Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Wetland Program Coordinator is a mid-to-senior level conservation professional responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating wetland protection, restoration, and monitoring programs. This role leads cross-disciplinary teams, coordinates with federal, state and local agencies on permitting and regulatory compliance (including Section 404/401 and NEPA), administers grants and budgets, designs and oversees restoration projects, and develops community outreach and education initiatives to promote wetland health, water quality, and climate resilience. The Coordinator will synthesize field monitoring and GIS data into actionable reports, ensure QA/QC of environmental data, and drive continuous improvement of wetland program strategy and outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wetland Technician or Field Biologist with 1–3 years field experience in wetland delineation and monitoring.
Environmental Scientist or Natural Resources Technician with a background in water quality and habitat assessment.
Conservation Program Assistant who has supported restoration projects or grant administration.

Advancement To:

Senior Wetland Program Manager overseeing multiple watershed or regional programs.
Regional Restoration Program Director or Natural Resources Program Manager responsible for strategic planning and portfolio management.
Policy and Regulatory Affairs Lead focusing on wetland policy, permitting strategy, and interagency coordination.

Lateral Moves:

Watershed Coordinator working on integrated watershed-scale planning and implementation.
Habitat Restoration Specialist focusing on design and construction of complex restoration projects.
GIS/Spatial Analyst role specializing in environmental mapping and landscape modeling.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive wetland monitoring program that includes biological, hydrological, and water-quality indicators; design sampling protocols, conduct seasonal field surveys, and translate results into actionable management recommendations and regulatory reports.
Lead wetland restoration project planning and design from concept through construction oversight, including site assessments, restoration prescriptions, grading and hydrology modifications, planting plans, invasive species control strategies, and post-construction monitoring.
Prepare, submit, and coordinate permits and regulatory documentation (e.g., Clean Water Act Section 404/401, state wetland permits, NEPA paperwork) with federal, state, and local agencies; respond to agency comments and ensure projects meet permit conditions.
Write, manage, and report on grant-funded wetland projects, including preparing proposals, developing workplans and budgets, tracking expenditures, ensuring compliance with funder terms, and delivering final technical and fiscal reports.
Conduct professional wetland delineations, functional assessments (e.g., HGM, WET, or other regional assessment methods), and habitat evaluations to support permitting, restoration design, and mitigation planning.
Use GIS and remote sensing tools to map wetland extent, buffers, hydrologic connectivity, and land-use impacts; produce maps, spatial analyses, and geodatabases to inform planning and public-facing materials.
Oversee water quality and hydrologic monitoring efforts, including installation and maintenance of staff gauges and dataloggers, flow measurements, nutrient and turbidity sampling, chain-of-custody procedures, and data validation for long-term datasets.
Develop and implement invasive species monitoring and control programs for wetlands and adjacent uplands, integrating mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods with adaptive management principles.
Coordinate with engineering, soil science, and ecological consultants to develop technical specifications and construction documents; manage contractor selection and provide construction oversight for earthworks, erosion control, and revegetation.
Design and deliver community engagement, education, and outreach initiatives that increase public awareness of wetland functions, ecosystem services, climate adaptation benefits, and volunteer stewardship opportunities.
Serve as primary liaison with municipal planners, transportation agencies, developers, conservation partners, tribes, and stakeholders to integrate wetland protection and mitigation strategies into land-use planning and infrastructure projects.
Develop and maintain programmatic standard operating procedures (SOPs), health and safety plans for field crews, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols for environmental data, and data management workflows to ensure consistent, defensible results.
Prepare clear, professional technical reports, permit narratives, environmental assessments, and presentations summarizing monitoring results, restoration outcomes, and compliance status for internal leadership and external partners.
Manage budgets, procurement, contracts, and schedules for multiple concurrent wetland projects; proactively identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure projects deliver on time and within budget.
Lead adaptive management cycles for restoration sites by analyzing monitoring results, revising maintenance prescriptions, and coordinating follow-up actions such as supplemental plantings or additional hydrologic work.
Provide training, supervision, and professional development for field technicians, interns, and partner staff in wetland delineation, plant identification, safety protocols, and monitoring techniques.
Maintain inventories of equipment, supplies, and vehicles used for wetland fieldwork; ensure calibration, maintenance, and proper storage of monitoring instrumentation and safety gear.
Coordinate and contribute to interagency watershed or wetland working groups and technical committees; represent the organization in collaborative initiatives, steering committees, and multi-stakeholder planning efforts.
Incorporate climate resilience and nature-based solutions into wetland planning and restoration designs, evaluating scenarios for flood attenuation, carbon sequestration, and habitat connectivity to support long-term ecosystem services.
Conduct environmental compliance inspections and site visits to ensure construction and mitigation projects meet permit terms, erosion and sediment control plans, and best management practices (BMPs).
Synthesize scientific literature, policy developments, and regional data to update program strategy, prioritize conservation actions, and apply emerging best practices in wetland science and management.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and curate centralized databases and GIS geodatabases of monitoring and project data; ensure metadata standards and secure data backups for long-term program use.
Support volunteer recruitment and coordination for community-based monitoring, citizen science projects, and stewardship events that augment program capacity and community awareness.
Assist in public-facing communications including newsletters, social media posts, and website content highlighting project milestones, success stories, and opportunities for involvement.
Provide technical assistance to municipalities and private landowners on best practices for wetland-friendly land management, buffer design, stormwater management, and low-impact development techniques.
Coordinate logistics for field campaigns including equipment procurement, sample chain-of-custody, access permits, and scheduling to maximize field efficiency and safety.
Conduct cost-benefit and feasibility analyses for restoration and mitigation alternatives to support decision-making and investment prioritization.
Participate in peer-review of technical deliverables produced by consultants and partner agencies to ensure scientific rigor and regulatory compliance.
Track regulatory and policy changes at local, state, and federal levels affecting wetlands and advise leadership on implications for program activities and permitting strategies.
Support development of monitoring dashboards and visualization tools that summarize ecological trends and project outcomes for internal use and stakeholder reporting.
Provide backup support for related programs such as watershed planning, stream restoration, or invasive species management as priorities shift across the organization.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wetland delineation and functional assessment methodologies (regional manuals, Cowardin, HGM, WET, or equivalent).
Comprehensive knowledge of Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting processes, state wetland regulations, and NEPA review procedures.
GIS and spatial analysis proficiency (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), including habitat mapping, hydrologic connectivity analyses, and geodatabase management.
Field hydrology skills: flow measurement, stage/discharge relationships, installation/maintenance of staff gauges and dataloggers.
Water quality sampling and laboratory coordination: sampling protocols, chain-of-custody, instrument calibration, and basic nutrient/turbidity analyses.
Restoration design and construction oversight experience: grading plans, erosion and sediment control, planting palettes, and contractor oversight.
Plant identification and vegetation sampling skills for wetland and riparian plant communities (herbaceous and woody species).
Project and grant management: proposal writing, budget development, contract administration, deliverable tracking, and funder reporting.
Data management and QA/QC: database design, data cleaning, statistical summary methods, and creation of monitoring dashboards; proficiency in Excel and data visualization tools.
Technical writing: ability to produce clear technical reports, permit applications, environmental assessments, and outreach materials.
Familiarity with remote sensing, LiDAR, and aerial imagery interpretation for hydrologic and landscape-level analyses.
Experience with invasive species control techniques and integrated pest management strategies appropriate to wetland ecosystems.
Knowledge of BMPs for stormwater and erosion control, low-impact development (LID) practices, and green infrastructure as they relate to wetland protection.
Competence with field GPS units, survey instruments, and basic carpentry/construction inspection techniques for in-field solution implementation.
Understanding of climate adaptation concepts as applied to wetland resilience, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem service valuation.

