[PCA] JOB: Director of Species Program at NatureServe (Arlington, VA)

[Olivia Kwong]

http://www.natureserve.org/job/jobNSspeciesprogram.jsp
NatureServe
JOB TITLE: Director, Species Program
EMPLOYER: NatureServe
SUPERVISOR: Vice President and Chief Scientist
LOCATION: Arlington, Virginia
DATE POSTED: November 2006
CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND:
NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organization that provides the 
scientific information and tools needed to help guide effective 
conservation action. NatureServe and its network of natural heritage 
programs are the leading source for information about rare and endangered 
species and threatened ecosystems. NatureServe represents an international 
network of biological inventories-known as natural heritage programs or 
conservation data centers-operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Latin 
America and the Caribbean. Together we collect and manage detailed local 
information on plants, animals, and ecosystems, and develop information 
products, data management tools, and conservation services to help meet 
important conservation needs. The objective scientific information about 
species and ecosystems developed by NatureServe is used by all sectors of 
society, including conservation groups, government agencies, corporations, 
academia, and the public, to make informed decisions about managing our 
natural resources. NatureServe is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, 
with regional offices in Boston, Minneapolis, Durham, Boulder, and Ottawa, 
Ontario. NatureServe offers a results-oriented and collaborative workplace 
where a common mission provides focus and excitement and where staff is 
empowered to take ownership of projects and mission success.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Director, Species Program provides leadership in the strategic growth 
of NatureServe's botanical and zoological databases and in the development 
of scientific methods, analyses, and information products designed to 
promote the lasting conservation of plant and animal species. This 
position will guide and support efforts to understand and document the 
status, distribution, and conservation requirements of plant and animal 
species, and will develop innovative approaches to meet the species-level 
information needs of conservation and natural resource managers. The 
Director, Species Program works to ensure the quality and consistency of 
NatureServe species data by fostering collaboration between NatureServe 
and biologists across the network of natural heritage programs and 
conservation data centers, and by providing leadership and guidance in the 
development, management, analysis, and sharing of species information. 
This position works together with partners in government agencies, 
academic institutions, and other conservation organizations to develop and 
maintain high quality scientific data, and has responsibility for public 
and private fundraising in support of NatureServe's species databases and 
related work. The Director, Species Program supervises a department of 
approximately 10 scientific staff.
DUTIES:
Provide leadership in the strategic development of NatureServe' s 
zoological and botanical databases, as well as information products and 
conservation services based on these data. Carry out projects designed to 
maintain and advance the organization's species data holdings including 
taxonomy, conservation status, threats, distribution, population viability 
and mapping.
Working in collaboration with biologists across the NatureServe network 
and partner organizations, take a leadership role in advancing standards, 
methods, and analytical tools used to document and understand the 
condition and location of biodiversity, including approaches to mapping 
species populations and to modeling predicted distributions under current 
and future ecological and climate scenarios.
Represent NatureServe at selected conferences and meetings and serve as a 
liaison with key national and international organizations, federal 
agencies, professional societies, and academic institutions, such as the 
IUCN Red List Partnership, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, 
and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Identify information 
needs of key partners and clients and develop and implement projects and 
initiatives designed to better meet those needs.
Provide scientific support and technical assistance in the development and 
implementation of conservation service-oriented and technology development 
initiatives and projects being carried out by NatureServe. Collaborate 
with NatureServe's ecological science staff to develop approaches for more 
effectively integrating species and ecological data in the design and 
implementation of biodiversity databases, habitat mapping efforts, and 
conservation assessment and planning projects.
Improve the quality and coverage of species data across the NatureServe 
network by identifying key data gaps and promoting work designed to fill 
these gaps; by identifying emerging issues and analytical approaches that 
NatureServe and its network should be addressing; by supporting efforts to 
harmonize and share species data across the network and beyond; and by 
contributing to training opportunities designed to promote consistent 
application of methods and approaches across the network.
Raise public and private funds to support NatureServe's botanical and 
zoological activities.
Manage the Species Science department, which includes: responsibility for 
the oversight and management of the program's finances and contracts; 
recruit, hire, train, and manage performance of staff scientists, and 
directly supervise key staff; work with the Chief Scientist to develop 
annual budgets and set annual goals and coordinate work assignments; and 
promote communication and coordination with staff of other departments and 
divisions.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Ph.D. in zoology, botany, or conservation biology strongly preferred. More 
than seven years work experience in applying the concepts of conservation 
biology and related fields to conservation decision-making and natural 
resources management.
Proven experience in program development, project management, and staff 
supervision. Well organized and able to orchestrate multiple activities to 
accomplish set goals. Results-oriented, and able to set and keep 
objectives, develop schedules, anticipate and solve problems, measure 
performance against goals, and evaluate results.
Proven experience in obtaining financial resources to support projects; 
experience in raising funds from private donors as well as government 
sources desirable.
Excellent skills in public/private partnership building and ability to 
deal perceptively and communicate effectively (verbal and written) with a 
diverse array of people and institutions. Proven ability to negotiate 
contracts and cooperative agreements.
Experience in supervising and managing staff. Skilled in motivating 
individuals and project team members with the ability to create strong 
morale and team spirit. Ability to work independently and responsibly, 
particularly in representing NatureServe and in managing resources and 
obligations.
Excellent speaking and writing ability required, especially the ability to 
write cogently on complex technical matters.
Knowledge of, and experience with, the Natural Heritage inventory methods 
and data systems desirable.
Commitment to the conservation of natural diversity and a genuine desire 
to make a lasting impact.
Fluency in Spanish or other foreign languages desirable.
Willingness to travel, sometimes on short notice and over weekends.

CONTACT
Send resume and cover letter to:
Attn: Job#DSP06
NatureServe
1101 Wilson Blvd., 15th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
FAX: 703-908-1917
E-mail: jobs at natureserve.org
(Please refer to Job#DSP06 in subject line)
*Please indicate how you found out about this position.

NATURESERVE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER