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Director of Science

USA The Nature Conservancy

Reno, Nevada

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Biology, Climate Change, Communication Skills, Community Health, Conservation, Cross-Functional, Diversity, Ecology, Ecosystems, Establish Priorities, Financial Management, Fundraising, Grant Writing, Leadership, Mentoring, Metrics, Natural Resources, People Management, Policy Development, Problem Solving Skills, Project Design, Project/Program Management, Research Grants, Scientific Publications, Social Sciences, Statistics, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Reno, Nevada
POSTED
3 days ago
What We Can Achieve Together:

The Director of Science will assume a critical leadership role for the Nevada and Utah Chapters. The Director's primary responsibility will be to guide these chapters in developing and deploying an evidence-based, scientific approach to inspire, inform, and shape their conservation and policy strategies. In this capacity, the Director will actively promote positive outcomes for both nature and people within these states, while also collaborating with other programs in the Western United States and Canada Division (e.g., Sagebrush Sea Program and Colorado River Program). The Director's scientific expertise will be instrumental in driving projects, supervising and mentoring staff, and integrating an evidence-based, scientific approach to conservation planning. This leader will deploy existing and innovative solutions, establish collaborative multi-disciplinary science-based partnerships, and communicate effectively and persuasively. Success will be measured by the ability to work successfully through cross-functional teams to facilitate and produce transformative science that informs and influences conservation efforts for Nevada and Utah that will advance the goals of TNC's divisional and regional programs.

This job will require up to 30% travel between Salt Lake City and Reno and the surrounding areas.

We're Looking for You:

The Director of Science is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive science vision for the Nevada and Utah Chapters. This vision will serve as a guiding framework for the organization's scientific endeavors and ensure alignment with its broader conservation goals. The Director fosters a collaborative science community within these Chapters and collaborates with other business units, including leadership and mentorship of a science team comprising both direct reports and other science staff. The Director aligns science capacity and prioritizes workflow to meet conservation strategy needs and identify emerging opportunities and threats. The Director employs strategic thinking and planning skills, contributes to developing and monitoring meaningful conservation metrics, cultivates high-leverage partnerships to enhance the capacity, visibility, and impact of our science in conservation work, conducts and publishes relevant scientific investigations, and empowers others to advance science in priority strategies. Additionally, the Director serves as a member of the Leadership Teams in Nevada and Utah, as well as their Conservation Management Teams, playing a pivotal role in integrating science into conservation and policy initiatives.

What You'll Bring:

  • BA/BS degree and 7 years' experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience managing complex projects including project design, financial management, and accountability for outcomes.
  • Experience creating partnerships with conservation colleagues, agencies, and/or academic institutions.
  • Supervisory experience.
  • Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
  • Experience manipulating, analyzing and interpreting statistical or environmental data.
  • Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals, original science papers, and/or synthesis papers.
  • Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
  • Strong familiarity with and understanding of climate change and its impacts on species, ecosystems, and people.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in a science-related field (e.g. ecology, biology, natural resources, or social science) and 6 years of experience strongly preferred.
  • Ability to engage in a wide range of conservation issues, analyze complex problems, rapidly build personal/team expertise on new
  • Issues, and develop strategic responses or solutions.
  • Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Knowledge of species and ecosystems of the western US and familiarity with regional conservation issues.
  • Understanding of how natural systems can serve as natural climate solutions toward carbon emissions reduction goals.
  • Ability to utilize and/or deploy social science resources at the nexus of natural resource conservation and community health.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and work collaboratively across teams and disciplines with a wide range of partners.
  • General underst

About the Company

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USA The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

We address the most pressing conservation threats at the largest scale. Thanks to the support of our more than 1 million members, we’ve built a tremendous record of success since our founding in 1951:
  • We've protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide — and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.
  • We work in all 50 states and more than 72 countries — protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia.
  • We address threats to conservation involving climate change, fresh water, oceans, and conservation lands.
COMPANY SIZE
2,500 to 4,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
FOUNDED
1951
WEBSITE
http://www.nature.org