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Conservation Manager Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Director, IT Infrastructure Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity ... The role leads a globally distributed team and key vendors/managed service providers, building ...

VP, IT Business Solutions Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity ... Oversee the selection, deployment, and management of enterprise-wide software applications ...

$55K - $72K/yr

General Public - G Job Duties The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state's lead conservation agency, providing access for outdoor recreation, strengthening communities ...

Additionally, our client runs a Conservation Exchange where they work with private landowners to manage financial benefits and process the sale of land preservation tax credits. This Executive Office ...

Additionally, our client runs a Conservation Exchange where they work with private landowners to manage financial benefits and process the sale of land preservation tax credits. This Executive Office ...

Additionally, our client runs a Conservation Exchange where they work with private landowners to manage financial benefits and process the sale of land preservation tax credits. This Executive Office ...

$85K - $95K/yr

Quantifying energy conservation opportunities: Perform technical calculations to estimate the ... Manage contracts and budget throughout project implementation. Review contractor proposals for ...

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Conservation Manager information

See Virginia salary details

$19.9K

$55.2K

$94.8K

How much do conservation manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for conservation manager in Virginia is $55,244.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,387.00 and $66,132.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Conservation Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Conservation Manager, you need a solid background in environmental science, ecology, or natural resource management, typically supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with GIS software, project management tools, and environmental regulations is often required, along with certifications like Certified Conservation Professional (CCP) being advantageous. Strong leadership, negotiation, and communication skills are essential for coordinating teams, engaging stakeholders, and securing project funding. These skills and qualifications are critical for successfully implementing conservation initiatives and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources.

What is the highest paying job in conservation?

The highest paying roles in conservation are often senior executive positions such as Director of Conservation or Chief Conservation Officer, which can earn six-figure salaries. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership skills in managing large projects or organizations.

How much do conservation managers make?

Conservation managers typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, location, and the size of the organization. Higher salaries are common for those with advanced certifications or in senior roles overseeing large projects or teams.

What does a Conservation Manager do?

A Conservation Manager is responsible for protecting and managing natural habitats, wildlife, and resources. They develop and implement conservation plans, oversee restoration projects, and work with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to ensure sustainable use of natural areas. Their role often involves monitoring wildlife populations, managing budgets, and educating the public about conservation efforts. Conservation Managers play a key role in preserving biodiversity and addressing environmental challenges.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

High-level executive roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite positions often earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in large corporations. Senior professionals in specialized fields like investment banking, law, or technology executive roles can also reach this compensation level, often supplemented by bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing.

What is the difference between Conservation Manager vs Environmental Specialist?

AspectConservation ManagerEnvironmental Specialist
CredentialsDegree in environmental science, ecology, or related field; certifications like Certified Conservation ProfessionalSimilar degrees; certifications such as Certified Environmental Professional
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, project management, collaboration with agencies and communitiesResearch, analysis, reporting, often in office or lab settings
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, government agencies, conservation organizationsGovernment agencies, consulting firms, private sector

While both roles focus on environmental issues, Conservation Managers primarily oversee conservation projects and manage teams to protect natural resources. Environmental Specialists often conduct research, analyze data, and develop environmental policies. The roles complement each other but differ in scope and daily activities.

What are some common challenges Conservation Managers face when balancing environmental goals with stakeholder interests?

Conservation Managers often navigate complex situations where ecological objectives must be balanced with the needs of local communities, government agencies, and private landowners. Negotiating these interests requires strong communication and conflict-resolution skills, as well as the ability to develop practical, science-based management plans that consider economic and social factors. Building relationships and fostering collaboration among diverse groups is a key part of the role, and successfully managing these dynamics is crucial to achieving long-term conservation outcomes.

What is the role of a conservation manager?

