Project Specialist for Nature-Based Solutions

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) was founded by amateur naturalists in 1874 and has played a major role in conservation in our region. The Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and completed a strategic plan focused on encouraging a love for nature, leveraging our science and collections for conservation, and using our voice on behalf of nature.

The Nat is seeking a Project Specialist for Nature-Based Solutions to develop and deliver science information on nature-based solutions in canyons and dunes, coastal resilience, and restoration planning. The Project Specialist will lead efforts to synthesize existing research, conduct learning needs assessments for local and regional stakeholders, develop guidelines for canyon and dune coastal resilience, develop guidelines for restoration planning, and deliver trainings. The Project Specialist will play a key role helping a wide range of stakeholders develop new knowledge and draft actionable local restoration plans throughout the county for these two ecosystems.

This position is responsible for coordinating all science communication and training activities associated with an awarded two-year grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to enhance coastal resilience in dunes and canyons, including: inventories of technical information on prior canyon and dune coastal resilience techniques, development and presentation of trainings on nature-based solutions and planning, and integrating this capacity building through existing and new outlets. All these outcomes will be carried out with an emphasis on community-led capacity building and results-oriented planning. This position reports to the Project Director for Coastal Resilience and will be an integral part of the Nat’s new strategy to catalyze conservation throughout the region. The person will also coordinate closely with The Nat’s Communication and Education teams.

Principal duties and responsibilities:

• Produce inventories of prior work in nature-based solutions for canyons and dunes
• Conduct gap assessments for trainings in nature-based solutions and planning
• Develop guidelines for nature-based solutions in canyons and dunes
• Lead trainings and restoration planning workshops based on inventories, gap assessments, and guidelines
• Work closely with SANDAG, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative (SDRCC), and other partners to recruit and train 125 professionals
• Provide bi-weekly updates to Project Director
• Work closely with all relevant departments at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and all partners, on a range of supportive science communications
• Integrate science communication work and products, to the extent possible, into existing regional networks and organizations
• Attend and support regional coastal resilience meetings to ensure grant science communications are part of broader strategies and processes
• Supplement existing networks and organizations with additional science education
• Assist the Project Director and Vice President for Science and Conservation with other related tasks as required, including project-related administrative support

Required Qualifications:

• Two years’ experience leading or supporting a successful scientific training program or science communications program
• Bachelor’s degree in Sciences, Ecology, Planning, Engineering, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in regional coastal resilience, planning processes, or nature-based solutions (ideally but not necessarily in canyons or dunes), or demonstrated aptitude to be a fast learner
• Experience developing and delivering training materials to a wide range of audiences
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong oral communication skills
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Ability to work well independently and with a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise translating science concepts into engaging content across multiple platforms (lessons, guidelines, web, social media, etc.), with strong knowledge of best practices and tools for technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven skills in researching, writing, copyediting, and proofreading complex documents with careful attention to grammar, syntax, formatting, and readability
• Data management
• Some proficiency in Spanish
• Experience in pedagogy
• Fund-raising experience

This is a 60% part-time role for two years, with the possibility of extension. This position is flexible in terms of the schedule but will require you to work on site in Balboa Park for a minimum of two days per week.

Employees enjoy free admission into all of Balboa Park’s museums as well as free admission to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

Pay: $32-34/hr