Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Program Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Wetland Program Supervisor leads wetland conservation, restoration, monitoring, regulatory compliance, and outreach programs for a public agency, non-profit, or consulting organization. This role supervises technical staff and contractors, manages grant and program budgets, coordinates permitting and mitigation efforts under the Clean Water Act and state regulations, and develops science-based wetland protection strategies that support watershed-scale resilience and biodiversity. The Wetland Program Supervisor acts as the program’s technical authority, stakeholder liaison, and operational manager to deliver measurable wetland outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wetland Scientist / Wetland Biologist with field delineation and monitoring experience
Restoration Project Manager or Habitat Restoration Specialist
Environmental Compliance Specialist or Permitting Coordinator

Advancement To:

Wetland Program Manager / Senior Wetland Program Manager
Director of Natural Resources or Director of Conservation Programs
State or Regional Wetland Coordinator / Policy Advisor

Lateral Moves:

Habitat Restoration Manager
Watershed or Coastal Resilience Program Lead
Environmental Compliance and Permitting Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the design, implementation, and adaptive management of a comprehensive wetland program that includes restoration, protection, monitoring, mitigation, and long-term stewardship to meet regional conservation targets and regulatory requirements.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a multidisciplinary team of wetland scientists, ecologists, GIS analysts, restoration technicians, and contractors to ensure high-quality deliverables, safety, and professional growth.
Oversee wetland monitoring and assessment programs using standardized protocols (e.g., rapid assessment methods, hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessments, vegetation surveys) to quantify condition, function, and trends across project sites and inform adaptive management.
Manage program budgets, track grant expenditures, prepare financial reports, and ensure compliance with funder requirements for federal, state, and foundation grants that support wetland restoration and protection activities.
Serve as the primary technical lead for wetland delineations, jurisdictional determinations, and permitting coordination under the Clean Water Act (Section 404, Section 401) and related state wetland regulations, ensuring timely submission of permit applications and supporting documentation.
Coordinate design and implementation of wetland and riparian restoration projects, including hydrologic reconnection, grading plans, native plant palette selection, erosion control, and invasive species management to restore wetland function and habitat value.
Develop, review, and implement monitoring plans, performance standards, and success criteria for mitigation projects and restoration sites, and lead preparation of monitoring reports for regulators and funders.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with federal, state, and local agencies (e.g., EPA, USACE, state environmental agencies), Tribes, municipalities, landowners, NGOs, and watershed partners to align program goals and leverage resources.
Prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals, cooperative agreements, and contract scopes of work; identify funding opportunities; and maintain strong funder relations to secure multi-year program support.
Lead policy analysis and programmatic recommendations related to wetland protection, mitigation banking, floodplain management, and climate adaptation to influence local and regional wetland policy and permitting practices.
Ensure program compliance with NEPA, SEPA, municipal ordinances, and any applicable environmental review processes; prepare technical documentation and support environmental review efforts as needed.
Direct GIS mapping, remote sensing, and spatial analyses to identify wetland extent and condition, prioritize restoration sites, quantify ecosystem services (flood attenuation, carbon sequestration), and communicate spatial results to stakeholders.
Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols for field data collection, laboratory results, and database management to ensure scientific integrity and reproducibility.
Oversee contract procurement and management for engineering, ecological consulting, and construction contractors; draft scopes of work, evaluate proposals, and manage contractor performance and deliverables.
Design and deliver community engagement, outreach, and education initiatives, including public workshops, stakeholder meetings, school programs, and interpretive materials to build community support for wetland conservation.
Lead risk assessment and site-selection processes to identify constraints such as flood risk, contaminated sediments, landowner willingness, and infrastructure conflicts that influence restoration feasibility.
Coordinate mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs or direct mitigation projects; evaluate functional uplift, credit generation, long-term management, and financial assurances to meet regulatory requirements.
Manage property easements, long-term stewardship agreements, and maintenance plans for conserved wetland sites to ensure sustained ecological function and legal compliance.
Use and interpret hydrologic and water quality data (streamflow, groundwater, nutrient and sediment loads) to inform restoration design and to evaluate wetland contributions to watershed health and resilience.
