Conservation Ecology Program Manager / Senior Manager

Mojave Desert Land Trust | Joshua Tree, California
Regular Full-Time | Remote Eligible | 9/80 Schedule
Salaried, Exempt

Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 9: $70,300 - $76,000 annually
Senior Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 10: $77,000 – $83,000 annually

Mojave Desert Land Trust is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and mission-driven Conservation Ecology Program Manager or Senior Conservation Ecology Program Manager to help translate ecological science into meaningful conservation action across the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.

This position may be filled at either the Program Manager or Senior Program Manager level, depending on the selected candidate’s background, technical expertise, leadership experience, and demonstrated ability to independently manage complex conservation initiatives.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ecologist who wants to combine scientific leadership with practical, on-the-ground conservation. The person in this role will help guide projects involving habitat connectivity, ecological monitoring, species recovery, climate resilience, habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, water resources, and the long-term management of protected desert lands.

Working as part of MDLT’s Conservation Ecology Department, the Conservation Ecology Program Manager/Senior Manager will design and oversee ecological studies, analyze complex spatial and environmental data, manage conservation projects, develop partnerships, prepare management plans and technical reports, and help ensure that MDLT’s conservation decisions are grounded in rigorous and defensible science.

About Mojave Desert Land Trust

Mojave Desert Land Trust protects the unique living landscapes of the California desert. Since 2006, MDLT has conserved desert lands, restored native plants, protected wildlife habitat, connected people to the desert, and worked to ensure these extraordinary landscapes endure for future generations.

Our work is rooted in conservation, community, collaboration, and a deep love for the desert.

 Our Values

At MDLT, our work is guided by four shared values:

• Solve for the Desert — We pursue work that creates tangible, lasting conservation impact.
• Foster Trust — We center people and partnerships and value diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Dig Deep — We meet hard problems with grit, integrity, and determination.
• Seek Joy — We approach our work with curiosity, gratitude, and hope.

The Opportunity

The Mojave and Colorado Deserts are biologically rich, environmentally complex, and increasingly affected by climate change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, development pressures, and other emerging threats.

In this position, you will help MDLT understand and respond to those challenges. You will connect ecological research, spatial analysis, field observations, restoration practices, and collaborative conservation planning to produce measurable outcomes for desert lands, plants, wildlife, and communities.

You will work with MDLT staff, public agencies, tribal governments, academic institutions, conservation organizations, landowners, contractors, volunteers, funders, and other partners to advance conservation projects throughout the region.

What You’ll DoLead Ecological Programs and Projects

You will:

• Provide scientific guidance on species, habitat, ecosystem management, and conservation project decisions.
• Manage conservation ecology projects involving habitat connectivity, species distribution and recovery, climate resilience, habitat enhancement and restoration, wildlife crossings, and water-resource enhancement.
• Help oversee ecological monitoring, research, and restoration activities across MDLT’s land portfolio and developing preserve network.
• Design and implement scientifically defensible survey, sampling, monitoring, and data-collection protocols.
• Ensure that ecological studies and management actions meet applicable scientific, permitting, regulatory, and grant requirements.
• Evaluate emerging threats to conservation values and develop proactive management recommendations.
• Stay current with scientific research, evolving conservation challenges, and best management practices affecting desert ecosystems.
• Provide ecological guidance, training, and mentorship to employees, interns, volunteers, contractors, and other project participants.

Apply Desert Ecology Expertise

You will apply knowledge of Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems and sensitive species and habitats, which may include:

• Mojave desert tortoise
• Western Joshua Tree
• Mohave ground squirrel
• Western burrowing owl
• Other sensitive desert plants, wildlife, and ecological communities

You will help MDLT use this knowledge to strengthen habitat protection, restoration, stewardship, species recovery, land-management planning, and regional conservation strategies.

