International Project Manager

About the Organization

Adventure Scientists is a nonprofit organization on a mission to protect the planet by pairing scientists with individuals uniquely capable of gathering difficult-to-obtain data. Our team collaborates with scientists worldwide to solve pressing environmental challenges, from biodiversity to climate change. Every role here offers a chance to make an impact on a global scale!

About the Role

Adventure Scientists runs complex, ambitious projects around the world, and we are looking for a full-time International Project Manager to help launch and lead them.

In this role, you will manage international, multi-stakeholder projects that blend cutting-edge science, community partnerships, and field operations. You will collaborate with diverse institutions, coordinate across time zones, and help turn big ideas into on-the-ground action.

Your First Major Project: Mangrove Ecosystems (Indonesia)

Your initial focus will be leading our multi-year Mangrove Ecosystems Project in Indonesia, a flagship initiative that weaves together experimental ecology and large-scale partnerships to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems.

This project will bring together a powerful network of Indonesian research institutes, universities, international NGOs, and corporate partners. You will help local communities generate high-quality ecological data that strengthens scientific understanding of plastics removal.

You will coordinate partners across time zones, support technical design with our scientific collaborators, and turn an ambitious plan into action. You will partner closely with an in-country manager and with our internal teams, reporting directly to our Head of Programs.

If you want your work to be both deeply operational and deeply meaningful, and you are excited by the idea of shaping a flagship conservation initiative for a globally important ecosystem, this role is for you! 

Position Details

This is a full-time employee role supported by project-based grant funding.

The design phase is fully funded, and we are close to securing the multi-year grant for implementation. You will play a key role in shaping the final plan and setting the project up for long-term success.

Responsibilities

Part 1: International Project Management (general responsibilities)

Project Strategy, Design & Planning

• Lead and support scoping, design, and implementation for international science and field projects
• Develop project strategy, timelines, milestones, risks, and success metrics across diverse geographies
• Translate big-picture goals from funders and scientific partners into clear, actionable plans
• Manage cross-cultural collaboration, ensuring the work is locally grounded and responsive to real-world constraints

Partnerships & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a central point of contact across universities, NGOs, government agencies, community groups, and corporate partners
• Support development of research permits, data agreements, and joint work plans
• Facilitate partner meetings, alignment sessions, and decision-making processes
• Build trust through culturally sensitive communication and relationship management

Data Management & Reporting

• Support development of data frameworks, indicators, and reporting systems
• Prepare engaging and clear project updates for funders and leadership
• Help document lessons learned to inform future work in new regions

Community Engagement & Ethical Practice

• Ensure respectful collaboration with local communities and integration of local ecological knowledge
• Support sharing results back with communities
• Prioritize ethical, culturally aware, sustainable and inclusive field practices

Part 2: Mangrove Ecosystems Project

Research Management

• Collaborate with scientific partners to refine requirements and protocols for plastics monitoring, biodiversity surveys, soil sampling, and eDNA collection
• Oversee development of training pathways and support resources for community members, students, and partner field teams involved in data collection
• Monitor data quality across all scientific components, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and coordinate timely adjustments with partners

Field Operations

• Coordinate with local partners to finalize selection of comparative experimental sites in Bali and nearby regions
• Support the field protocols that will measure mangrove health, biodiversity, soil carbon, water quality, eDNA, and other indicators
• Plan and oversee in-country logistics for multi-day field campaigns
• Coordinate sample handling and communication with laboratory partners ensuring adherence to agreed protocols, permits and timelines

Partnerships & Stakeholder Management

• Support building and maintain relationships across Indonesia-based research institutes, NGOs, community groups, and funders
• Coordinate closely and manage the in country manager to ensure that the project plan is realistic, locally informed, and responsive to emerging conditions
• Support development and maintenance of MoUs, research permits, and data sharing agreements
• Schedule and facilitate regular consortium meetings, prepare agendas and notes, and ensure follow up on decisions and action items

Communications and storytelling support

• Partner with communications teams to provide timely updates, stories, and visuals from the project for use in impact reporting and fundraising
• Coordinate with partner organizations communication teams to align messaging and amplify key milestones
• Support planning and logistics for any media or film crews working on project related content, including ensuring appropriate permits and local approvals

