[Hiring] Science Integration Coordinator @Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Role Description

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture (NGPJV) are seeking a Science Integration Coordinator to work across the Northern Great Plains region. This is a new leadership position that will coordinate and support the NGPJV’s efforts to integrate social, economic, ecological, and traditional science into strategic habitat conservation outcomes.

The focus of this position is to support conservation partners implementing habitat conservation and community sustainability actions by connecting social, economic, ecological, and traditional science to inform conservation actions, funding, policy, and outcomes. This position will serve as a bridge between research and habitat conservation delivery groups with a focus on grassland and rural community resilience.

Primary Duties:

• Understand the needs of people working and living in the grasslands.
• Collaborate with a broad range of conservation professionals, locally led collaboratives, and private landowners.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with the scientific community, including NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife, USFWS’ Habitat and Population Evaluation Team, Indigenous biologists, University, USGS, NGO, and other scientists.
• Interpret scientific findings to inform socio-economic-ecological drivers of rural and Tribal ranching communities.
• Develop frameworks and communications for incorporating social, economic, traditional, and ecological science into conservation decisions.
• Explore, identify, track, and evaluate conservation outcomes and impacts of conservation planning and delivery.
• Support the adoption of key science findings to inform a new paradigm for retaining grasslands.
• Integrate population-habitat and landscape-level spatial models to help prioritize key landscapes and maximize conservation efficiency.
• Energize and leverage partner skillsets on NGPJV Technical Committee.
• Coordinate with other science professionals within the Joint Venture community.
• Collaborate with NGPJV Communications staff to tell success stories and importance of conservation work.
• Supervise Science Integration Specialist positions and ensure cohesive science team within NGPJV.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills and established networks within the scientific community.
• Ability to connect and effectively communicate with people who hold diverse perspectives, experiences, and values.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate scientific results to diverse audiences using various platforms and techniques.
• Ability to forge lasting relationships and build partnerships among people with diverse perspectives.
• Demonstrated interest in the intersection among the socio-economic and ecological sciences.
• Understanding of scientific models and spatial analysis as a tool to guide conservation decisions.
• Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems, spatial modeling, and other science tools.
• Familiarity with integrated landscape-level planning.
• Graduate degree in social, economic, or ecological sciences (PhD preferred) and at least 4 years of progressively responsible experience.
• Knowledge of grassland systems and habitat conservation programs preferred.
• Supervisory and mentoring experience preferred.

Requirements

• Must be willing to travel independently across the NGPJV region, Nationally, and potentially Internationally.
• Travel may be for multiple, consecutive days, up to once a month.

Benefits

• Salary: $88,000 – 97,000 annually, depending on experience.
• Comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks paid vacation.
• Paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan (including partial employer match).
• Tuition reimbursement.

Company Description

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is a public-private collaborative that works to sustain resilient lands for birds, other wildlife, and people. We support working lands agriculture and voluntary, non-regulatory solutions to conservation challenges.