Director of Science, Water Program

The Nature Conservancy

Science Director providing strategic leadership for biodiversity conservation at The Nature Conservancy. Leading a multidisciplinary team to drive science and scientific collaborations in California.

Posted 6/11/2026full-timeRemote • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $128,000 - $275,500 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide strategic, technical and scientific leadership and manage a multidisciplinary team.
Drive the science, scientific products and scientific collaborations needed to inform and inspire conservation initiatives.
Work with multidisciplinary teams to identify priorities and strategies for conservation engagement.
Ensure the delivery of the science needed to execute conservation strategies.
Lead and manage a team of scientists to focus on essential issues and strategic engagement.
Advocate for alignment and integration of science, policy, and place-based conservation work.
Coordinate with internal and external scientists to address priority questions.
Advance research initiatives relevant to the Program’s strategies and scientific body of work.
Represent TNC and TNC Science externally in various fora and engage diverse audiences.
Develop funding proposals to advance Conservancy strategies.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Ph.D. in science related field and 8 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Supervisory experience, including motivating, coaching, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
Experience conducting original research and publishing in peer reviewed scientific journals.
Experience building relationships and collaborating successfully with a broad array of people.
Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
Experience designing, organizing and directing multiple complex projects of strategic importance and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Experience synthesizing and integrating research findings and lessons learned into conservation strategy.
Experience communicating and presenting effectively to senior management.
Experience networking extensively in scientific communities and maintaining strong relationships.
Experience working on socio-ecological, political, and freshwater conservation issues in California.
Experience with systematic conservation planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
Experience leading and participating in coalitions that have successfully led to multi-benefit outcomes.
Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically-dispersed organization.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health care benefits
Flexible spending accounts
401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
Parental leave
Accrued paid time off
Life insurance
Disability coverage
Employee assistance program
Other life and work well-being benefits

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Ph.D. in scienceoriginal researchpeer-reviewed publishingfundraisinggrant writingproject managementsystematic conservation planningmonitoringevaluationsynthesis of research findings

Soft Skills

leadershipcoachingmotivatingcollaborationcommunicationnetworkingrelationship buildingstrategic engagementperformance managementvisionary qualities