Data Management & Reporting

• Work with scientists and analysts to define key indicators of success and to structure data in ways that are useful for funders, government partners, and local communities
• Contribute to internal learning by documenting what is working and what is not, and by helping translate lessons from Indonesia to future projects in other regions
• Prepare clear, concise updates and reports for funders and internal leadership, highlighting progress, challenges, and stories from the field

Budget & Resource Management

• Manage the project budget at the working level, supporting accurate forecasting and responsible use of funds in line with grant agreements
• Ensure adherence to Adventure Scientists policies and to relevant Indonesian and United States regulations
• Contribute to risk management, including safety of volunteers and staff, reputational risks, and ethical considerations related to data and storytelling

Skills & Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects in a fast-evolving environment (preferably in conservation, scientific, or international development or closely-related field)
• 3+ years of strategic experience managing international, remote projects in asynchronous teams, coordinating across time-zones, cultures and institutions
• Proven ability to manage partnerships across cultures, including government agencies, NGOs, researchers, and community groups
• Excellent organizational, planning, and prioritization skills, with extraordinary ability to manage multiple work streams delivering high quality on all
• Expertise with project management tools, including advanced features like dependencies and reporting
• Proven ability to develop and maintain detailed project plans, budgets, and risk registers, and to keep a large group of stakeholders aligned on milestones
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-specialists
• High degree of cultural humility and sensitivity
• Willingness to work flexible hours and availability during evening hours for regular virtual coordination with partners
• Willingness to travel (internationally for fieldwork and partner engagement)

Optional Certifications

• PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2 certification.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or other Agile certifications.

Preferable but not Required

• Experience with mangrove ecosystems or other tropical forest or marine systems.
• Experience coordinating field logistics in challenging or remote environments.
• Experience working in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.
• Strong understanding of scientific data collection methods, preferably related to forests, mangroves, carbon sampling, biodiversity, or restoration ecology.
• Familiarity with volunteer management or citizen-science models.

Location

Remote, US-based

At Adventure Scientists we value healthy work life balance and we design our work rhythms to be sustainable for everyone.

Because some of our partners work in different time zones, this role occasionally requires joining evening calls (~8pm) to stay aligned across teams. These calls happen on different days as needed, never creating a long stretch in a single day, and we do not expect anyone to work more than 8hs total in any given day.

We also offer significant flexibility. If you join an evening call, you are encouraged to start later or shift your hours the next day. You will have autonomy to organize your time in a way that supports both collaboration and your well being.

Compensation

$77,270 per year

Adventure Scientists offers competitive compensation based on experience, with a commitment to supporting work-life balance, professional growth, and well-being!

We offer non-negotiable salaries to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity for everyone in the hiring process. This approach allows us to uphold our commitment to pay consistency, eliminate bias in the hiring process, and create a culture of trust and clarity for all team members.

Hiring Process

At Adventure Scientists, we believe in a transparent, enjoyable, and thorough hiring experience that ensures mutual alignment.

• Initial Conversation: Your first call will be with our Talent Partner to discuss your experience and fit with our mission.
• Collaborative Project: Then, we’ll invite you to work on a short project that reflects the type of work you’ll do, offering insights into our team-oriented approach.
• Meet the Manager: The third step includes a conversation with the Hiring Manager, allowing you to learn more about the role and the team you may join.
• Culture Interview: The next discussion will be with a different staff member, exploring how your values fit into Adventure Scientists’ mission.
• Team Fit Interview: Final discussions with team members and other stakeholders, designed to gauge mutual compatibility.

Throughout the process, we’ll keep you updated so you’ll always know what to expect. Typically, the entire hiring process spans 3 to 6 weeks.

Adventure Scientists is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we’re committed to providing a fair and supportive hiring process for everyone. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, formal education, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other status. If you have any questions about the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know – we’re here to help!

Important Note:

We take application authenticity seriously. All responses to application questions are reviewed for originality. Submissions that are AI-generated or copied, even if partially, are automatically rejected, regardless of your qualifications.

Please take the time to craft thoughtful, personal answers that reflect your own voice and experiences.

We’re excited to learn more about you and appreciate the time you take to share your story with us!