Become a force for nature and a healthy planet by joining the Maryland/DC Chapter’s Science Team! Our work is focused on two areas where our outcomes can have the greatest impact for the residents of Maryland/DC: protecting clean water and tackling climate change. Our efforts span the region, from western Maryland's Central Appalachian forests to our nation's capital and beyond to the Chesapeake Bay. The Coastal Science Project Manager (Applied Scientist II (MGR)) provides technical and scientific support and leadership for conservation initiatives in Conservation by Design (CbD), other conservation activities and measures of conservation success (MOS). The MD/DC Chapter’s Resilient Coasts Program implements a variety of science-based strategies to improve the health and resilience of our coasts through collaborative research, restoration and management projects. The Coastal Science Project Manager is a core member of the Resilient Coasts Program team who leads and contributes to priority science and management projects to achieve The Nature Conservancy’s coastal conservation goals throughout Maryland. This position is scheduled to begin on October 1st, 2019.
The Coastal Science Project Manager provides coastal resilience expertise, science leadership, and practical experience in collaborative coastal management to the MD/DC Chapter and its Resilient Coasts Program. They develop and implement monitoring and management projects and contributes technical expertise to our engagements with other public and private coastal managers throughout the state. The Coastal Science Project Manager will work closely with a variety of Conservancy staff and external partners including scientists, federal, state, local and private land and resource managers and policy experts.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Develop adaptive management plans, conceptual models and design ecosystem conservation strategies.
- Develop, manage and oversee programs within a conservation area or program.
- Deliver tools, biodiversity data, field services and training to staff and partners.
- Design and implement experiments relative to program area.
- Supervise staff on a project basis and coordinate fieldwork and logistical support for research, project development and monitoring.
- May manage a grant, contract or request for proposal.
- Must work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Direct coastal science to meet conservation objectives and inform conservation, protection and restoration decisions state-wide for coastal resilience
- Use science to guide novel conservation approaches and policy reform
- Design, implement and monitor coastal ecosystem restoration projects and coastal nature-based adaptation approaches that can improve community and habitat resilience
- Work with academic, governmental and other NGO and private business partners
- Build collaborative relationships with outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- Experience synthesizing, interpreting and communicating scientific information.
- Experience preparing reports of findings.
- Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD and 3-5 years of relevant experience highly desirable
- Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
- Experience with sea level rise hazard modeling and projections.
- Experience with innovative wetland or coastal habitat restoration.
- Expertise answering science policy questions
- Subject matter expertise in socio-economic impacts of coastal change
- Knowledge of state of the science on coastal ecosystem services, managed retreat, coastal resilience, and habitat migration
- Understanding of coastal ecosystems and science-based systems for coastal resilience and management
- Experience using GIS, field-based technology and drones for research and monitoring.
- Knowledge of current trends, regulations, policies and practices in coastal management, conservation, research and resilience.
- Ability to engage effectively with a broad range of stakeholders including ranging from academic and government partners to nonprofit partners and even public and private land managers and owners (including but not limited to watermen, farmers, etc.).
- Ability to explain scientific concepts and conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to manage teams to complete projects with high quality of work, within budget and on time.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
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.