NCS Metrics Scientist

Arlington, Virginia, USA

The location for this position is flexible for locations where TNC is an established NGO.

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-POST

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) are land and water stewardship activities that generate measurable climate mitigation through the protection, improved management, or restoration of natural and working forests, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands across the globe. The NCS Metrics Scientist provides technical and scientific support for the measurement and reporting of NCS mitigation within the Conservancy’s conservation portfolio. They work as part of the NCS Science Team under the Global Tackle Climate Change strategy. The NCS Metrics Scientist will coordinate with the Conservation Metrics lead (Conservation Programs Team) and other key staff to develop and refine guidance and communicate and train Conservancy staff in the interpretation and application of that guidance to measure and report NCS Mitigation towards the Conservancy’s quantitative CO2e/yr 2030 goal. This position will support staff in reporting organizational metrics to monitor and evaluate project progress.

If you’re looking for a career where you can find purpose, come join our Tackle Climate Change Team as the NCS Metrics Scientist. Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives, but you’ll contribute to conservation goals through many networks! We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to lead cross functional teams and support our chapters and work within our division. Communication and experience interpreting scientific information are key in this role. Come join TNC and apply today!

The NCS Metric Scientist’s primary function is to integrate NCS accounting into conservation planning, research, and stewardship across the conservancy. NCS accounting guidance is based upon accounting principles developed by the NCS Science Team (e.g. the NCS Handbook), and is iteratively informed by, and integrated into, NCS Science team products, including those currently being developed under the Bezos Earth Fund: NCS GO, NCS Prototyping Projects, and NCS Pathway Playbooks (e.g. Avoided Forest Conversion). The Scientist will work with global, regional, state, and country Business Units (BUs), as well as external partners and experts, to provide the necessary technical support for setting NCS targets, prioritizing investments in consideration of NCS, and developing monitoring plans for tracking mitigation benefits in units of metric tons (t) of CO2e per year. This may mean operationalizing NCS accounting guidance, developing tools and/or processes to streamline the application of the guidance, or other efforts to gain widespread adoption of the guidance across The Nature Conservancy.

They ensure adherence to NCS accounting principles such as additionality, permanence, and leakage. They respond to queries from BUs regarding NCS best practices and standards and support those BUs in integrating high-quality, rigorous NCS accounting into conservation planning, execution, and monitoring. They help ensure The Nature Conservancy is an organization delivering on high quality NCS projects with meaningful mitigation benefits. They play a critical role in connecting global teams to regional programs and helping determine needed expertise in countries and regions to ensure high quality NCS projects and accounting. They will lend their expertise to translate complex scientific models and methods into approaches understandable and usable by field programs across The Conservancy.

The location for this position is negotiable for locations where TNC is an established NGO.

• Master's Degree in ecology, conservation science or science related field and at least 2 years of experience in NCS science and NCS accounting or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience synthesizing, interpreting and communicating scientific information.
• Experience preparing reports of findings.
• Experience leading or participating on cross functional teams.
• Experience coordinating the work of peers and partners.
• Experience working and communicating with diverse stakeholders.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree and 4+ years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Applied experience with nature-based mitigation, environmental accounting, or similar topics.
• Strong team player who can build productive relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with partners.
• Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
• Experience developing and implementing multiple, complex projects in an unstructured environment, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes.
• Experience synthesizing best practices and writing guidance documents and clear descriptions to explain key terms.
• Experience developing templates and tools to support monitoring programs.
• Experience developing trainings and/or training staff to follow field protocols and meet program needs.
• Strong knowledge of common software applications.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and to creatively and proactively solve problems.
• Commitment to the goals and philosophy of The Nature Conservancy.
• Willingness to travel significantly, including internationally, and work under physically demanding remote rural conditions.

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Job Family: Science

Job Number: 400006

Salary Grade: 7

To apply for job ID 51978, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.