Use GIS and Ecological Data to Guide Decisions

• Use ArcGIS or similar geospatial tools to evaluate habitat connectivity, species occupancy and distribution, hydrology, ecological conditions, geographic features, weather, and climate patterns.
• Organize, clean, analyze, and manage complex ecological datasets.
• Establish consistent data-management, metadata, quality-control, and long-term archiving practices.
• Develop maps, spatial layers, analyses, and data products that support conservation planning, restoration, grant development, reporting, and public communication.
• Collaborate with MDLT’s Data Systems Manager and departmental staff to strengthen ecological databases and information systems.
• Use analytical tools such as R or comparable programs to interpret ecological information and evaluate environmental change.

 Advance Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

• Plan and oversee habitat-restoration and enhancement projects.
• Help restore unauthorized routes, access points, disturbed habitat, and compacted desert soils.
• Guide restoration practices such as vertical mulching, native plant out-planting, seeding, revegetation, and invasive-species management.
• Coordinate contractors and advise staff on protective infrastructure such as fencing, bollards, and signage.
• Ensure that contractors, volunteers, interns, and partner crews follow safe work practices and produce high-quality conservation outcomes.

Develop Plans and Communicate Results

• Prepare species and habitat management plans, ecological assessments, monitoring reports, restoration plans, impact documents, and grant deliverables.
• Translate complex scientific information into clear recommendations for organizational leaders, partners, funders, and community audiences.
• Contribute to grant proposals, funder reports, board presentations, newsletters, public information, and other organizational communications.
• Represent MDLT at agency meetings, scientific forums, working groups, partner meetings, presentations, and community events.
• Communicate MDLT’s conservation work with scientific credibility, clarity, and professionalism.

Manage Projects, Budgets, and Contractors

• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and performance measures.
• Track project spending and ensure that expenses align with approved budgets, grant restrictions, and organizational priorities.
• Work with MDLT’s finance team to support accurate accounting and timely financial reporting.
• Solicit and evaluate competitive bids, negotiate contracts, and oversee consultants, contractors, and service providers.
• Identify funding opportunities and contribute to competitive grant proposals that support conservation ecology priorities.
• Ensure that complex projects are completed safely, effectively, on schedule, and within available resources.

Build Conservation Partnerships

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with federal and state agencies, tribal governments, universities, county jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, researchers, contractors, landowners, and community partners.
• Participate in regional conservation planning, collaborative working groups, and landscape-scale stewardship initiatives.
• Coordinate shared projects involving research, restoration, regulatory compliance, monitoring, and species or habitat management.
• Help strengthen MDLT’s reputation as a credible, collaborative, and science-based conservation organization.

This position may directly supervise one or two employees assigned to ecology-related programs or projects. It may also provide technical direction, coordination, training, or oversight to interns, volunteers, contractors, consultants, partner crews, and temporary project staff.

Position Level

Both levels contribute to the responsibilities described above. The selected candidate will be hired at the level that best matches their experience, technical expertise, leadership capabilities, scope of responsibility, and ability to perform the work independently.

Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 9

The Program Manager level is appropriate for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications and can perform the core functions of the position with a solid level of independence.

At this level, the employee manages assigned conservation ecology projects; supports ecological monitoring, research, habitat restoration, species recovery, and climate-resilience initiatives; develops survey and monitoring protocols; analyzes ecological and spatial data; prepares technical reports, maps, management plans, and grant deliverables; and coordinates fieldwork with staff, agencies, contractors, volunteers, interns, and partner organizations.

The employee may supervise or provide work direction to staff and project participants but may still be developing the broader scientific depth, independent decision-making, budget-management, partnership-leadership, external-representation, and supervisory experience expected at the senior level.

Senior Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 10

The Senior Program Manager level is appropriate for a candidate who exceeds the minimum qualifications and brings stronger directly related experience, advanced scientific and technical expertise, and demonstrated success performing the full scope of the position with a high degree of autonomy.

At this level, the employee independently leads complex ecological monitoring, research, habitat restoration, species recovery, GIS and data-management, budget, grant, and partnership responsibilities.

The employee exercises advanced scientific judgment in resolving complex ecological and land-management issues; establishes or significantly contributes to scientific protocols and technical standards; advises departmental leadership on ecological conditions, management priorities, and conservation strategies; represents MDLT with regulatory agencies, academic institutions, funders, partners, and community members; develops and manages project budgets; leads major technical deliverables; and supervises or directs employees and project teams as needed.

