[Remote] Director of Science, California Water Program

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The Nature Conservancy is a leading environmental organization focused on conservation efforts. They are seeking a Science Director for the California Water Program to provide strategic and scientific leadership, manage a multidisciplinary team, and drive initiatives for surface water and groundwater conservation in California.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative scientific ideas and products to advance the Conservancy’s mission, including by leveraging the platform provided by TNC California’s network of land and water holdings
• Lead, manage and mentor science staff and have responsibility for performance management and professional development
• Work collaboratively, internally and externally, to develop conservation strategies
• Maintain, strengthen, and leverage a network of external scientific collaborators in academia, government, for-profit and non-profit sectors to deliver the science needed to advance the Conservancy’s conservation strategies
• Foster partnerships with a high degree of professionalism, interpersonal skills and awareness of partner differences
• Work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams, and support program objectives by working in a matrixed organization environment
• Support development of clear strategic theories of change, and the internal systems to adaptively manage implementation and refinement of those plans
• Persuasively represent TNC externally as a freshwater science expert
• Deliver tools, biodiversity data, field services and training for staff and partners
• Provide guidance and support for research, project development, and monitoring, including research conducted by partners, contractors, and grantees
• Design and implement field surveys, experiments, and assessments
• Draft project reports, manuscripts for scientific publication, and other science products, and oversee product development for direct reports
• Develop and manage grants or contracts and write requests for proposals
• Co-develop budgets and track spending
• Work across geographic and ecosystem boundaries in California and collaborate with the science community to enhance the conservation practices of others to further TNC California’s reputation as a global leader in conservation science
• Persuasively convey verbally and in writing the mission of TNC to diverse groups including senior leaders, donors, board members, business leaders, and elected officials
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, varying seasonally, in the US and/or internationally and may work in variable weather conditions at remote locations, hazardous terrain and/or under physically demanding circumstances

Skills

• Ph.D. in science related field and 8 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, coaching, leading, setting objectives and managing performance
• Experience conducting original research and publishing in peer reviewed scientific journals
• Experience building relationships and collaborating successfully with a broad array of people
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals
• Experience designing, organizing and directing multiple complex projects of strategic importance and leading multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience synthesizing and integrating research findings and lessons learned into conservation strategy
• Experience communicating and presenting effectively to senior management
• Experience networking extensively in scientific communities and maintaining strong relationships
• Experience working on socio-ecological, political, and freshwater conservation issues in California
• Experience with systematic conservation planning, monitoring, and evaluation
• Experience leading and participating in coalitions that have successfully led to multi-benefit outcomes
• Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically-dispersed organization
• This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC's Auto Safety Program

Benefits

• Health care benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• A 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
• Parental leave
• Accrued paid time off
• Life insurance
• Disability coverage
• Employee assistance program
• Other life and work well-being benefits
• Flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ

Company Overview

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