statutes, NEPA processes) and experience conducting regulatory reviews.
  • Proficiency in ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, and geodatabase management for mapping wetland boundaries, performing spatial analyses, and producing cartographic deliverables.
  • Experience with remote sensing tools and techniques (satellite imagery analysis, aerial photo interpretation, LiDAR processing) for wetland mapping and change detection.
  • Field sampling and monitoring skills, including installation and maintenance of monitoring equipment, water quality sampling, soil sampling, and biological surveys.
  • Data management and database skills (MS Access, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, enterprise geodatabases) and familiarity with metadata standards (FGDC).
  • Statistical analysis and data visualization using R, Python (Pandas, GeoPandas), Excel, or other scientific software to analyze monitoring data and generate reports.
  • Grant writing, contract management, and budget monitoring experience for wetland or environmental programs.
  • Ability to prepare technical reports, regulatory memos, permit conditions, and grant deliverables that meet agency and funder standards.
  • QA/QC and laboratory chain-of-custody familiarity for environmental sampling and analysis.
  • Experience with GIS-based hydrologic modeling and watershed analysis tools (HEC-RAS, SWAT, EPA BASINS) is a plus.
  • Familiarity with mitigation banking, in-lieu fee programs, and restoration project design and performance standards.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for translating technical science into clear guidance for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.
  • Project management skills with the ability to lead multi-disciplinary projects, manage timelines, and coordinate multiple contractors and stakeholders.
  • Stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills, including experience leading public meetings and multi-agency workgroups.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude to design monitoring strategies and interpret complex environmental datasets.
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational skills to manage regulatory records, permits, and long-term monitoring data.
  • Adaptability and field resiliency, comfortable with rugged field conditions, variable schedules, and travel to remote sites.
  • Ethical judgment and professional integrity in enforcement actions, compliance reviews, and data reporting.
  • Team orientation and collaboration skills to work across program areas (water quality, habitat restoration, planning) and with external partners.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance fieldwork, regulatory reviews, reporting deadlines, and stakeholder outreach.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Wetland Science, Geography, Natural Resources, or closely related field with relevant wetland monitoring or regulatory experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Wetland Science, Ecology, Environmental Management, Hydrology, Geospatial Science, or related discipline with emphasis on wetland ecology, restoration, or policy.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Wetland Science / Wetland Ecology
  • Environmental Science or Environmental Studies
  • Biology or Ecology
  • Geospatial Science / GIS
  • Hydrology / Watershed Science
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Environmental Policy / Environmental Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of professional experience in wetland delineation, monitoring, restoration, regulatory review, or related environmental program work.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive experience managing wetland monitoring programs, conducting regulatory reviews under the Clean Water Act (Section 404) and state equivalents, or supervising restoration projects and mitigation monitoring.

  • Demonstrated field experience conducting wetland delineations and ecological surveys.
  • Prior experience with GIS mapping, data management, and technical report writing for agency or consulting contexts.
  • Experience working with federal, state, tribal, and local partners on wetland protection, enforcement, or restoration programs is highly desirable.
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