Easton, Maryland, USA
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A LITTLE ABOUT US
This position is a novel collaboration between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES) and offers an exciting opportunity for a candidate who is interested in bridging academia and conservation.
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.
We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. Whether it’s career development, work/life balance, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all of our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, our scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. As Maryland’s graduate university for the environment, we train students to be environmental leaders of the future. We employ an interdisciplinary, research-based curriculum to provide M.S. and Ph.D. students with the tools to develop impactful future careers. We fortify these strengths through diverse, collaborative, interdisciplinary teams to address and solve complex environmental problems. To learn more about UMCES, visit www.UMCES.edu.
YOUR POSITION WITH TNC
This position is a novel collaboration between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES) and offers an exciting opportunity for a candidate who is interested in bridging academia and conservation. The TNC/UMCES Regenerative Agriculture Fellow will be an employee of TNC with a joint position at the UMCES. AnchorThey provide shared technical and scientific leadership to TNC’s Chesapeake Agriculture Program, which is focused on improving water quality and habitat, building resiliency and mitigating climate change, and supporting thriving agricultural communities and to UMCES’ strategic goal of maintaining Sustainable landscapes and seascapes. The TNC/UMCES Regenerative Agriculture Fellow will be co-located with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s, Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland and The Nature Conservancy’s office in Easton, Maryland. The Regenerative Agriculture Fellow will identify and build teams with TNC and UMCES staff and other University scientists and external partners, including scientists, federal, state, local and private land and resource managers and policy experts. They will also oversee the development and implementation of science projects and analysis of existing data that advances TNC’s and UMCES’ strategic goals in regenerative agriculture. This position is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2021 and is a 3-year position with opportunities to develop into a permanent position.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The TNC/UMCES Regenerative Agriculture Fellow provides expertise, science leadership, and practical experience to improve water quality and habitat and accelerate efforts to build resiliency and mitigation strategies to climate change in agricultural landscapes. They identify gaps in scientific knowledge, develop and implement collaborative research projects with UMCES and public and private partners, use their technical expertise to evaluate existing scientific studies and data to help guide conservation investments, and communicate scientific information with a variety of stakeholders.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Identify and build multi-disciplinary teams to address priority science needs of TNC’s and UMCES’s Regenerative Agriculture Programs including academic, governmental and other NGO and private business partners
- Oversee and coordinate science projects including proposal development, fieldwork and logistical support for research, monitoring, and communication of progress and results
- Evaluate and apply existing science to guide novel conservation approaches and policy reform
- Manage grant deliverables and budgets, oversee contracts
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's Degree in science related field and 4 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience manipulating, analyzing and interpreting statistical or environmental data.
- Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
- Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
- Experience leading or participating on cross functional teams.
- Experience managing complex projects including the financial aspect and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
- Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in science related field and 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with agricultural systems.
- Subject matter expertise in agronomy, climate resiliency, climate mitigation, and/or hydrology
- Experience in climate resiliency and mitigation in agricultural landscapes.
- Experience with spatial simulation modeling as a synthesis, organizational, or forecasting tool that could be applied to agricultural-aquatic land-seascapes.
- Expertise communicating scientific issues into policy and public forums
- Knowledge of state of the science on agricultural systems and their management
- Ability to engage effectively with a broad range of stakeholders including 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 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.
AUTO SAFETY POLICY
This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.
Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply to position number 49354, submit resume (required) and cover letter separately using the upload buttons. Applications will be reviewed in the order they’re received and the position will remain open until filled.
Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.
If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.