Organization of Biological Field Stations

Office Location: Ventura, California

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Channel Islands of California are globally renowned conservation priorities. For over three decades, The Conservancy has worked with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and other partners to engage in an intensive, science‐based restoration program designed to revitalize the natural communities of the islands.

Today, Santa Cruz Island (SCI), 76% of which is owned by the Conservancy, has emerged as a leading example for successful island restoration and innovative conservation. The Conservancy and its partners remain focused on preserving the islands unique plants and animals and sharing lessons learned in island restoration with other island conservation projects around the world.

The Nature Conservancy’s vision for the California Islands Program utilizes SCI as a platform to influence, promote and collaborate in the restoration and ecological enhancement of islands of conservation importance, in and beyond California. The California Islands Ecologist provides scientific leadership and support for the Conservancy’s projects and initiatives on Santa Cruz Island and the broader Channel Islands system.

The California Islands Ecologist leads and supports planning and implementation of biodiversity conservation, threat abatement, ecosystem restoration, and ecological monitoring projects. S/he coordinates and advances the Conservancy’s Santa Cruz Island applied research agenda and facilitates field work and logistical support for research, project development and monitoring. S/he independently identifies conservation issues and information gaps and applies the scientific approach to address those issues. S/he participates on multidisciplinary teams with Conservancy staff and partners to develop ecosystem conservation strategies. S/he develops and leverages a network of external scientific colleagues, collaborators, partners and students to deliver information needed to advance the Conservancy’s conservation strategies and objectives. S/he conducts field surveys, assessments and research, manages data, writes project reports and proposals, and delivers conservation tools, biodiversity data, field services and training to Conservancy staff and its partners. S/he writes and manages grants and contracts. S/he writes and submits for publication research papers and other articles on the biodiversity, ecology and management of the Channel Islands. S/he presents talks on island biodiversity, ecology and conservation management to audiences ranging from Conservancy leadership to museum and volunteer groups to scientific conferences and symposia.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.nature.org/careers and search for job ID# 40817 in the keyword search. The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.