Landscape Conservation Ecologist

Cold Spring Harbor, New York (NY)

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 35 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus  to learn more.                                                   

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.
 

The Landscape Conservation Ecologist provides scientific leadership, expertise and support to the Conservancy’s conservation teams on Long Island and New York State.  He/she is responsible for assessing the ecological integrity of, and threats to, conservation targets; recommending management and monitoring strategies to abate threats and measure success; and collecting and analyzing monitoring and inventory data.  Provides ecological information, best practices, training, and technical support to Conservancy staff and partner organizations.  Builds cooperative partnerships with other institutions and agencies to share technology, establish priorities, and coordinate actions.  Helps identify private and public funding sources and provides technical input to fundraising proposals. 

The Landscape Conservation Ecologist will work in the following focal areas for the purposes of protecting and restoring biodiversity, natural resources and ecological processes and function: terrestrial/freshwater connectivity and health, planning for climate change adaptation and climate change analyses, atmospheric deposition in the context of reducing air pollution impacts to terrestrial and freshwater systems, and urban/suburban interactions.

• Gather and interpret the scientific information needed to assess the ecological integrity, connectivity, and threats to ecological communities at priority conservation areas/preserves on Long Island.  Included are literature reviews, consulting with experts, attending professional conferences, preparing conceptual ecological models, field observations, inventory, mapping, and monitoring.
• Develop and implement monitoring protocols to assess the ecological integrity of conservation targets and to measure success at abating threats.  Train and assist staff and volunteers in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting monitoring data.
• Recommend ecological management strategies and actions to maintain the ecological integrity of targets, incorporating monitoring and management data in an adaptive management framework.
• Identify, develop, and participate in ecosystem restoration opportunities designed to restore and maintain the long-term viability of priority species, habitats, and healthy systems.
• Assist in building capacity in public agencies and local governments for ecological management and monitoring.  Work in partnership with other organizations in a collaborative or advisory role.
• Serve as support to statewide conservation teams to provide scientific and technical leadership and expertise in order to protect Freshwater, reduce the impacts of Climate Change, and improve Forest Health.
• Assist in the development of research projects to be carried out on Conservancy preserves in order to use our land holdings as “natural laboratories,” and ensure results are utilized to maximize benefit.
• Share results of threats analysis, planning, management, monitoring, research, and modeling with state/regional/global Conservancy staff, local partners, and academic community.  Publish articles and notes in peer reviewed professional journals as appropriate.
• Serve as support and participate as appropriate in urban conservation in order to protect, conserve, and restore urban natural areas, biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Review environmental impact statements and proposed projects for potential impacts to conservation areas and targets. Prepare comments and/or testify at hearings when appropriate.
• Identify partners and serve as a conduit for conservation priority research projects.
• Assist in the development of strategic plans, conservation area plans, work plans, and budgets.
• Assist in supervising short-term employees, interns, contractors, and volunteers involved in monitoring and research projects.
• Assist in developing fundraising proposals, press releases, maps, presentations, brochures, newsletter and magazine articles, and educational materials. 

• BA/BS degree and 5 years experience in conservation biology, ecology, or related natural science field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements. 
• Supervisory skills and experience.
• Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, Web browsers, etc.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in conservation biology, ecology, or related natural science field and 5 years related experience preferred.

Expertise in the following:

• Ecology with a focus on conservation, management, planning, and sustainability of landscapes as coupled human-environment systems.
• Ecosystem dynamics including connectivity, fragmentation, scale, patterns and processes; ecosystem services in terrestrial and freshwater systems (especially, tradeoffs and synergies); landscape legacy effects; climate change interactions (particularly, mitigation and adaptation); sustainability and resilience (e.g., relationships between ecosystem services and human well-being in changing landscapes); mechanisms and ecological impacts of land use change; and innovative methods in landscape analysis and modeling.
• Studying and improving relationships between ecological processes in the environment and particular ecosystems to be done within a variety of landscape scales, development spatial patterns, and organizational levels of research and policy.
• Experience in developing and applying practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes, including ecological monitoring.
• Familiarity with Northeastern flora, fauna, and ecological communities, including Pine Barrens and grasslands, and their conservation needs.
• Proven ability to work well with a variety of people, make alliances, and gain the support of others, particularly government officials.
• Ability to organize time and manage multiple projects with a minimum of direct supervision.
• Excellent speaking, writing, and presentation skills.  Ability to simplify and explain complex scientific data to general audiences.
• Ability and willingness to work in a team setting.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Local and regional travel, adverse working conditions in remote locations, long hours, and possible weekend work.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current insurance, and reliable personal vehicle available for work use.
• Capacity to handle complex tasks under pressure and under stringent time constraints.

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

To apply to position number 42200, submit resume and cover letter as one document. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 4, 2014.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
*LI-MS1*

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character 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.