Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design
Gain key skills in managing and designing conservation projects using the Conservation Standards – the leading approach within the sector.
Officially Rated as 'Excellent'
“Each step of the Conservation Standards process is very thorough, with detailed explanations and excellent examples and images”.
“Felix is a great teacher, with a nice, relaxed, conversational style, and his passion for the subject is clear. Thank you for this high-quality work!”
Marcia Brown | On behalf of the Conservation Measures Partnership Guidance Committee, 2024
Why Is Project Management & Design Important In Your Career?
A key to success within conservation is the ability to design and implement projects to better protect species, habitats and sites. But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in these essential skills.
A well-designed and adaptively managed project can make a huge impact for wildlife and the people involved. Setting clear goals, understanding the problems, testing assumptions, adapting, learning and sharing your knowledge. Conversely, a poorly-designed project can lead to wasted time and money, and even cause detrimental impacts on the wildlife and people you’re trying to help.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that project management and design are the most valued skills within the industry, with 55% of all jobs listed on our site to date explicitly requesting them.
If you want to succeed as a professional conservationist, you need project management and design skills.
The Conservation Standards | World-Class Conservation Projects
The Conservation Standards are a widely adopted set of principles and best practices that combine common concepts, approaches, and terminology for conservation project design, management, monitoring and evaluation.
They have been developed by some of the leading conservation organizations of the world. They are currently stewarded by the Conservation Measures Partnership, a partnership including the World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, Traffic, Durrell, US Fisheries and Wildlife Services and many more.
The Conservation Standards have become widely recognised as best practices within the industry.
Introducing | The Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design
The Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design is an online training programme brought to you by the team at Conservation Careers which follows the best-in-class Conservation Standards methodology. It is being taught by Certified Conservation Standards Coach, Facilitator and Coach Trainer Felix Cybulla (more below).
The training covers the following steps in the Conservation Standards cycle:
- Assess | Learn how to identify threats, opportunities, and key stakeholders.
- Plan | Learn how to define and develop your project’s goals, strategies, objectives and assumptions.
- Implement | Learn how to develop and implement work plans including sufficient resources, capacity, and partners.
- Analyze & Adapt | Learn the importance of analyzing your results and then adapting your work plan as necessary.
- Share | Learn the importance of sharing lessons and promoting a learning culture within an organisation.
After completing this training you’ll understand the foundations of how to design and manage a conservation project using the widely-recognised Conservation Standards methodology. Making you more employable and impactful as an aspiring or professional conservationist.
Inside | The Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design
Step-by-Step Modules to attack at your own pace. You’ll learn how to design and manage conservation projects, as part of your duties as a wildlife professional.
Support from the experts. You’ll have support from us via email, Zoom, and in our private CC Pro community. We’ll be with you every step of the way.
Go at your own pace. With our self-paced flexibility, you’ll have access to the course for a full year. You can work entirely at your own pace and around your busy life and work commitments. You don’t need to stick to a schedule.
CC Pro community. You’ll be welcomed into our new private online community for a whole year. Get answers to burning questions, enjoy regular live events, participate in growth challenges, share your coursework, celebrate your successes and more.
Certificate. Everyone who completes the course receives a certificate.
Rock-solid guarantee. Try it for 14 days. Not happy for whatever reason? We will refund 100% of your money.
Your Trainer | Felix Cybulla
Felix has trained teams from over 45 countries in the Conservation Standards and has been working as an independent consultant for conservation management for over a decade. In 2018, he received the Conservation Coaches Network (CCNet) Award for his engagement and continuous work efforts with the Conservation Standards and for the Conservation Coaches Network.
He has worked with conservation organisations from around the world, advising them on strategic planning and general conservation management challenges. His clients include the WWF Arctic Programme, WWF Laos, Denver Zoo, University of Wisconsin Madison, The Conservation Measures Partnership, WWF Kenya, UNDP, WWF Zambia, The European Green Belt Initiative, WWF Chile, EuroNatur, WWF Mozambique, WWF Bolivia, WWF Paraguay, WWF Brazil, WWF UK, The International Fund for Animal Welfare, WWF International and many more.
He is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Ivakale.org and has a background in Global Change Management and International Forest Ecosystem Management. He’s also a passionate wildlife photographer.
Certified Conservation Standards Coach, Facilitator and Coach Trainer
Training Outline
Step 1 | Assess
This step in the Conservation Standards cycle involves specifying the basic parameters for your project and assessing your overall context.
This module will cover:
- Stakeholder & Team, Scope & Vision
- Situation Analysis & Conceptual Models
- Conservation Targets
- Target Viability Analysis
- Direct Threats
- Threat Rating
- Opportunities
- Contributing Factors
Module outcome | Learn how to make sense of your project’s context, including identifying targets, threats, drivers, opportunities, and key stakeholders.
Step 2 | Plan
This module will cover:
- Theory of Change
- Goals
- Strategies
- Objectives and Indicators
- Monitoring Plans
Step 3 | Implement
In many respects, this is one of the most important step in the entire conservation process. It is where you put all of the planning efforts you conducted in the previous steps into action. This step involves developing and implementing specific work plans while ensuring sufficient resources, capacity, and partners.
