The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its supporters have protected more than 2.6 million acres (1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

Purpose and General Description:

The Conservation Science Manager – Ontario Region is responsible for ensuring that land protection, stewardship and conservation programs are strategically aligned with NCC’s mission, and informed by the best available scientific information. The Conservation Science Manager is principally responsible for identifying priority biodiversity targets and associated Natural Areas within Ontario, and working with Program Directors to develop effective conservation strategies through Natural Area Conservation Plans. The Conservation Science Manager is the key scientific liaison with NCC’s national science staff, the Science and Securement Sub-committee of the Ontario Board, and with other science-based conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy (U.S.), Environment Canada and provincial partners. The Conservation Science Manager has overall responsibility for the conservation science program budget, and will facilitate fund raising activities necessary to meet budgets.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Within the context of the NCC Conservation Framework and Strategic Plans, the Conservation Science Manager will be responsible for the successful accomplishment of the following duties.

1. Conservation Planning

• Lead the establishment of overall conservation priorities for Ontario Region based on Conservation Blueprints and current priority mapping, and the development of implementation strategies through collaboration with sub regional Program Directors;
• Maintain and communicate terrestrial and aquatic Conservation Blueprint information for the ecoregions of Ontario;
• Maintain key biodiversity data on NCC sites and develop associated standards for managing data in NCC’s Land Information System (LIC);
• Oversee and support the development of Natural Area Conservation Plans (NACPs) and provide advice and guidance on open standards, viability assessments, and prioritization methodology in order to select priority areas and properties;
• Provide guidance on adaptation of NACPs and tools and targets for assessing progress over time.
• Coordinate the completion of Annual Progress Reports for NACPs; ensure they receive appropriate and consistent review and approvals;
• Coordinate the Securement and Stewardship Committee (SSC) to support Ontario’s core science activities and programs.

2. Stewardship & Conservation Biology

• Maintain and enhance framework and standards for management planning on NCC owned sites;
• Provide science leadership in stewardship planning including ensuring that plans are based on scientific information and on enhancing viability or abating threats to priority conservation targets;
• Oversee the development of Baseline Inventories and effectiveness monitoring of targets and threats;
• Oversee the selection of appropriate targets for Property Management Plans (PMPs) and effectiveness monitoring protocols to assess their viability;
• Provide sign-off on stewardship plans for NCC-owned properties, ensuring that plans meet NCC standards;
• Supervise Ontario Region’s Conservation Coordinator.

3. Partnerships and Applied Research

• Develop and maintain constructive working partnerships with public agencies, private organizations, scientists and others in order to develop consensus and support for shared conservation goals;
• Develop strong working relationships with key partners collaborating on Conservation Blueprints, with the conservation community in general and with the Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre in particular as NCC’s key partner in information storage and access;
• Build and maintain relationships with key research institutions and promote the implementation of applied research on NCC properties that will guide stewardship work and directly benefit native species and habitats;
• Recruit and coordinate volunteer scientific advisors.

4. Geographic Information Systems

• Manage and supervise the activities of GIS personnel, including the development, maintenance and analysis of key conservation planning digital information;
• Ensure quality control of GIS and related database and spreadsheet files;
• Lead in acquiring, compiling, aligning, and verifying third party datasets.

5. Business Planning & Operations

• Lead the integration of priority science-related activities into business and work plans;
• Oversee incorporation of relevant biodiversity information into NCC’s Land Information System for all NCC properties;
• Manage budgets and staff for the conservation science program;
• Prepare reports and project summaries for the Ontario and National Boards of Directors and committees.

6. Development & Fund Raising

• In collaboration with the Director of Development and Communications and other regional development staff, successfully develop, track and report on funding proposals supportive of science-based conservation planning and conservation data management;
• Identify funding prospects and support the development of proposals to secure funds to support the conservation science program, and track and report such projects satisfactorily to funders;
• Work with development & communications staff to ensure scientific accuracy in communications materials.

7. Other

• Other duties as assigned by the Ontario Director of Conservation.

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Advanced university degree and at least four years professional experience in landscape ecology, conservation biology, natural resource management, or related field;
• A superior working knowledge of Ontario’s landscapes, communities and conservation issues, with demonstrated field inventory skills and knowledge of Ontario’s Ecological Land Classification system;
• Knowledge of and experience in ecoregional planning or comparable landscape-scale bioregional planning, and in site-specific conservation planning and stewardship;
• Knowledge of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s conservation planning framework, especially as it relates to the development and implementation of Conservation Blueprints, NACPs and PMPs, and ability to advise and support NCC colleagues working on similar projects in other ecoregions;
• Demonstrated ability to organize and integrate complex information from diverse disciplines in support of conservation planning; understanding of the application of GIS, other spatial tools, and database software, ability to produce maps, written planning products and report graphics effectively and with short notice;
• Strong organizational, communication and presentation skills, including demonstrated experience in making public presentations;
• Ability to work as a team member and facilitate the exchange of ideas;
• Flexibility, reliability, self-motivation, and ability to work both independently and as a leader;
• Project management skills, including excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills, and attention to detail and timelines;
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff and/or volunteers;
• Willingness and ability to travel, often and on short notice, and be available for consultation, advice and leadership on an on-call basis.

To Apply:

If you have a keen interest in nature and conservation and are interested in joining our team, please forward your resumé and cover letter, indicating Conservation Science Manager, Ontario Region in the subject line, by July 18, 2014, to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, via e-mail: careers@natureconservancy.ca

We thank everyone who applies for their interest in the Nature Conservancy of Canada; however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.