The Sustainability Fellow will help ensure the collaboration is built on a foundation of robust science, transparent goals and assumptions, and accountability. The Sustainability Fellow will support research, strategy, and project implementation that aims to advance soil health, resource use efficiency, and habitat protection across a wide range of soils, climates, and cropping systems. These efforts will encompass clear, well-defined projects in specific regional contexts as well as wider-ranging efforts to shift corporate practices, innovation targets, and decision-making models. The Sustainability Fellow will work collaboratively with a strategic set of complex and/or cross-functional teams to support the establishment of project goals, project plans and facilitate project implementation in a way that produces quality conservation deliverables on-time and within budget. The Sustainability Fellow will use both conservation, facilitation, and project management knowledge to guide and support teams in developing innovative solutions, navigating conflicts, engaging and communicating with stakeholders, resolving barriers, and maintaining progress toward outcomes. The Sustainability Fellow will frequently participate in brainstorming on opportunities to leverage private and public-sector research and innovation to drive toward a more sustainable agriculture.
In addition to having an agricultural and environmental sciences background, critical thinking skills, and the ability to quickly research emerging issues, the person in this role will also require excellent communication and collaboration skills to successfully work in a large, matrixed team and be an external spokesperson for the work
- Work on a global project with a diverse set of teams located around the world to deliver conservation benefits in major agricultural landscapes.
- Provide science input, research design, modeling, and analysis to ensure projects and programs are built on a credible scientific and/or technical basis.
- Review project proposals and reports to assess technical merit and resource needs.
- Develop collaborative relationships with corporate partners and a deep understanding of core agribusiness drivers and functions
- For challenging issues with complex trade-offs, research alternative approaches, make recommendations for good practices, design metrics, and identify key areas of concern.
- Some travel expected; 10-20% of time (global and domestic)
- Two years of related professional experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of principles and practices of sustainable agriculture, including around soil health, water conservation, nutrient management, precision agriculture, and integrated pest management.
- Experience and proven background diagnosing complex problems and identify solutions.
- Experience conducting applied research and analysis in an academic, consulting, or other professional context.
- Excellent team player with experience working in multi-disciplinary groups, using influence and interpersonal skills, listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with corporations, partners, donors, volunteers, and all levels of staff.
- Excellent communication skills, written, spoken and graphical.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Some knowledge regarding the research, use and regulation of agricultural technology incl. pesticides, GMOs.
- Experience working in the private sector.
- Experience working with diverse sets of stakeholders.
- Ability to operate within budget guidelines to ensure sound financial performance.
- Language skills (especially Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Mandarin) and experience working in a multi/cross cultural context.
- Commitment to the mission and values of TNC, although no prior experience in environmental conservation is required.