The Nature Conservancy

JOB TITLE: Great Lakes Senior Aquatic Ecologist
JOB FAMILY: Science
JOB NUMBER: 400003
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Senior Aquatic Ecologist will provide leadership, science, and advice to the Nature Conservancy and its partners to establish and implement holistic aquatic conservation and protection strategies at priority freshwater systems in the Great Lakes region. S/he will provide technical and scientific support and leadership for stream, river, lake, wetland and coastal ecological conservation and restoration programs, which may include the following:

• Advise conservation teams on designing and conducting restoration
experiments (demonstration projects).
• Review and develop best practice restoration strategies for priority aquatic systems.
• Establish and lead research programs in an adaptive management
context that implement or develop and test new restoration technologies and practices.
• Collaborate with other scientists and scientific institutions to enhance the Conservancy’s restoration practices.
• Work with TNC Government Relations staff and others to influence
state and federal agency actions and policy.

The successful candidate will possess demonstrable experience in freshwater ecosystem conservation, ideally within the Great Lakes Basin. She/he provides innovative and high quality technical and analytical expertise and services to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff working in the Basin, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and others. S/he will engage key partners in the scientific, management and policy communities to influence their work on Great Lakes conservation. This position requires technical expertise in aquatic science, including restoration of habitat structure, sediment transport, riparian and floodplain linkage, natural flow regimes, connectivity and related elements. The candidate should have demonstrated experience in implementing and managing conservation, restoration projects and research at multiple scales.

The Senior Aquatic Ecologist will develop, integrate, implement, and distribute information on best conservation strategies for priority aquatic systems in the Great Lakes basin. Significant emphasis will be placed upon restoring ecosystem structure and functions at the scale of tributary rivers and the five Great Lakes, and riparian linkages in headwater streams and rivers, wetlands and coastal habitats. S/he will develop a network of researchers and managers to maximize the learning potential at priority aquatic systems. S/he will facilitate and provide up to date advice, including restoration guidelines and strategies for aquatic environments, and develop adaptive research programs across Great Lakes aquatic portfolio sites to abate threats to aquatic systems. S/he will broker and leverage research resources to quantify and characterize the most effective restoration strategies and facilitate innovation. S/he will also work as part of a basin wide team to integrate aquatic invasive species management, connectivity, nutrient and sediment abatement strategies, and flow management into restoration efforts.

S/he will produce proposals, presentations, and reports including technical guidelines to support field staff and facilitate training, while maintaining and enhancing their technical capacity. S/he may supervise staff on select projects. This position is supervised by the Great Lakes Program Director.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Master’s degree in aquatic ecology or related discipline and 4-6 years experience; alternatively PhD and 1-3 years experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of restoration ecology, including fisheries, and successful experience implementing restoration of aquatic habitats and ecosystems.
• Knowledge/experience with federal, state agencies and NGOs;
influencing policy and shaping agency agendas
• Advanced analytical skills including manipulating, analyzing, and
interpreting statistical data on natural communities and environmental data on ecological communities.
• Knowledge of species, natural communities, ecosystems, ecosystem
processes, and their conservation needs.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
• Knowledge of ESRI GIS software (especially ArcGIS/ArcInfo and Spatial Analyst), geographic information, analytical techniques, data standards, application of remotely sensed data and knowledge of public and private data sources.
• Excellent creative/technical problem-solving skills with an ability to learn new skills and procedures independently. Ability to make decisions and resolve issues independently based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
• Capacity to remain current with restoration science and innovations; inform chapter staff of research and application of new technologies, methods and tools.
• Demonstrated project management skills and abilities. Ability to work effectively in a lead or support position within a team. Successful experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
• Demonstrated experience designing, performing, interpreting, and
communicating research addressing aquatic restoration conservation or natural resource questions.
• Experience applying scientific knowledge to influence policy and management solutions through effective engagement of partners (preferred).
• Manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering
quality results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to set priorities and organize time efficiently.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g. Word, Excel, Web browsers) and ability to use provided computer technology to enhance the quality of work.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications relating to species, natural
communities, ecosystems, or ecosystem processes or related topics - paper on a restoration project (preferred).
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.

COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
• Ability to work in a complex, matrixed organization environment.
• Able to design, implement, and direct complex and diverse projects,
encompassing multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization; as well as incorporate cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.
• Able to cultivate and develop creative ideas to improve conservation strategies.
• Able to compile and organize scientific data with attention to detail.
• Able to interpret guidelines, evaluate information, and modify processes to adapt to changing circumstances.

DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
• Ability to make sound decisions for TNC in the following areas (legal, financial, conservation, reputation).
• Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and
judgment.
• Performs tasks with minimal supervision.

RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
• Motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance, including
conflict resolution.
• May help develop and manage work plans and large project budgets.
• Develops, administers, and modifies budget based on circumstances.
• Manage grants and contracts and/or write a request for proposal.
• Negotiate and contract with vendors.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people,
including scientists, preserve staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information to complete or facilitate completion of projects in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with a wide range of conservation partners to identify
research needs, present technical concepts at national or international conferences, and support fieldwork.
• Provides training for internal and external colleagues on ecological and conservational scientific principles.
• Ability to communicate project goals, objectives and scientific information to non-science audiences.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The Aquatic Restoration Ecologist may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions may:
• require physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• present possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To apply:
Send letter of interest and resume to:
Peggy Shannon
The Nature Conservancy
Great Lakes Program
8 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2301
Chicago, IL 60603

or email to:
pshannon@tnc.org
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