Senior Director of Conservation Science

The Senior Director of Conservation Science (Senior Director) is an exciting, highly-influential role responsible for providing science-based leadership in support of Mass Audubon’s commitment to address our climate and biodiversity crisis across the Commonwealth and serve as a model for the nation. The role will define and lead the organization’s scientific agenda and priorities using an evidence-based approach that relies on data, research, and applied science to guide Mass Audubon’s conservation actions and policies. This position is a member of Mass Audubon’s Conservation Division and reports to the Chief Conservation Officer.

This role oversees all aspects of the organization’s scientific endeavors including identifying conservation issues and priorities, providing authoritative, technical leadership and collaborating with internal and external partners to design and implement solutions. The conservation scope of this role is broad and extends from addressing the ecological health and resilience of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuary network to positioning Mass Audubon to tackle broader conservation challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change and inequitable access to nature in our region. As such, a successful candidate will have substantive scientific knowledge and will maintain a perspective and professional network at the regional, state, national, and international levels in relevant disciplines.

This Senior Director serves as the organization’s lead scientific ambassador and spokesperson and as such is a vocal champion of Mass Audubon’s ecological assets and science-based strategies. They will develop key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify, resolve, and communicate solutions and best practices. The candidate must possess strong communication skills that support effective interactions with scientists, partners, colleagues, staff, governance, and volunteers. In addition, they will also serve as a scientific resource to conservation partners, foundations, the academic community, and the government agencies of the Commonwealth.

Equally important in an ideal candidate is the ability to lead and manage people and to motivate a diverse community of individuals towards mission-based goals. The Senior Director oversees an experienced, decentralized team of scientific experts in terrestrial and coastal ecology and restoration as well as data analytics and management. In addition, the role collaborates with peer departments to achieve a full range of conservation strategies and holds relationships with academic and NGO partners to support a focused research portfolio that supports Mass Audubon’s conservation agenda. The Senior Director leads this broad team in the design and implementation of adaptive, successful conservation plans that serve as a roadmap for on-the-ground action at multiple scales.

This role provides the opportunity for an experienced, results-driven, conservation professional to provide a leading voice on the critical conservation issues facing Massachusetts and New England. As a senior leader in the organization, this position will contribute to the design of organizational initiatives and strategies, implementation of strategic program plans, and establishment of organizational operating policies and positions.

Core Responsibilities of this position include:

Scientific Direction & Leadership

Provide overall scientific direction and leadership to the organization by identifying and framing priority, mission-core conservation issues and driving solutions through organizational goals, strategies, and policies. Contribute scientific expertise and perspective to strategy and program design, implementation, and evaluation.

Program Delivery & Implementation
Achieve annual and multi-year strategic goals through management of a conservation project portfolio, the oversight of a suite of conservation science programs and successful internal and external collaborations. Elevate conservation impact by driving conservation projects, supporting organizational strategy and informing policy priorities. Apply a data driven, analytical approach to program evaluation and bring innovation to program design and evolution.

Technical Leadership
Serve as – and support a team of – technical experts in applied conservation science that are considered ‘best in class’. Stay current with the evolving body of research and practice by maintaining an internal learning culture and a vibrant external exchange with NGO, public agency, and academic partners. Contribute to the field of practice by promoting outcomes in applied ecological management, coordinating a focused, outcome-driven research agenda and community science framework, and developing new data and information management systems.

Team Management
Manage and develop the conservation science team to support the ecological management priorities of our sanctuaries and to address the greatest conservation issues of our time. Prioritize professional development and team building and support individual and team performance through annual and multi-year work plans framed by measurable goals and outcomes.

The Senior Director has oversight of the Conservation Science Department, which includes the Ecological Management and Restoration Teams, the Climate-Smart Forestry Team, conservation operations and the GIS Team. In addition, the role collaborates closely with Land Conservation, Bird Conservation, Advocacy & Policy, Education, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and is supported by the central administrative departments.

Resource Development and Management
Focus and grow Mass Audubon’s conservation science impact through exceptional budget and grants management as well as resource development, including cultivation of public and private funding opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities

• Serve as a charismatic spokesperson for Mass Audubon’s mission and goals among a wide range of audiences
• Support communications and outreach with governance and leadership donors
• Build internal awareness and a learning environment around conservation best practice
• Maintain and evolve a set of conservation science-related policies and public issue statements and ensure that they are consistently applied across the organization’s operations

*Qualifications:

• Strong scientific understanding stemming from an advanced degree in natural sciences, ecology, or related field and/or at least 10 years of experience in natural resources management, conservation research, or other natural science-based endeavor
• Knowledge of North American ecosystems (specifically the Northeast) is a plus
• Strong analytical skills and familiarity with a range of tools, methodologies and systems including GIS, spatial analytics, and data management systems
• Demonstrated ability to lead individuals and teams in setting priorities and designing strategies, goals, and implementation plans that address critical conservation issues. Experience with leadership in a non-profit organization is a plus.
• Proven ability to organize, inspire, and support people with diverse backgrounds and different reporting relationships to create a common program or shared result.
• Proven business acumen including a results-driven perspective and the ability to develop and analyze plans and budgets and to meet deadlines and goals in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstrated experience in the recruitment, effective management, and development of a high-performing team of staff and volunteers
• Proven ability to develop and nurture a deep network of relationships in the government, nonprofit and academic sectors and to manage strong relationships with funders.
• Exceptional communication skills (written and oral) and a proven comfort with sharing scientific concepts with a broad range of audiences.
• Ability to collaborate as a dominant working style.
• A valid driver’s license and the physical capacity to travel frequently and extensively within the state and region.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands listed are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to talk, hear, sit, stand, and walk. Occasionally the employee may be required to bend/stoop, crawl/kneel, carry, reach, push/pull, walk over uneven terrain, and may typically lift up to 40 lbs. Employee may be required to apply limited manual dexterity in combination with eye-hand coordination, such as basic keyboarding, basic hand tools and instruments, filing, operating office equipment, and operating a motor vehicle. Employee must have good vision to read documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes. Occasionally the employee is required to review non-written materials for general observation purposes and for analytical, detailed purposes. Occasionally it is necessary for the employee to differentiate between colors.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Position may involve routine work within a typical office setting. Position may involve work performed outdoors with exposure to weather/temperature extremes and extended periods of traversing uneven terrain. Work may require performing responsibilities on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Tools and Equipment Used:

The employee is required to use a computer/laptop and general office equipment (e.g., telephone, calculator, copier, fax machine, etc.). May require the use of two-way radios for communication with field staff. Position may require a valid driver’s license.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.