Conservation Project Manager

Business: Howard EcoWorks

Location: COLUMBIA

FULL TIME • PERMANENT

Business Product/Service: Environmental Nonprofit

Business Address:
9770 Patuxent Woods Drive
COLUMBIA, Maryland 21046

Phone: (443) 518-7664

Contact Name: Samantha Lewis
Title: Administrative Services Manager
Email: slewis@howardecoworks.org
Website: https://howardecoworks.org

Job Description

Reports to: Operations Director

About Howard EcoWorks

Howard EcoWorks is an environmental nonprofit in the greater Baltimore region dedicated to restoring local ecosystems and creating green career pathways. Our mission is to empower communities and diverse workforces to conserve and restore our natural systems for future generations. Our hands-on conservation crews install and maintain rain gardens, conservation landscapes, and stormwater management projects across Howard County and the region, and we train the next generation of green-industry workers while we do it. We are a growing, mission-driven team that cares about both our ecosystems and the people working to restore them.

Our values: Stewardship · Impact · Accountability · Growth · Inclusion · Safety

About the Role

The Conservation Project Manager is central to how Howard EcoWorks turns commitments into completed restoration work. Sitting between the Operations Director and our field teams, this role keeps conservation projects moving smoothly from planning through completion, across both grant-funded work and fee-for-service projects, so that every job is delivered to specification, on budget, and to the quality our partners and funders expect.

Working closely with the Operations Director on short- to mid-term project planning, the Conservation Project Manager translates project goals into clear scopes, schedules, and budgets, and then leads the field teams who bring those plans to life. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will: develop project proposals and estimates, serve as the day-to-day point of contact for landowners, HOAs, agencies, and community partners, and directly supervise our Conservation Field Specialists and field staff.

Beyond individual projects, the Conservation Project Manager helps grow HEW’s programs and capacity by cross-promoting our fee-for-service lines of business (including our developing tree and woodland care services), strengthening industry and partner relationships, and building the skills of our crews through training and mentorship. It is an ideal role for an experienced conservation or ecological-landscaping professional who enjoys both the strategy of project management and the satisfaction of seeing restoration work completed in the field.

Responsibilities and Duties

Develop and manage conservation projects from concept through completion, ensuring each is implemented to specification, on schedule, on budget, and to a high standard of quality.

Support the Operations Director in short- to mid-term project planning, resource allocation, and scheduling across grant-funded and fee-for-service work.

Conduct site assessments and prepare proposals, scopes of work, cost estimates, and project budgets for water quality, habitat restoration, invasive species management, and/or conservation landscaping projects.

Serve as the primary point of contact for landowners, HOAs, nonprofits, agencies, and community partners, maintaining strong relationships throughout each project.

Directly supervise, schedule, and support Conservation Field Specialists and field staff

Monitoring progress and budgets of projects and adjusting plans as needed.

Cross-promote HEW’s fee-for-service lines of business, including our developing tree and woodland care services, and identify opportunities to expand our conservation work.

Contribute to grant projects by monitoring deliverables and supporting timely, accurate reporting.

Lead crew training and mentorship and represent HEW in public education such as workshops and community events.

Identify and implement process improvements that increase the efficiency and quality of project delivery.

Foster industry relationships and maintain partnerships that advance HEW’s mission and pipeline of work.

Support a culture that reflects HEW’s values of stewardship, impact, accountability, growth, inclusion, and safety.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

Required

3-5 years of experience in conservation, ecological landscaping, natural resources, or a closely related field, including project and/or crew leadership

Bachelor’s degree in biology, natural resources, conservation, environmental science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

Demonstrated ability to develop and manage project budgets, scopes, and timelines

Strong community engagement and stakeholder-relationship skills, with clear written and verbal communication

Proven leadership and the ability to supervise, motivate, and develop a team

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities at once

Working knowledge of native flora and the ability to identify regional plant species

Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable personal vehicle for travel to project sites

​

Prefered

One or more relevant certifications, or the ability to obtain them, such as: Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Maryland Certified Pesticide Applicator, or Maryland Licensed Tree Expert

Experience with geographic information systems (GIS) to support project planning and implementation

Experience with grant-funded restoration work and associated reporting requirements

Experience delivering training, workshops, or public education

Bilingual (English/Spanish) or other language skills

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

Performs a combination of office-based project work and outdoor fieldwork in varying weather conditions

Positions self to assess sites and support installation and maintenance of plantings and site features (e.g., bending, kneeling, crouching)

Transports and moves materials and equipment weighing up to 40 lbs. as needed

Operates a vehicle for regular travel to project sites; may operate field equipment as applicable

Remains in a stationary position and/or moves throughout office and field sites as needed

Other Job Requirements
Driver’s License, Driver’s Record Check, Bachelor’s Degree, Medium Lifting

Wages per hour: 52,000 – 56,000/year
Number of openings: 1
Overtime: NO
Benefits: YES
Medical/Dental/Vision, Life INS and AD&D, 401k + matching, EAP, PTO/Sick Leave/Holidays, Professional Development Opportunities

Days of Work:
MONDAY 8  TUESDAY 8  WEDNESDAY 8  THURSDAY 8  FRIDAY 8
Shift: Core hours are 10a – 2p (remainder of schedule is flexible by agreement with your supervisor).

How to Apply: Submit a resume and a brief cover letter to careers@howardecoworks.org.
Willing to Train: YES
Experience Required: YES
Experience in Months:
Minimum Age: 21 & over
Closing Date: 09/04/2026