Job Title: Director, Project WILD

Organization: Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies/Project WILD

Career Overview: Budget development and management, fundraising, staff management, strategic planning/organizational direction, and project Management.

A Day on the Job:

• Always planning for the next project by making sure budget, staff time, and other resources are available
• ​Client relations (communication, problem-solving)

Skills Needed:

Education:

Experience and Training: Continued course work in environmental education, ecosystem management, natural resource field studies, online course development, and management.

Personal Career Path: I’ve always worked in the environmental education field. It has been my calling and I’m fortunate that I found it early in my career.

Pay and Job Outlook: $60,000-$150,000. The pay has consistently gotten better for entry-level positions. I think it is possible for someone with a Bachelor’s degree and just starting out in the field of EE to make a modest living. That was not the case when I started out.

Favorite and Most Challenging Aspect to the Job: The most challenging aspect for me is fundraising. It is an area in which I am constantly needing to improve upon. The favorite part of my job is getting to work with an amazingly talented, smart, and inspiring group of people who all love what they do. What’s not to love about working with kids outdoors?! It’s rewarding on so many levels.

Advice for Young Professionals Interested in this Career: Gain as much field experience as you can. If you cannot find a paid position, volunteer as much as you can. Organize bird walks or bat walks in your neighborhood, volunteer to turn a neighbor’s yard into a pollinator garden…whatever you can. Practical experience is gold. Also, showing independence and initiative is important – employers want to hire people that they don’t have to spend a lot of time supervising.