Director, Conservation Science

Description

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Director, Conservation Science

CLASSIFICATION: Professional 6

SALARY: $110,000 - $121,000

FLSA: Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Center for Conservation Innovation

LOCATION: Headquarters, Washington, DC

REPORTS TO: VP, Conservation Research and Innovation

NUMBER OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT REPORT(S): 2 direct, 2 indirect plus interns

LAST REVISED: November 2022

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Conservation Science (Director) plays a lead role in providing support, building capacity, and advancing research on conservation science issues. As a leader at the Center for Conservation Innovation (CCI), the Director manages a team which enhances the work of the organization to improve imperiled species and habitat conservation by integrating quality science into Defenders' programs and by ensuring that Defenders' science is informed by emerging policy and technology.

Reporting to the VP, the Director is the science point-person at Defenders. A significant part of this role is managing junior technical and scientific staff and interns to achieve effective integration of science in Defenders programs and partnerships. S/he oversees a variety of projects, including analysis of large and complex spatial and non-spatial datasets, outreach through visuals and web apps, and distribution of best available science. The Director is responsible for understanding, developing, and integrating foundational and cutting-edge scientific principles and approaches to Defenders' work. S/he applies expertise to ensure the accurate interpretation and strategic use of science to progress Defenders' priorities, encouraging innovative approaches to benefit wildlife conservation on the ground and through policy. The Director serves as an advocate and spokesperson for science-based conservation and works to cultivate partnerships internally and with other organizations to advocate for conservation strategies. The position will work with our team of scientists and help develop new tools and ideas for strategically using data to improve biodiversity conservation policies and practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director will manage a team of conservation scientists and GIS analysts to

1. Provide in-house science support for Defenders
2. Build science capacity and infrastructure internally and externally
3. Lead/advise Defenders in advancing best available science for wildlife conservation.

These areas of responsibility will generally represent 60%, 20%, and 20% of the team's time, respectively. Providing leadership and team management may represent up to 60% of the Director's time.

Lead the CCI Science Team

• Provide guidance and context for a team of scientists and analysts working on a variety of projects related to species and habitat conservation.
• Manage staff, interns, and volunteers to ensure projects and tasks progress as organizational demands require.
• Develop, coordinate, and enforce systems, policies, procedures, and productivity standards for Defenders' science and outreach products.
• Develop and carry out annual and long-term vision and program planning through science and spatial analysis.

Lead Defenders' Science Support

• Guide interdisciplinary program teams in the strategic use of science and GIS in achieving program goals.
• Engage and develop personal relationships with staff across departments to ensure interdepartmental communication and coordination.
• Support and advise on a variety of communications, including interpreting scientific information for non-technical audiences, contributing to social media posts, creating scientist consensus sign-on campaigns to strengthen advocacy and speaking with the press and lawmakers.

Build Defenders' Internal Science Capacity

• Identify opportunities to grow Defenders' science and GIS programs and promote scientific norms and integrity throughout the organization.
• Lead the development and maintenance of systems for obtaining and creating new data, updating existing data, ensuring data compatibility, and storing, organizing, sharing, and displaying data.
• Coordinate technical support and training resources in support of conservation staff.

Grow Defenders' External Science Network

• Be the main point of contact and representative for Defenders' science and GIS work in coalitions and other external groups.
• Help serve as a liaison between Defenders' staff and the Science Advisors.
• Strengthen external science capacity to Defenders by establishing relationships with external scientists.
• Advance open access data and reproducible science externally by leading and coordinating logistics for access to Defenders' data.

Advance Best Available Science in Species and Habitat Conservation

• Publish project findings in peer-reviewed journals, Defenders reports, blogs and articles, and/or other media. Communicate findings at scientific conferences and other events.

