Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Change Job Opening

Title: Assistant Conservationist (Climate Change)

Department & Program: North America Program

Reports to: North America Climate Change Program Coordinator

Location: Bozeman, MT (or Portland, OR)

Application deadline: Looking to fill position immediately

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been dedicated to conserving the earth's

biodiversity since its establishment in 1898 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS). As part of WCS’s Global Conservation Program, the North America Program saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. The North America Program employs approximately 50 people in the US and Canada and has an annual operating budget of about $5.5M; US-based programs comprise approximately 70% of this. WCS focuses on three major conservation outcomes including:

i)                    Saving the Best of the Wild

ii)                   Conserving Priority Species

iii)                 Resolving Critical Wildlife Challenges including Climate Change, Local Livelihoods, Wildlife Health, Natural Resource Use, and Ecological Connectivity.

This position will provide support to efforts that address the Climate Change challenge at several landscapes in North America, including the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains, the Adirondack Park, and Arctic Alaska.

Position Objectives: The Climate Change Assistant Conservationist will provide scientific, conservation, and technical support for climate change adaptation projects at several landscapes across North America, aimed at applying best-available climate change science to identify or modify conservation and management practices. The Climate Change Assistant Conservationist is expected to work in close collaboration with

landscape, challenge and project leaders within the WCS North America Program as well as scientists and managers at other organizations, universities and government agencies, and diverse stakeholders at particular landscapes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the North America Climate Change Program Coordinator to implement

climate change adaptation projects and synthesize lessons learned on climate change

adaptation across North American landscapes.

• Provide support to existing adaptation efforts by contributing ideas on how to approach

adaptation planning and implementation, helping to facilitate climate change workshops

and working group meetings, contributing to workshop report writing, and other project

activities.

• Build, maintain, and facilitate cross-agency and cross-organizational working groups.

• Contribute to the development of new projects aimed at implementing the Wildlife

Conservation Society North America Program’s climate change strategic plan.

• Synthesize, analyze, and interpret emerging climate change science for conservation

practitioners and policy-makers, and stay abreast of the latest developments in climate

change adaptation for biodiversity conservation and other sectors.

• Report project findings in peer-reviewed scientific publications as well as through

appropriate internal and external communication vehicles.

• Provide climate change adaptation expertise to national, regional and local climate

change planning efforts.

• Contribute to grant writing and other development activities related to raising funds for

climate change projects in North America.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

• Master’s degree in science-related field and 3-4 years experience, or Ph.D. and 1-2 years

experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience). Research

background in understanding ecological or hydrological consequences of climate change

preferred.

• Knowledge of current trends in climate change research, and practices and issues in

biodiversity conservation under climate change.

• Experience translating science research into practical and applied guidance for

conservation and management, preferably on the topic of climate change.

• Demonstrated strong writing and oral communications skills to effectively communicate

project findings to a broad constituency, including both scientific and lay audiences (e.g.,

scientists, policy staff, managers, donors, and the general public).

• Demonstrated ability to organize and facilitate workshops and working group meetings.

• Record of successful fundraising, grant writing, or research proposals.

• Willingness to travel to and work with partners in multiple locations across North

America.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of 3 references via WCS’ website

(http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers/opportunities-in-the-field.aspx). Questions regarding the position can be directed to mcross@wcs.org.