Senior Manager, Spatial Ecology

Job Description:

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Spatial Conservation Planning, the Senior Manager, Spatial Ecology will be responsible for leading and supporting conservation planning efforts within Audubon’s regional, national, and hemispheric bird conservation initiatives.

The Senior Manager, Spatial Ecology will conduct scientific analyses and apply knowledge and skills in systematic conservation planning, remote sensing, spatial analysis, landscape ecology, climate science, conservation biology, and environmental and/or climate justice to develop products such as spatial prioritizations, vegetation maps, species distribution models, planning documents, reports, promotional materials, grant proposals, and scientific publications. This role will assemble and prepare relevant datasets for analysis, generate spatial and quantitative data products, and lead the process and/or contribute to the publication of Audubon science products including, but not limited to, datasets, peer-reviewed articles, reports, and web applications. This position participates in cross-functional science teams (e.g. spatial, climate, quantitative) and collaborates across the broader Conservation Division within which Science is located.

The Senior Manager, Spatial Ecology will work closely with leadership and field teams across multiple initiatives to deliver critical analytical capacity that will support decision-making for Audubon’s spatial conservation priorities. Thus, they must maintain positive collaborative relationships with many partners, including field office leadership, scientists, and engagement staff. The position will also interface with partners and collaborators beyond Audubon’s network. They will be encouraged to seek out funding opportunities that align with Audubon’s mission and the Science Team’s capabilities and availability. They will communicate their science across the Audubon network, to the scientific community through publication and conference presentations, as well as through public outlets including social media, podcasts, and interviews.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $72,000-$81,000/year = National

• $81,000-$91,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY

• $90,000-$101,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Manage the development of scientific data products to support conservation planning efforts across the western hemisphere.

• Manage project development and completion, under the guidance of the Director of Spatial Conservation Science, including coordination, communication, task management, delegation, and other aspects of project management.

• Lead and provide analytical support including designing and/or implementing spatial and statistical data analysis, data management, grant writing, reporting, and data visualizations for projects across all Science Team domains, including conservation planning, migratory birds, metrics & monitoring, climate, social conservation science, and community science.

• Foster partnerships within the Science Team, broader Audubon community, and external NGOs and government agencies.

• Communicate analytical results in dashboards, reports, briefs, presentations, and/or peer-reviewed publications.

• Lead project teams in the development of collaborative reports and scientific publications.

• Perform statistical and spatial analyses, as well as other data analyses as required, using various geoprocessing packages in R and/or Python and ArcGIS Pro.

• Acquire and process high-resolution remotely sensed imagery for use in spatial modeling projects, such as vegetation classifications.

• Facilitate internal and external sharing of science products.

• Use state-of-the-art systematic conservation planning software (e.g. Zonation, Marxan, Prioritizr) and methods to codevelop conservation plans with Audubon staff and partners.

• Present research findings, either virtually or in-person, for professional conferences, meetings, and internal and external working groups, such as other NGOs, Universities, and state and federal agencies.

• Build simple web viewers and direct the creation of complex web applications to effectively communicate research results to internal and external audiences.

• Synthesize and communicate complex scientific information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Collaborate with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

• Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding efforts.

• Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.

• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in in conservation biology, remote sensing, environmental studies, ecology, biology, ornithology, spatial ecology, landscape ecology or a related field. Master’s degree or Ph.D. preferred.

• Minimum of 7+ years professional GIS and applied conservation science experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

• Extensive experience working with spatially explicit environmental data. Familiarity with terrestrial and blue carbon storage and sequestration models a plus.

• Highly proficient in systematic conservation planning principles and tools.

• Demonstrated expertise in automating statistical and spatial analyses in R and/or Python.

• Publication-quality scientific writing skills and experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

• Expertise in the use of ArcGIS Pro or open-source GIS platforms; familiarity with ArcGIS Online strongly preferred.

• Experience communicating information to a variety of audiences through static and interactive map visualizations.

• Experience working with large databases, especially related to biodiversity (e.g., eBird).

• Experience obtaining, evaluating, and analyzing high-resolution, multispectral and hyperspectral imagery.

• Experience and/or interest in working with social science and environmental justice data, specifically at the intersection between people and nature. 

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. 

• Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Self-motivated, excited to learn, and willing to tackle technical/conceptual challenges independently as well as in collaboration with team members.

• Must possess excellent judgment in scientific analysis and team cooperation, ability to work independently, and collaborate well with team members across a decentralized organization.

• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to collaborate with partners, and manage teams and projects effectively.

• Experience overseeing multiple projects through to completion, including meeting project deadlines, conducting required reporting and tracking, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Familiarity with ornithology, especially birds of the Americas.

• Committed to working to promote bird and habitat conservation across the US and Americas, and passion for the mission of the National Audubon Society.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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