This module will cover:
- Work Plan
- Team Communication & alignment
- Budget
- Implement
Module outcome | Learn how to develop and implement work plans while ensuring sufficient resources, capacity, and partners.
Step 4 | Analyze & Adapt
This step of the Conservation Standards involves managing your data as they come in and creating a culture within your organisation or work to regularly analyse your data to convert them into useful information and knowledge.
This module will cover:
- Prepare Data
- Analyse Results
- Adapt Plans
Module outcome | Understand the importance of analysing your project’s results, core assumptions, key uncertainties, and relevant operational and financial data, and then adapting your work plan as necessary.
Step 5 | Share
This final step in the Conservation Standards cycle involves sharing lessons and formal products with key internal and external audiences. It also involves giving and receiving feedback and promoting a learning culture.
This module will focus on:
- Document Learning
- Share Learning
- Foster Learning
Module outcome | Understand the importance of sharing lessons and formal products with key internal and external audiences.
Step 6 | Certificate of Completion
Included in the training is a The Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design.
Throughout the training, your knowledge will be tested using quizzes, to allow you to move from one module to another.
At the end of the training, you’ll have the opportunity to test your knowledge and gain a certificate to showcase to employers on your CV or Resume.
We’ve helped some of the biggest names in conservation
We work with hundreds of conservation employers from across the globe to find new staff. We are also teaching career-planning and employability skills at over 40 universities and higher-education institutions.
Choose how you want to learn
You can enrol in this certificated course on its own, or access it as part of CC Pass.
CC Pass includes this course plus all our other training and career courses, so you are supported beyond a single qualification and can continue developing skills as your conservation career evolves.
Career courses are available on demand, while certificated courses run with scheduled start dates, as shown in the pricing table below.
Start with one course – or choose all-access support with CC Pass.
Single Courses |
CC PASS |
|
|---|---|---|
Availability |
Available as Single Course |
Available in CC PASS (£2,500+ value) |
THIS COURSE | CERTIFICATE IN CONSERVATION STANDARDS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN Enrolment closes 28 March 2026 |
|
|
Certificate in Conservation Communications (Foundation) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
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Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
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Certificate in Rewilding Enrolment closes 30 April 2026 |
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Certificate in Community-Based Conservation Enrolment closes 20 May 2026 |
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Certificate in Conservation Fundraising Enrolment closes 25 June 2026 |
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Certificate in Marine Conservation Coming soon |
|
|
Certificate in Conservation Education Coming soon |
|
|
Certificate in Conservation Science Coming soon |
|
|
Conservation Career Kick-Starter Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
|
How to Apply for Any Conservation Job Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
|
Conservation Career Accelerator Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
|
Public Speaking for Conservationists Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
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NEW! How to Get Conservation Experience Start anytime in CC Pass |
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|
Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass Coming soon |
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|
| Best for | Focused skill development | Accelerated professional development |
| Duration | 12 months | Ongoing - Cancel anytime |
| Risk-free access | 7 day money-back guarantee | 7 day free trial |
| Select Currency | $ £ € | |
| Price | £250 | £147/ quarter |
| THIS COURSE ONLY | ALL COURSES | JOIN CC PASS | |
Single Courses
|
Availability
|
Available as Single Course |
| THIS COURSE | CERTIFICATE IN CONSERVATION STANDARDS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN Enrolment closes 28 March 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Communications (Foundation) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Rewilding Enrolment closes 30 April 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Community-Based Conservation Enrolment closes 20 May 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Fundraising Enrolment closes 25 June 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Marine Conservation Coming soon |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Education Coming soon |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Science Coming soon |
|
| Conservation Career Kick-Starter Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| How to Apply for Any Conservation Job Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Conservation Career Accelerator Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Public Speaking for Conservationists Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| NEW! How to Get Conservation Experience Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass Coming soon |
|
| Best for | Focused skill development |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Risk-free access | 7 day money-back guarantee |
| Price | £250 |
| THIS COURSE ONLY | |
CC PASS
|
Availability
|
Available in CC PASS (£2,500+ value) |
| THIS COURSE | CERTIFICATE IN CONSERVATION STANDARDS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN Enrolment closes 28 March 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Communications (Foundation) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced) Enrolment closes 27 August 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Rewilding Enrolment closes 30 April 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Community-Based Conservation Enrolment closes 20 May 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Fundraising Enrolment closes 25 June 2026 |
|
| Certificate in Marine Conservation Coming soon |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Education Coming soon |
|
| Certificate in Conservation Science Coming soon |
|
| Conservation Career Kick-Starter Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| How to Apply for Any Conservation Job Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Conservation Career Accelerator Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Public Speaking for Conservationists Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| NEW! How to Get Conservation Experience Start anytime in CC Pass |
|
| Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass Coming soon |
|
| Best for | Accelerated professional development |
| Duration | Ongoing - Cancel anytime |
| Risk-free access | 7 day free trial |
| Price | £147/ quarter |
| ALL COURSES | JOIN CC PASS | |
Contact Us
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch by mail@conservation-careers.com.