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Habitat Conservation Manager

Employer
Sky Island Alliance
Location
Can be based in Arizona or Sonora, with frequent work visits to Tucson, Arizona.
Salary
$42,000 - $48,000 with benefits
Closing date
Jun 30, 2021

Reports to: Program Director 

Location: Arizona or Sonora 

Classification: Exempt Full-time 

Start Date: Position will remain open until filled, consideration of applicants will begin June 7, 2021 

Sky Island Alliance is the only organization dedicated to conservation of biodiversity of the Sky Islands through citizen science, stewardship, and advocacy. We cross borders to connect landscapes, people, and wildlife. After 30 successful years of conservation work, we seek to advance international conservation of the Sky Island region by engaging local residents, volunteers, scientists, landowners, public officials, and government agencies in a joint vision of vibrant and connected habitats with resilient water sources and healthy populations of native species.  

We seek a professional with a demonstrated ability to work with people different from themselves, and a hunger for protecting water, habitat, and the diversity of life that lives in the Sky Island region. We seek someone who loves working in a collaborative team setting, enjoys a balance between field and office-based work, and is interested in building and managing conservation projects to study and conserve water sources like springs, native flora, and unique habitat features of the Sky Island region. The position requires fluency in Spanish and English and ability to relate to diverse binational stakeholders and bring them together around shared goals. This position also requires the ability to perform fieldwork in moderate-challenging terrain in the Sky Islands. There is no educational requirement for this position and instead we are interested in the demonstrated work experience of candidates. The Habitat Conservation Manager could be based in Arizona or Sonora, with frequent work visits to the Tucson, Arizona office and field work (including overnight camping) both in the U.S. and Mexico.  

Sky Island Alliance is committed to cultivating a culture that embraces differences. Our programs and employment are open to all and international candidates are welcome to apply. U.S. citizenship is not required for employment—we are able to employ Mexican and Canadian citizens who are scientists through the NAFTA TN Visa program. We value diversity and do not permit any discrimination against applicants, employees, or volunteers on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, marital status, familial status, gender identity, economic circumstances, and/or veteran status. 

Job Summary: 

  • Manage the Spring Seeker Program to collect, organize, and synthesize information on the status of spring ecosystems.  
  • Identify priorities for collecting new spring data in southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. 
  • Guide volunteer campaigns to collect these data. 
  • Organize spring data in accessible geospatial databases. 
  • Develop and use spring conservation planning tools to prioritize water sources in need of stewardship and restoration.  
  • Seek out opportunities to use springs data to inform and influence land management and water policy at the local, regional, state, and binational scale. 
  • Share spring data with land managers to guide their spring management activities.  
  • Develop and implement strategic stewardship projects to improve spring, plant, and wildlife habitat on public and private lands. 
  • Represent the organization in relationships and negotiations with private land managers, government agencies, collaboratives, and advisory committees to advance water and habitat conservation policy and practice at the regional, state, or international scale.  
  • Manage individual projects from start to finish ensuring deliverables are completed in a timely fashion, reporting requirements are met, and the project stays within budget. Identify and resolve project issues.  
  • Ensure projects managed are integrated into achieving the organization’s strategic plan goals as well as with complementary project work. Develop objectives and key results for focal areas. 
  • Provide vision and direction for program area including long-term program development, identification of sound strategies to reach conservation goals and new projects.  
  • Contribute to identifying funding sources to support current and new project work:   
  • Identify funding leads and project ideas.  
  • Craft grant proposals and project budgets with input from Directors. 
  • Assist in at least $150,000 of successful grant acquisition annually. 
  • Coordinate cross-project activities with staff at all levels. 
  • Assist with data analytics of our water and wildlife programs. 
  • Contribute to development of the organizational annual plan and annual budget. 
  • Manage, mentor, and evaluate up to 3 consultants, staff members, and interns. 
  • Monitor team workloads, coordinate schedules and time off to ensure program work is covered. 
  • Help interns build technical and professional capacities. 
  • Recommend hiring, firing, salary adjustments and professional development for individuals under their supervision. 

Primary Qualifications: 

  • At least 3 years professional experience in land stewardship, restoration, hydrology, botany, wildlife biology, or relevant field. 
  • Strong knowledge of conservation biology principles and conservation approaches. 
  • Demonstrated skills in data management. 
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish—communicate ideas clearly and concisely.  
  • GIS analysis and mapmaking skills desired, but not required.  
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate well with diverse stakeholders.  
  • International conservation experience desired, but not required.  
  • Ability to plan weeks to months ahead, anticipate necessary tasks and potential challenges and develop strategies to solve them. 
  • Ability to engage staff at all levels to contribute to success of projects. 
  • Ability to anticipate project challenges and proactively address them with Directors. 
  • Ability to develop sound project proposals for grants and write grant proposals. 
  • Ability to develop and manage project budgets with Director input. 
  • Operates as an effective tactical and strategic thinker. 
  • Ability to work well with diverse staff, follow-through with minimal supervision, persevere in the face of challenges and changes, be able to handle numerous projects at one time, and meet deadlines consistently. 
  • Commitment to continuous improvement that values learning and to taking on new challenges. 
  • Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the Program Director informed of all critical issues.  
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

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