Beginning in northeastern Illinois near Joliet and flowing 273 miles west and then south-west to its confluence with the Mississippi River north of Saint Louis, the Illinois River is a multi-use, large floodplain river that supports phenomenal biological productivity and diversity despite being subjected to a host of unnatural stressors including altered hydrology, habitat conversion, and invasive species.  Among its roles in conserving this nationally significant ecosystem, the Conservancy is restoring and managing critically important functional floodplain at two sites along the river: the 6700-acre Emiquon Preserve in Fulton County and the 1,200-acre Merwin Preserve at Spunky Bottoms in Brown County.  The Emiquon Preserve, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, is a model for managing dynamic river-floodplain connectivity via a state-of-the-art water control system and annually hosts more than 40,000 visitors. The Illinois River Project Manager is responsible for overseeing operations of these two projects.  They use existing and, as necessary, contribute to the development of new planning, programs and capacity, both within and outside the Conservancy, to ensure the long-term conservation of the Illinois River for the plants, animals and people it supports.

The Illinois River Project Manager provides leadership and oversight for the restoration and management of the Conservancy’s two floodplain preserves along the Illinois River. Through effectual partnerships within the Conservancy, among natural resource agencies, academic institutions, other environmental not-for-profit organizations, and the public, they address critical threats to natural systems and species native to the Illinois River ecosystem by developing and implementing a broad range of conservation strategies.

• Using best available science and stewardship practices, oversees operation and management of the Conservancy’s model floodplain restoration projects and develops new projects.
• Leads and supervises multi-disciplinary project team with responsibilities for training, performance management, and career development.
• Shares science and lessons learned and fosters cross-site learning among the conservation community.
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships
• Develops and administers outcome-based public use strategies.
• Gains cooperation from outside parties to accomplish project goals.
• Develops and manages a budget to complete projects efficiently and on schedule; negotiating and contracting with vendors and contractors; negotiating leases; and assisting with fundraising.
• Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
• Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
• Shares lessons learned and promotes science-based restoration and management of large rivers and their floodplains.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, under physically demanding circumstances, and outside normal working hours and on weekends.