Perform all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Ph.D. degree or equivalent

Experience: 6 years of relevant experience; 3 years supervisory experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders

https://defenders.org/knowledge-skills-and-abilities

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Professional 6

Administrative

1. Ability to accurately maintain electronic and physical records
2. Anticipate and meet the needs of internal and/or external stakeholders delivering excellent service

Communication

1. Ability to clearly and accurately communicate with internal and external stakeholders
2. Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately and concisely
3. Ability to convey effective messages to broad and diverse constituencies
4. Ability and willingness to effectively represent Defenders' interests in external environments
5. Ability to exert influence and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders

Critical Thinking

1. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
2. Strong research and data analysis skills, including ability to gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to produce high quality work products in a consistent, efficient, accurate, and timely manner
3. Creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with willingness to experiment and innovate new methods.
4. Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion strategies into Defenders' work
5. Ability to independently exercise appropriate judgment in response to complex and/or fluid environments
6. Strategic thinker with the ability to take high-level strategy and translate into relatable points and action steps.

Project Management

1. Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines while balancing competing assignments
2. Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities while remaining responsive to urgent requests
3. Ability to take ownership of a project or process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues
4. Ability to manage deadlines on multiple cross-functional projects in a dynamic environment
5. Demonstrated ability in managing competing interests on complex issues
6. Ability to independently initiate project and initiative ideas; managing projects and initiatives through to completion

Coalition and Community Engagement

1. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to form effective working relationships with diverse constituencies including federal/state agencies; elected officials and their staff; Defenders' members and donors; private landowners; hunters and anglers; community leaders; religious, scientific, and academic communities; and /or the general public.
2. Ability to lead diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities, to anticipate policy issues impacting wildlife and make recommendations within Defenders, other organizations, and coalitions.
3. Networking skills to engage with leaders in the conservation community, federal and state agencies, NGOs, and other organizations.

Conservation Knowledge

1. Expert-level knowledge of Defenders' legal, scientific, and/or political issues
2. Expert-level knowledge of national and regional social, political, and ecological landscapes

Leadership and Management

1. Ability to foster a team culture which models the tenets of the Commitment Statement
2. Ability to connect employees and their work to Defenders' mission
3. Ability to set and maintain clear expectations, ensuring clarity of roles, accountabilities, and responsibilities
4. Ability to ensure that staff have the skills and support required to perform at the highest level
5. Working knowledge of Defenders' business and people systems and processes

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Director of Conservation Science

1. Deep scientific expertise in several areas of Defenders' core work (e.g., climate change, human-wildlife coexistence, connectivity, renewable energy, private lands, etc.)
2. Strong desire to apply science and tools to advance wildlife conservation, as evidenced by a background in biodiversity conservation issues, including landscape ecology, federal environmental policies, restoration, endangered species, and climate change.
3. Advanced experience with scientific analysis methods (e.g., population viability analysis, habitat management, population surveys and camera trapping and climate change adaptation)
4. Experience with conservation-related spatial models (e.g., landscape prioritization, habitat connectivity analysis, species distribution models, etc.) and production cartography.
5. Extensive experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals and other outlets on imperiled species conservation.
6. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement a research agenda, including by bringing together contributing scientists and interns.
7. Familiarity with GIS software and web-based map production. Expertise with R, python, and PDF organizing software is strongly preferred.
8. Experience/ability to establish organizational protocols and systems for the acquisition, use, and sharing of geospatial and aspatial data, and the production of science.
9. Interest and drive to pursue and develop new conservation ideas and tools. An enthusiastic promoter of the use of data to catalyze and improve biodiversity conservation.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Activities

Check all that apply

Frequency

(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like.

N

Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

N

Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

C

Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

N

Adjusting or moving objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.

O

Communicating with others to exchange information.

C

Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

C

Operating machinery and/or power tools.

N

Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.

N

Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

C

Environmental Conditions

Check all that apply

Frequency

(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly

Low temperatures.

High temperatures.

Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.

Noisy environments.

Hazardous conditions.

Poor ventilation.

Small and/or enclosed spaces.

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

C

Physical Demands

Check only one

Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.

X

Light work that includes moving objects up to 10 pounds.

Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.

Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.

Visit www.defenders.org to apply.

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Defenders of Wildlife requires employees who engage in in-person work activities, including business travel or onsite work, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An applicant (i) who is disabled or pregnant or who has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination or (ii) who objects to being vaccinated on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice may request an exemption from this vaccination policy. This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with applicable law. Any medical information concerning an applicant's disability will be treated as a confidential medical record in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

It is the policy of Defenders of Wildlife to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, sex national origin, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family/parental status, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic in all personnel actions.

Please be advised this position is non union eligible.