[Hiring] Global Director of Biodiversity Science @The Nature Conservancy

Role Description

The Global Director of Biodiversity Science (Director) is an exciting opportunity to lead a new science line within the Global Science team at TNC — a global conservation organization working in more than 80 countries. The Director will lead a small, biodiversity science team that serves as a core resource and integrative hub for scientists, practitioners, and partners across the Conservancy.

• Set and steward a bold scientific vision for biodiversity at TNC.
• Build relationships, partnerships, and organizational will needed to bring that vision to life.
• Advance TNC’s approach to biodiversity monitoring, indicators, and assessment.
• Support regional teams to design and demonstrate results.
• Provide thought leadership and futures thinking, including scenario planning and forecasting.
• Build embedded scientific capacity through sustained advisory relationships and cross-regional learning.
• Elevate TNC’s scientific engagement in global biodiversity governance arenas (e.g., IPBES, CBD).
• Collaborate closely with climate and social scientists.
• Help position the organization to responsibly leverage emerging biodiversity technologies.
• Demonstrate leadership maturity, intellectual humility, and a commitment to continuous learning.
• Lead and oversee complex, multi-year, multi-region biodiversity science initiatives.
• Coordinate across disciplines, geographies, and stakeholder groups.
• Ensure projects remain scientifically rigorous, financially sound, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Work closely with philanthropy staff and TNC leadership to identify, cultivate, and secure funding for biodiversity science.
• Lead or co-lead grant writing, donor proposals, and complex funding pitches.
• Persuasively communicate TNC’s science-based mission and biodiversity goals to donors, partners, and other key audiences.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent advanced degree in biodiversity science or a related field.
• 8 years of related experience including supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Supervisory experience, including coaching, setting objectives, and managing performance.
• Comfort directing work that increasingly involves AI-assisted tools and automated systems.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and scientific networking skills.
• Ability to translate complex science for different audiences.
• Experience working across disciplines and knowledge systems, including with Indigenous science, social science, and biocultural knowledge colleagues.
• Experience writing grants and research proposals, directing complex multi-disciplinary research projects, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• International experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with futures thinking, scenario planning, and global biodiversity governance arenas (e.g., IPBES, CBD).
• Commitment to building scientific capacity within regions in which TNC works.
• Genuine curiosity about rapidly evolving biodiversity science technologies.
• Ability to guide the responsible application of technologies to conservation science.

Requirements

• Strong collaborative science skills.
• Experience leading interdisciplinary teams across geographies.
• Futures orientation and genuine curiosity about the technological landscape for biodiversity science.
• Exceptional communication and networking skills.
• Ability to set a compelling vision and bring others into it.
• Commitment to build lasting scientific capacity within TNC.

Benefits

• Competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match.
• Parental leave and accrued paid time off.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Employee assistance program and other life and work well-being benefits.
• Flexible work environment that supports health and well-being.