WWF’s half-century of conservation success is rooted firmly in science; it informs and underpins everything we do.
WWF is applying the best available natural and social science to strategies across sectors to ensure the information required to enable a just transition to a more resilient, equitable and sustainable planet can stick. The pace and scale of this transition will dictate success or failure for nature, climate change, and sustainable development. Success requires a team with intellectual depth that energetically embraces the opportunity and risks to innovate, attempt, and adapt sustainability solutions with efficiency at the intersection of science and practice.
The Global Oceans Lead Scientist (Lead Scientist) provides the scientific leadership for WWF’s Oceans Practice. The Lead Scientist is an important partner to the Chief Scientist and the Oceans Practice across our WWF Network, providing thought leadership, scientific analysis in support of goal and strategy development, and the management of internal and external science talent to support the Global Oceans team in advancing WWF’s ambitious agenda. The Lead Scientist will serve as a member of the WWF Global Science Leadership Team, providing expertise and support for interdisciplinary analyses to advance cross-functional strategies. This is an opportunity for a dynamic, strategic thinker who is passionate about conservation and has demonstrated success in leading rigorous scientific research with partners to support issues related to ocean conservation.
Responsibilities
- Works with leadership and colleagues to ensure that goals, strategies, and assessments of impact are grounded in, and informed by, the best available natural and social science, providing scientific and policy-relevant expertise and promoting innovative research and synthesis of research
- Conducts and supports colleagues in conducting research in a conservation-relevant science discipline, publishes in high-profile journals for impact, stays abreast of the scientific literature, and shares important findings with team staff
- Reviews, synthesizes, and disseminates the most relevant scientific knowledge across the WWF network and externally, and in coordination with knowledge management leads
- Works with the Director of Conservation Evidence to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks for WWF’s Ocean conservation strategies
- Builds and maintains an extensive network of science professionals and partnerships – with key conservation NGOs, government agencies, academics, and other groups – for the purposes of research, science collaboration, and strategy development
- Travels internationally on a frequent basis to represent WWF at high-level meetings, workshops, conferences, and for the purposes of site visits and/or field-based research
- Represents WWF to promote conservation goals, activities, and thought leadership in conservation
- Leads and supports science and fundraising efforts, in collaboration with science and practice staff, to support the WWF Network’s Oceans Practice
- Manages, coordinates, and supports science staff and external collaborators for implementation of priorities
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- 12+ years with an advanced degree in a natural or social science discipline in a conservation-relevant field with a strong emphasis on ocean conservation and management, including but not limited to area-based protection and management or rights-based management
- Ability to effectively prioritize and produce high-quality work under time constraints
- Excellent organizational and project leadership skills
- Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a matrixed team environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills requiring knowing when to use courtesy, tact and/or diplomacy to effectively communicate with all constituents
- Ability to operate with independence, under pressure, to meet deadlines and commitments
- Ability to lead by persuasion, build consensus, and think creatively
- Ability to demonstrate integrity in deliverables, behavior, and demeanor
- Ability to show respect for the organization, the work, the team, and self
- Have the courage to make the hard decisions which will benefit the organization, team, and work
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
-Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
-Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
-Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
-Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Application Deadline: June 23, 2022
