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Wildlife Project Manager

Employer
Sky Island Alliance
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Salary
$42,000 - $48,000 with benefits
Closing date
Sep 17, 2021

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Sky Island Alliance is the only organization dedicated to conserving the biodiversity of the Sky Islands through community 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 wildlife research professional with a hunger for studying and protecting wildlife and the diversity of habitats they live in across the binational Sky Island region. We seek someone who thrives in and enjoys a variety of field, home-based, and office-based work, and is highly experienced in the analysis of data to understand patterns in the wildlife community across space and time. The position requires demonstrated expertise in wildlife study design and field techniques, statistical analysis, GIS analysis, and map making to advance our Border Wildlife Study, Sky Island FotoFauna projects, and wildlife conservation projects in the U.S. and Mexico. This position also requires the ability to perform fieldwork in moderate/challenging terrain in the Sky Islands of the U.S. and Mexico and will primarily require communication in English however Spanish fluency is required. The Wildlife Project Manager will be based in or near Tucson, Arizona with frequent 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. 

Please submit your resume and a cover letter in English via Bamboo HR https://skyislanders.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=22 explaining how your experiences and skills match this position. The position will remain open until filled, consideration of applicants will begin August 23, 2021.

Job Summary 

Wildlife Project Manager duties include: 

  • Manage the successful implementation of wildlife research and monitoring projects in the field: 
  • Coordinate with land managers and permitting agencies for research access. 
  • Coordinate the schedule of data collection in the field with other staff and volunteers. 
  • Maintain research and field equipment. 
  • Conduct backcountry field work in rugged terrain as needed to advance projects.  
  • Analyze wildlife datasets to understand the spatial distribution of Sky Island species, with a particular emphasis on medium-to-large mammals: 
  • Establish standardized protocol(s) for SIA wildlife studies by researching best practices for wildlife research and monitoring, data management, and analysis. 
  • Contribute species identifications for photographic data collected. 
  • Acquire regional and local environmental and habitat condition datasets that may aid the interpretation of wildlife distributions and guide wildlife conservation planning. 
  • Produce routine project result updates and maps that showcase trends in wildlife detections and species distribution over time and across the Sky Island region. 
  • Apply scientific understanding of wildlife communities to the development of wildlife conservation strategies in the U.S. and Mexico: 
  • Develop and implement new volunteer science projects that increase understanding of the health of wildlife populations and wildlife habitat in priority conservation areas in Northern Mexico and Southern Arizona. 
  • Participate in the development and implementation of strategic stewardship projects and conservation plans to improve wildlife habitat on public and private lands. 
  • Work with the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, conservation organizations, and ranchers in Mexico to develop and implement wildlife monitoring and conservation projects in priority locations. 
  • Represent the organization in relationships with other researchers, private land managers, government agencies, collaboratives, and advisory committees in both the U.S. and Mexico. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • Recommend hiring, firing, salary adjustments and professional development for individuals under their supervision. 
  • Participate in direct fundraising asks and support the fundraising team. 

Core Competencies 

The following list of competencies, skills and knowledge are required of Managers: 

  • A M.S. in wildlife biology or equivalent field and demonstrated experience with wildlife research or monitoring. 
  • Strong knowledge of conservation biology principles and conservation approaches. 
  • Demonstrated skills in wildlife data management and analysis (Excel, R, Camelot or other photo analysis program). 
  • GIS analysis and mapmaking skills required (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, or QGIS). 
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Fluency in English and Spanish—communicate ideas clearly and concisely. 
  • Ability to perform fieldwork in moderate-challenging terrain in the Sky Islands of the U.S. and Mexico. 
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate well with diverse stakeholders including cultural competency to work well with professional partners in the U.S. and Mexico. 
  • 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. 

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