Wildlife Program Manager

Career Guide

A Wildlife Program Manager plans and runs conservation programs that protect wildlife and habitats. They coordinate people, budgets, partners, and field work to deliver measurable outcomes while meeting safety, legal, and reporting requirements.

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Key Responsibilities

Set program goals, timelines, and success measures
Manage budgets, contracts, and grant spending
Lead field projects such as habitat restoration and species monitoring
Coordinate with landowners, agencies, and community partners
Oversee permits, compliance, and ethical wildlife practices
Supervise staff, contractors, and volunteers
Create reports for funders, leadership, and regulators
Develop education and outreach activities to support conservation goals
Identify risks and implement safety plans for field operations
Use data to adjust plans and improve program results

Top Skills for Success

Program Management

Budget Management

Grant Management

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Field Operations Planning

Wildlife Survey Methods

Habitat Management

Environmental Compliance

Risk Management

Data Analysis

Report Writing

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Wildlife Program Manager

Conservation Program Director

Regional Conservation Manager

Wildlife Operations Manager

Habitat Restoration Manager

Transition Opportunities

Conservation Scientist

Environmental Policy Advisor Environmental Consultant Grant Program Officer Sustainability Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Budget ForecastingContract ManagementImpact MeasurementPublic SpeakingConflict ResolutionRegulatory WritingProcurement ProcessesProject Scheduling

Development SuggestionsBuild a small portfolio of program deliverables such as budgets, timelines, permit packets, and funder reports. Seek chances to own a full project cycle, from planning to reporting, and ask to shadow compliance and contracting tasks to learn the process end to end.

Market Intelligence Report

Wildlife Program Manager is part of the Program Management category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 105,000

Senior LevelUSD 105,000 to 140,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, with growth tied to public funding, climate resilience projects, and expanded habitat restoration work. Hiring is strongest in government agencies, consulting firms, and large conservation organizations.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceNational Park ServiceUSDA Forest ServiceBureau of Land ManagementState Departments of Fish and WildlifeThe Nature ConservancyWorld Wildlife FundWildlife Conservation SocietyDucks UnlimitedAudubonAECOMTetra Tech

Industry Sectors

Federal governmentState governmentLocal governmentNonprofit conservationEnvironmental consultingLand trustsUtilitiesMining and energyTransportation infrastructureResearch institutions

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page program plan template with goals, milestones, budget, and measures

Strengthen reporting skills by writing a concise quarterly impact update using real project data

Gain hands on leadership by supervising a field crew or coordinating volunteers for a full season

Practice stakeholder coordination by leading a partner meeting and documenting decisions and actions

Earn a relevant credential such as Project Management training or wilderness safety training

Update your resume to highlight outcomes such as acres restored, species monitored, or funds managed

Network with hiring managers at agencies and conservation groups through local professional associations

Prepare interview stories that show tradeoffs, risk decisions, and measurable conservation results