Assistant Project Manager - Ecological Restoration

Restoring our region’s water resources and coastal habitats has reached critical importance.  Save the Sound is pushing the pace and scale of ecological restoration across the Long Island Sound watershed in Connecticut and New York, and we need driven, detail-oriented staff to advance this important work. Join us! Save the Sound is seeking an ecological restoration practitioner to join the Ecological Restoration team and help support our experienced Project Managers in our Connecticut and New York offices.

Who We Are

Save the Sound leads environmental action in your region. We fight climate change, save endangered lands, protect the Sound and its rivers, and work with nature to restore ecosystems. We do this in many ways, from legislative advocacy and legal action to engineering, environmental monitoring, and hands‐ on volunteer efforts. For more than 50 years we’ve been ensuring people can enjoy the healthy, clean, and thriving environment they deserve—today and for generations to come. For more information on our mission and programs, visit www.savethesound.org.

This position is part of the Ecological Restoration team – a group of individuals who share passion and respect for the natural world and enjoy working with diverse communities to implement projects that restore the conditions for thriving ecosystems. With a wide array of lived experience and unique skills, the team is an open and curious group of professionals who support one another and manage the design/implementation of the “boots on the ground” restoration projects at Save the Sound. Visit the Ecological Restoration page on our website.

The Position

While learning from our ecological restoration project managers’ experience, the Assistant Project Manager will provide essential technical and logistical support to the team. This role will focus on fieldwork, data analysis, and project coordination. Additionally, we are seeking an applicant who is excited about the opportunity to grow within this position. The long-term vision for this role includes building the skills and experience needed to independently manage projects. Over time and with demonstrated success, the applicant will have the chance to take on increasingly complex projects and management roles.

The Assistant Project Manager will report to the Connecticut Ecological Restoration Program Director and be based in our New Haven Office.

The variety of responsibilities of the position will include the following:

• Field work: Some combination of reconnaissance studies for priority culverts and dams; water quality/eDNA sampling; raingarden siting and installations, vegetation surveys and plantings; small boat operation; drone operation; construction observation; and post-construction monitoring.
• Project coordination and planning: track project details; assist with scheduling and organizing meetings; communicating with funders, partner organizations, landowners, residents, municipal officials, state and federal regulators, contractors, donors, and the general public.
• Analyzing and communicating data: Data investigations involving desktop data collection; field work/field data collection; GIS mapping and analysis; data processing, analysis, and interpretation; and report writing.
• Volunteer Education and Outreach: Leading various opportunities for public education and outreach to local community members.
• Regulatory and Stakeholder Coordination: Assist in coordination of regulatory compliance, permit submissions, and reviews by regulatory agencies; conducting public outreach, communication, and education; assist in leading site-walks for members, funders, donors, regulators, and project partners.
• Program and Project Development: Assist in writing grant applications and quarterly/final reports.

Qualifications & Characteristics

Required

• Ability to travel statewide in CT, southeastern NY and occasionally Long Island to participate in site visits and meetings;
• Demonstrated interest, knowledge, and experience in conservation, natural resources management, environmental planning, or ecological restoration;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly to a broad variety of stakeholders in order to build trusting relationships and manage conflict;
• Be highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team atmosphere;
• Educational background in the natural sciences and a passion for ecological restoration work; and
• Ability and desire to conduct field work.

Preferred

We do not expect applicants to meet 100% of the following preferred qualifications. The confidence gap and imposter syndrome are real things, and we are aware that it is easy to find reasons in these qualifications lists to “disqualify” yourself. If you are interested in this role, we encourage you to apply and we look forward to hearing from you!

• BS or MS and/or equivalent work experience in environmental science, biology, natural resources, ecology, engineering, oceanography, or resilience/resource planning; 
• Project coordination and organizational skills.
• Comfort working in a grant-driven environment—developing and tracking project deliverables, contributing to grant applications and reporting, and managing budgets;
• Experience working on projects with multiple, diverse stakeholders that require significant logistical coordination and organization, including private, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities (Connecticut and New York experience preferred);
• Familiarity with environmental permitting at local, state, and federal levels (Connecticut and New York experience preferred);
• Familiarity with the management of design consultants and construction contractors (review of scope, contracts, design plans, specifications, budgets, schedules, field inspections, and construction oversight);
• Experience working with underserved communities that have been disproportionately affected by planning and development decisions adversely affecting public health, access to nature, and quality of life (i.e. community outreach and or environmental education skills);
• Familiarity with relevant computer programs beyond basic Office suite, such as ArcGIS or AutoCAD;
• Experience with eDNA monitoring;
• Able to operate a small motorboat/comfort on the water;
• The ability to operate a drone (licensed as a Small UAS pilot);
• Engineering or scientific credentials and or experience;
• Spanish language skills.

Terms & Compensation

This is an at-will, full-time, salaried, exempt position. The salary range is $55,000 – $65,000 annually, commensurate with skills and experience. Our comprehensive benefits package includes company sponsored health insurance, dental and vision insurance, 403(b) with company match after 1 year, life and long-term disability insurance, a generous time off package, and opportunities for professional development.

This position is contingent upon the continued level and availability of funding for work organizationally. Save the Sound reserves the right to modify or terminate employment if funding is reduced or unavailable. 

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, list of references, and description of three relevant projects to the posting on our jobs page. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applications will be accepted starting July 7th, 2025 until the position is filled.

We are a thoughtful and thorough organization. We will be in touch to acknowledge receipt of your application and to schedule selected applicants for an interview. Our hiring process can take from 7 to 10 weeks. You will be informed when the hiring process is complete. Please be patient.

Additional Details Common to All Positions 

Save the Sound’s Commitment to Equity and Diversity - Save the Sound is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on age, color, disability, marital or parental status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Our organizational leadership and staff are working to deepen Save the Sound’s diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek to attract a more diverse applicant pool, and to add and retain more outstanding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to all levels of our team. We work in diverse communities and landscapes and are actively working to increase our focus on driving environmental justice and equitable outcomes through our work.

Shared Organizational Job Responsibilities 

• Maintaining positive and productive working relationships with all Save the Sound staff members, including providing and receiving constructive feedback;
• Participating in building productive relationships with Save the Sound's members, external partners, policy makers, and the general public; and
• Completing all administrative work on time, such as timesheets, purchase orders, project reports, and planning documents.

Hybrid Work Arrangements - Save the Sound currently has a hybrid in-office/remote work arrangement. Staff are expected to report to either of our offices at least 1 day per week (unless their position requires otherwise). Details of this arrangement are determined upon hire and employees must notify their manager of any necessary changes. It is at the manager’s discretion to amend the agreed-to work arrangement dependent upon business needs, work performance or other factors.