YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Director of Science for the California Land Program provides technical and scientific strategic leadership and acts as a subject matter expert and senior scientist. This position leads and manages the team charged with driving the science undergirding TNC’s portfolio of conservation strategies housed within the Land Program of California.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The California Director of Land Science provides strategic leadership, mentorship and support to the California Land Program’s science team to ensure the program and its conservation strategies are guided by the best available science. The Director collaboratively identifies and leads opportunities to utilize the Land Program’s projects and preserves as experimental platforms for conservation problem solving to increase the pace and scale of biodiversity conservation related to land protection and stewardship. The Director advises TNC staff in the Land Program across a broad and complex enterprise of land protection, restoration, and stewardship initiatives. The position represents Science within the Land Program, and works as a thought partner with the Land Program Director to foster collaboration across the Land Program’s science and strategy teams. In partnership with Program staff, the Director helps to ensure the theories of change advanced by the team are robust and adaptively implemented to deliver meaningful conservation outcomes. They co-design and oversee a science agenda that is programmatically aligned. They foster internal cross-functional collaboration to advance the chapter’s broader science, conservation, fundraising, marketing and policy goals. They seek opportunities to foster One Conservancy collaborations that leverage TNC’s organizational reach to advance divisional, regional, and global goals. As a leader, they model productivity as a conservation scientist by cultivating high value scientific relationships and producing high impact scientific products that are strategically aligned. They participate in semi-annual Science Writing Workshops and use the occasion to reinforce science team performance expectations, core competencies, and culture. They lead and oversee other Land Science people managers and the annual Performance Partnership Process.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Develop innovative scientific ideas and products to advance the Conservancy’s mission, including by leveraging the platform provided by TNC California’s conservation estate.

• 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 terrestrial conservation 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.

• Manage science staff and have responsibility for performance management and professional development.

• Work collaboratively to develop strategies internally and externally.

• 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 25-50% 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.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• PhD 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.

• Excellent writing and communication skills.

• 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.

• Ability to network extensively in scientific communities and maintain strong relationships.

• Experience working on socio-ecological, political, and 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.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $128,000 – $275,000.

More specific ranges per geographical location within California:
Los Angeles County and San Francisco Bay Area: $153,400 - $275,000
Sacramento, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Santa Barbara:$140,000 - $252,000
Arcata, Chico, Three Rivers - $128,000 - $229,000

Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including 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. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.