Placement at Grade 10 reflects a higher level of demonstrated experience, independence, scientific and technical proficiency, leadership, and accountability for complex conservation outcomes.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced ecologist who is equally comfortable analyzing data, writing a technical report, coordinating a partnership meeting, developing a project budget, and spending time in the field.

You may be a great fit for this position if you:

• Have a strong understanding of ecology, habitat management, restoration, species conservation, and applied research.
• Understand how scientific information can be translated into practical land-management and conservation decisions.
• Have experience designing or implementing ecological surveys, monitoring programs, research projects, or restoration initiatives.
• Are comfortable working with complex ecological datasets and spatial information.
• Have experience with ArcGIS or similar GIS software and analytical tools such as R.
• Can prepare clear, accurate, and scientifically defensible technical reports and management plans.
• Have successfully managed projects involving multiple partners, funding sources, contractors, timelines, and deliverables.
• Exercise sound judgment when scientific information is incomplete, environmental conditions are changing, or project needs are complex.
• Can communicate effectively with scientists, land managers, government agencies, funders, organizational leaders, volunteers, and members of the public.
• Are organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Can work independently while remaining collaborative, responsive, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Enjoy mentoring others and contributing to a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven team.
• Care deeply about desert conservation and are motivated by the opportunity to protect the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and abilities needed to perform the role may qualify.

A typical background may include:

Work Experience

• At least five years of professional experience in ecology, conservation management, habitat restoration, natural-resource management, ecological research, or a closely related field.
• Experience working in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts or with comparable arid-land ecosystems.
• Experience managing ecological projects, data systems, contractors, schedules, budgets, and written deliverables.
• Experience designing or implementing ecological surveys, sampling plans, monitoring protocols, restoration projects, or species-management activities.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS or a comparable GIS platform.
• Experience with relational databases and analytical tools such as FileMaker Pro, R, or comparable systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs.

Knowledge of sensitive desert species such as the Mojave desert tortoise, Western Joshua Tree, Mohave ground squirrel, Western burrowing owl, or similar species is highly desirable.

 Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, natural-resource management, conservation science, or a related scientific or technical field, or equivalent professional experience.
• An advanced degree is preferred but not required.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registration

• A valid Class C Driver’s License is required.

Work Schedule and Location

This is a regular full-time, exempt position normally scheduled on MDLT’s 9/80 work schedule. This schedule allows employees to work 80 hours over a two-week period with an extended weekend every other week.

The position is eligible for fully remote work. Preference will be given to candidates who reside in Southern California or within approximately a five-hour drive of MDLT’s headquarters in Joshua Tree, California.

The employee must be able to travel occasionally to MDLT’s headquarters for meetings, events, and other organizational activities. Additional travel throughout MDLT’s service area in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts may be required for field visits, partner meetings, project oversight, presentations, and other conservation activities.

Some evening and weekend work may be required.

The position includes a combination of office-based work, remote collaboration, travel, and fieldwork in desert environments. Field activities may involve uneven terrain, dust, heat, cold, and other environmental conditions commonly encountered in remote desert locations.

Compensation and Benefits

This position may be filled at either the Program Manager or Senior Program Manager level, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 9: $$70,300 - $76,000 annually

Senior Conservation Ecology Program Manager — Grade 10: $77,000 – $83,000 annually

Mojave Desert Land Trust offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, retirement benefits, paid time off, and paid holidays.

Why Join MDLT?

At MDLT, you will be part of a dedicated team working to protect one of the most ecologically important and visually remarkable landscapes in the world.

This position offers the opportunity to move between science and action—to analyze ecological information, guide restoration and species-recovery work, strengthen regional partnerships, and help shape how protected desert lands are understood and managed.

Your work will help ensure that conservation decisions are informed by strong science and that the Mojave and Colorado Deserts remain connected, resilient, and biologically diverse for generations to come.