Prepare clear, persuasive technical reports, environmental assessments, grant narratives, and regulatory submittals that synthesize monitoring results, design rationale, and program outcomes for a diverse audience.
Track program performance with metrics and KPIs (acres restored, habitat units gained, water quality improvements), prepare annual program reports, and use data-driven insights to refine program strategy and demonstrate impact.
Provide technical training and field supervision for junior staff and volunteers in wetland delineation, plant identification, monitoring methods, safety protocols, and data entry best practices.
Represent the organization at public hearings, advisory committees, interagency working groups, and conferences; present scientific findings and program accomplishments to policymakers and the public.
Implement climate adaptation and resilience strategies for wetlands, including nature-based solutions for flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, carbon sequestration, and habitat connectivity under changing hydrologic regimes.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and curate wetland and restoration databases, ensure metadata standards, and collaborate with IT to integrate field data with GIS and reporting platforms.
Support adaptive management by conducting targeted data analysis, experimental design for pilot projects, and synthesizing lessons learned across restoration sites.
Coordinate with urban planning, stormwater, and transportation departments to integrate wetland protection into land-use planning and infrastructure projects.
Provide on-call technical support for emergency response to habitat-damaging events (e.g., storms, contaminant releases) that affect wetland resources.
Assist in development of outreach materials, social media content, and website pages that increase public awareness of wetland services and program activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep knowledge of wetland ecology, hydrology, and restoration design principles, including wetland functional assessment and restoration sequencing.
Expertise in federal and state wetland regulations (Clean Water Act 401/404, state-specific wetland statutes), permitting processes, and mitigation policy.
Proven wetland delineation skills using the current USACE or state manuals, and ability to prepare jurisdictional determination reports.
Experience designing and implementing monitoring programs and statistical analysis of ecological data, including familiarity with QA/QC procedures.
Proficiency in GIS and spatial analysis tools (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), remote sensing interpretation, and creation of maps and spatial data products.
Technical experience with hydrologic modeling, water quality monitoring, and interpreting flow regimes, groundwater interactions, and sediment dynamics.
Grant writing, proposal development, and fund management experience with federal and state grants (e.g., EPA, NOAA, state conservation grants).
Project and contract management skills, including scope development, budgeting, procurement, and contractor oversight.
Restoration construction oversight, experience with planting plans, erosion control, invasive species management, and onsite adaptive decision-making.
Data management and reporting skills, including experience with environmental databases, Excel, R or Python for data analysis, and dashboard/report generation.
Familiarity with mitigation banking, in-lieu fee programs, ecological crediting, and long-term stewardship financial instruments.
Competence in preparing regulatory submittals, technical reports, environmental assessments, and public-facing documentation.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people-management abilities, including coaching, performance management, and fostering a collaborative team culture.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical writing, public presentations, and stakeholder facilitation.
Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills to manage diverse stakeholder interests, landowner concerns, and interagency coordination.
Strategic thinking and program planning aptitude to set priorities, allocate resources, and align work with regional conservation goals.
Critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to synthesize complex ecological and regulatory information into actionable plans.
Public engagement and outreach skills, comfortable speaking to community groups, elected officials, and media.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing multiple concurrent projects and compliance deadlines.
Adaptability and resilience in field conditions, changing regulatory environments, and during emergency response situations.
Mentoring and training capabilities to develop technical capacity of staff, partners, and volunteers.
Ethical judgment and commitment to environmental stewardship and equity in community engagement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Hydrology, Natural Resources, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Wetland Science, Ecology, Environmental Management, Hydrology, or related discipline preferred for senior roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wetland Ecology
Hydrology / Watershed Science
Restoration Ecology
Environmental Science / Biology
Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of professional experience in wetland science, restoration, permitting, or related program management.

Preferred: 7+ years with demonstrable supervisory or program leadership experience, a track record of managing grants and contracts, successful wetland restoration/design projects, and documented experience navigating state and federal permitting processes (USACE, EPA, state agencies).