A conservation manager oversees efforts to protect and restore natural environments, managing projects that focus on wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems. They develop conservation plans, coordinate with stakeholders, and often use tools like GIS and environmental assessments to ensure sustainable practices.
What are the most commonly searched types of Conservation jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Conservation jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Conservation Manager jobs in Virginia? For Conservation Manager jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Conservation Manager jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Conservation Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Conservation Manager job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,244 per year, or $26.6 per hour.
Director, IT Infrastructure

Other

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Director, IT Infrastructure

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Arlington, VA

The Director, IT Infrastructure leads strategy, architecture, and operations for CI's global infrastructure services, enabling secure, reliable, and scalable technology for staff, partners, and mission delivery worldwide. This role has end-to-end accountability for CI's hybrid/multi-cloud infrastructure roadmap and operating model across the Microsoft cloud platform (Azure and Microsoft 365 tenant and platform services), AWS, and on-premise environments, including global network, server/compute, storage, virtualization, backup/recovery, monitoring, and remote access. The Director is accountable for availability, performance, security, and lifecycle management of core infrastructure platforms and shared services, and for partnering with Cybersecurity, Applications, Data, and Service Desk teams to deliver an excellent employee experience. The role leads a globally distributed team and key vendors/managed service providers, building modern operational practices (ITIL/ITSM, SRE-informed reliability, automation, observability, and continuous improvement) and ensuring CI's infrastructure meets organizational risk, compliance, and business continuity requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Define and execute CI's global infrastructure strategy and multi-year roadmap across Azure and Microsoft 365 (tenant/platform services), AWS, and on-premise environments, aligning to enterprise architecture, security, and business priorities.
  • Own infrastructure platforms and shared services end-to-end, including global network services (WAN/LAN/Wi-Fi, SD-WAN/VPN, internet edge, DNS), server/compute and virtualization, storage, backup/recovery, monitoring/observability, remote access, and core directory/identity dependencies.
  • Lead global operations with clear service ownership, SLAs/SLOs, and mature incident/problem/change management; drive continuous improvement through automation, standardization, and measurable operational KPIs.
  • Establish cloud platform engineering and governance for Azure and AWS, including landing zones, account/subscription design, network segmentation, identity integration, policy/guardrails, encryption and key management integration, and infrastructure-as-code automation.
  • Own reliability, resilience, and business continuity for infrastructure services, including DR strategy, backup architecture, recovery objectives, regular testing/exercises, and post-incident reviews.
  • Partner with Cybersecurity to embed security-by-design and zero-trust principles, including privileged access, configuration standards, vulnerability remediation, logging, and compliance controls for Azure, Microsoft 365, AWS, and on-prem platforms.
  • Provide executive-level technical leadership and architecture governance for infrastructure decisions; set standards and reference architectures; review and approve major designs and changes.
  • Manage infrastructure financial stewardship, including budgeting, forecasting, vendor/contract management, licensing, and cost optimization (FinOps) across cloud and on-prem services.
  • Collaborate with Applications, Data, Finance, and business stakeholders to enable mission-critical enterprise systems and integrations; ensure infrastructure designs are scalable, supportable, and secure.


Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Hybrid/office environment with regular collaboration across global time zones.
  • Occasional lifting and handling of equipment (up to 40 lbs) during data center/office work as needed.
  • Availability for after-hours work for major incidents, maintenance windows, and critical project cutovers; participates in an on-call escalation model as appropriate for senior leadership.
  • Occasional work in data center/colocation environments, including noisy and cool conditions, and adherence to site safety and access requirements.
  • Occasional domestic and/or international travel may be required to support global offices, partners, and infrastructure providers.
  • This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some days remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 7 or more years of progressive IT experience with significant responsibility in infrastructure engineering and operations.
  • 2or more years of leading managers and/or multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Demonstrated expertise in hybrid infrastructure (cloud and on-prem), enterprise networking, identity and access management, security controls, business continuity/disaster recovery, and modern operational practices (ITIL/ITSM, automation, monitoring/observability).
  • Proven ability to lead large cross-functional initiatives, manage budgets and vendors, communicate effectively with executives and non-technical stakeholders, and operate successfully in a global, mission-driven organization.

Preferred

  • Experience designing and operating Azure and Microsoft 365 platform services (tenant governance, identity integration, security and compliance controls) and AWS environments; infrastructure-as-code and automation (e.g., Terraform, PowerShell, CI/CD); enterprise networking (including SD-WAN) and global connectivity; server/virtualization and storage platforms; and backup/DR and ransomware-resilient architectures.
  • Experience building mature operating models (service catalog, CMDB/asset management, and KPI/SLA/SLO reporting) and supporting mission-critical enterprise applications (ERP/finance/HRIS/CRM) with high availability, performance, and compliance requirements.
  • Relevant certifications are a plus (e.g., ITIL, Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, CISSP/CCSP, VMware or networking certifications).

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.

Employment Type: Regular