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Quantitative Ecologist

This job is no longer available

United States
Full-time

As part of Audubon’s 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, the organization will focus on five core strategies: Coasts, Working Lands, Water, Climate, and Bird-friendly Communities. And, to help support the implementation of these strategies, the National Science Division applies analytical methods to guide where the on-the-ground conservation work will be most effective and rigorously measure progress as projects move forward.

As a member of this group, the Quantitative Ecologist will have responsibility for helping to conceive and execute analyses fulfilling the Division's core responsibilities. These include: 1) developing metrics to evaluate bird response to conservation actions; 2) modeling patterns of bird abundance and distribution throughout the annual cycle and the processes that shape those patterns; 3) providing scientific justification, study design, and analyses for projects that engage the public in science; 4) supporting design and analysis of avian monitoring programs; and 5) prioritizing conservation efforts.

S/he will report to the Senior Quantitative Ecologist and will work closely with leadership and field teams across multiple strategies to provide critical analytical capacity that will serve as the foundation for measuring the success of Audubon’s species-focused conservation work. This position may be remotely based or embedded within one of Audubon’s state/national offices across the United States, preferably the San Francisco location.

Areas of Responsibility: 
  • Identify metrics for use in evaluating bird response to conservation actions.
  • Use diverse data sets collected using a variety of protocols with varying degrees of structure to estimate population trends through space and time;
  • Assist with design and analysis of avian monitoring programs;
  • Analyze and prioritize conservation efforts across the Audubon network;
  • Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and grant-writing in support of projects; and
  • Coordinate and collaborate with Audubon staff and external partners throughout North America.
Educational Background: 
Ph.D. in ecology, biostatistics, natural resources, or other conservation- or statistics-related field required.
Skills/Experience: 
  • Demonstrated experience applying Bayesian, frequentist, and machine learning approaches to statistical analysis of large data sets. These may include abundance, occupancy, distribution, habitat/climate/resource selection, spatial point process, demographic, population modeling, or other models implemented in a maximum likelihood or Bayesian framework (BUGS, JAGS, INLA, or STAN), using Monte Carlo simulation, or with a machine-learning algorithm such as boosted regression trees or Maxent.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, to include a strong writing background in order to lead and co-author peer-reviewed publications.
  • Demonstrated ability to clearly frame research questions, design monitoring studies, and implement analyses, as well as script analyses in R and/or Python.
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and implement new quantitative approaches and think creatively about connections between birds, places, and people.
  • Experience with GIS (ArcMap, QGIS, or GRASS).
  • Comfort working both independently and in a team-based environment. Passion for conservation, applied ecology and the mission of the National Audubon Society.
  • Preferred qualifications include:
    • Familiarity with common avian data sets, protocols, and analytical methods.
    • Experience in high performance computing (e.g. MCMC, STAN, JAGS, BUGS, cloud computing) and with version control software (e.g. GitHub).
    • Demonstrated ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels across the organization
    • Experience in ornithology, especially birds of North America, and/or with the birding community, including past participation in Christmas Bird Count or North American Breeding Bird Survey.
    • Familiarity with Important Bird Areas or site-based conservation strategies a plus.
Additional Information: 

Candidates should also submit a cover letter when applying to this position, including citations for 2-3 peer-reviewed publications and a statement on preferred work location(s).

Organization Info

National Audubon Society

Overview
Headquarters: 
New York, NY, United States
Annual Budget : 
$100-500M
Founded: 
1972
About Us
Areas of Focus: 
Mission: 

Audubon saves birds and their habitats throughout the America using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation.

Audubon operates an extensive network of National conservation programs, 23 state and regional offices, 41 centers, 23 sanctuaries and 463 independent chapters. Our work is a powerful combination of science, on the ground conservation, policy and engagement expertise that strives to protect and restore habitat, and to build the durable public will to implement policies that safeguard birds, other wildlife and the resources that sustain us all-in the U.S. and across the Americas.

Listing Stats

Post Date: 
Dec 3 2017
Active Until: 
Jan 2 2018
Hiring Organization: 
National Audubon Society
industry: 
Nonprofit