Soft Skills

Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills: ability to build consensus among diverse partners including regulatory agencies, community groups, tribes, and private landowners.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for translating technical information into accessible guidance for non-technical audiences.
Project management mindset: organized, deadline-driven, with proven ability to multi-task across concurrent projects and priorities.
Leadership and supervision skills: mentoring technicians, delegating tasks, and fostering a safe, inclusive fieldwork culture.
Analytical problem-solving and adaptive management approach to refine restoration actions based on monitoring feedback.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills for resolving permit conditions, landowner concerns, and interagency issues.
Attention to detail and strong documentation practices to ensure defensible data and regulatory compliance.
Initiative and self-directed work ethic with a strong commitment to conservation outcomes and continuous learning.
Public speaking and outreach: experience presenting at community meetings, technical workshops, and conferences.
Cultural competency and respect for tribal sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge in wetland stewardship contexts.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Wetland Science, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Wetland Science, Restoration Ecology, Environmental Management, Hydrology, or related discipline.
Additional certifications such as wetland professional certifications (e.g., Society of Wetland Scientists certification), CESSWI (Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead), or Project Management Professional (PMP) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wetland Science, Ecology, or Environmental Science
Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, or Soil Science
Natural Resources Management, Restoration Ecology, or Conservation Biology
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Environmental Planning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of relevant professional experience in wetland monitoring, restoration, permitting, or related environmental work.

Preferred:

5+ years leading wetland projects and interfacing with regulatory agencies on Section 404/401/NEPA processes.
Demonstrated track record managing grant-funded projects, budgets, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Proven field leadership, including supervising crews, designing monitoring programs, and delivering technical reports and outreach products.