Island Scientist, California jobs in United States
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The Nature Conservancy · 23 hours ago

Island Scientist, California

The Nature Conservancy is a science-based organization dedicated to protecting the lands and waters upon which all life depends. They are seeking an Island Scientist to provide technical and scientific leadership for conservation projects on Santa Cruz Island and across the Islands of the Californias, focusing on conservation planning and applied research.

Environmental ConsultingNatural ResourcesNon ProfitWaterWildlife Conservation
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Growth Opportunities
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H1B Sponsor Likelynote

Responsibilities

Provide technical and scientific leadership and support for conservation projects of The Nature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island and in partnership with managers of the other islands of the Californias
Lead and support conservation planning, applied research projects, and implementation of conservation management strategies on Santa Cruz Island and across the Islands of the Californias archipelago
Identify conservation challenges, knowledge gaps, and research needs in terrestrial ecology and facilitate research that utilizes TNC’s place-based work
Ensure that the Conservancy’s decision-support tools and conceptual models are built on strong scientific foundations
Communicate science to inform conservation in islands and island habitats in California and to export select, high priority conservation strategies and practices to islands elsewhere

Qualification

Research experienceConservation planningProject managementFieldwork in ecosystemsPeer-reviewed publicationsAnalytical tool developmentMulti-language skillsCommunication skillsInterpersonal skillsAttention to detailNegotiation skills

Required

Master's Degree in science related field and 2 years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
Research experience, including fieldwork, in California's terrestrial ecosystems
Partnership engagement experience
Experience leading and working with cross functional teams
Project management, organization, and collaboration skills
Experience synthesizing, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating scientific information
Experience managing multiple complex projects, including financial budgets, and coordinating the work of peers and partners
Experience preparing reports of findings
Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals
Experience with common software applications
Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people

Preferred

PhD and 1-3 years of experience
Strong interpersonal skills, including experience fostering an inclusive environment
Strong negotiation skills, including experience working in polarized stakeholder environments
Experience in custom analytical tool development, climate science, scenario planning
Experience in climate resilience and adaptation planning
Familiarity with how to use science to inform policy, environmental regulation, permitting, adaptation and mitigation
Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
Proven negotiation skills, including experience working in polarized stakeholder environments
Attention to detail
Ability to meet deadlines

Benefits

Health care benefits
Flexible spending accounts
A 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

Company

The Nature Conservancy

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The Nature Conservancy is a non-profit conservation organization that works to protect terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.

H1B Sponsorship

The Nature Conservancy has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (26)
2024 (21)
2023 (13)
2022 (18)
2021 (13)
2020 (12)

Funding

Current Stage
Late Stage
Total Funding
$120.09M
Key Investors
Global Affairs CanadaBezos Earth FundNFWF
2025-11-17Grant· $7.94M
2025-10-23Grant
2025-06-09Grant

Leadership Team

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Jennifer Morris
Chief Executive Officer
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Matt Merrifield
CTO
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Company data provided by crunchbase