The Global Director of Science Capacity will build on TNC’s strong foundation of more than 700 TNC scientists around the globe to accelerate our science impact on biodiversity and climate by co-developing, fundraising for and implementing a Science Capacity strategy. The Science Capacity Building strategy is part of the One Conservancy Science plan (OCS), which is investing in science across the organization to achieve TNC’s 2030 Goals for people and nature. The strategy includes building and managing a diverse team and responsibility for programs that include an ecosystem of learning, professional development, networking, and a resource center, all aimed at expanding the impact of scientists and the science they generate towards our Mission. The ideal candidate will be deeply invested in co-developing a vision and program that helps the hundreds of scientists across our global organization grow professionally to achieve their full potential and is a strong manager and collaborative influencer to expand TNC’s effectiveness as a science-based organization, and to accelerate our progress towards our 2030 goals.

Above all, TNC is seeking a strong leader, with experience working with and engaging and inspiring staff, and the many donors, partners, and stakeholders we work with and depend upon with a deep expertise and appreciation for internal science capacity in the face of audacious organizational science goals. This role provides strategic leadership across a highly decentralized and matrixed organization and must come to the role with experience working in a similar environment, collaborating closely with global, regional, and local teams to design and advance a global internal science capacity strategy delivering on the organization’s 2030 goals.

In this role, you are responsible for creating enabling conditions for a holistic and impactful program that includes topical and professional trainings and workshops, mentoring and peer review programs, the establishment and maintenance of scientific communities of practice and Global Science Gatherings, Conservancy-wide resources devoted to data and knowledge management, publication assistance, curating the One Conservancy science survey and maintaining the associated database, connecting scientists to projects of greatest need through talent mobility programs and supporting the diffusion of science into organizational decision making. You will especially target science capacity building in low resource programs and countries outside of the U.S. To lead this work, you will build and supervise a diverse, global and dedicated team within Global Science, and work to effectively partner with experts in other business units to manage and deliver the program. In line with our TNC Values, the Global Director will also be responsible for ensuring this program purposefully intersects with growing TNC’s ability to reflect the diversity of the global programs we serve. Recognizing the diverse geographic and thematic contexts in which TNC scientists work, and in support of TNC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, you will ensure that the program is accessible to and meeting the needs of scientists in business units across the entire organization, with special attention to providing critical resources and support to the scientists, business units, and regions in most need of such support.

In addition to your primary responsibility of leading the Science Capacity Building Program, you will serve as one of many ambassadors for the One Conservancy Science plan across TNC and coordinate closely with other leadership positions within Global Science and across the Conservancy. You will inspire others to become champions for the Internal Science Capacity program, serve as the primary point person and are responsible for partnering with fundraising colleagues for our internal science capacity program across TNC, in partnership with and with the support of the Chief Scientist, the Deputy Chief Scientist, and other directors in Global Science, Development staff, and your team. Overall, success for this program will be measured by its ability to provide high-impact, resource-efficient opportunities for TNC scientists across the organization to grow professionally and expand their impact towards TNC’s 2030 Goals.

This position reports to TNC’s Deputy Chief Scientist within the Global Science business unit. The location for this role is flexible within a country where TNC is established as a legal and operating entity.

Are you looking for a career to help science, people and nature? We’re looking for someone who is an inspired collaborative leader, a motivated problem-solver, and passionate about finding leverage points, creating efficiencies, and mentoring and empowering scientists around the world.

As the Global Director of Science Capacity, you can move TNC’s mission forward by:

• Serving as the lead of the TNC-wide Science Capacity Building Program and ensuring its strategic contribution to the One Conservancy Science plan, you will work with your team to put into action a permanent ecosystem of learning (virtual and live trainings and workshops, mentoring and peer review programs, communities of practice on key scientific areas and Global Science gatherings), a One Conservancy resource center (providing data and knowledge management, and technical and publication assistance), and an annual One Conservancy science survey and associated database.
• Engaging with the Chief Scientist, Deputy Chief Scientist and senior leaders across TNC to prioritize science capacity building needs and to demonstrate the value of internal science investments to TNC’s pathway to impact towards the 2030 Goals.
• Serving as a content expert for fundraising efforts and internal discretionary requests to secure funding to implement the Science Capacity Strategic plan, with the support of the Chief Scientist, Global Director of Development for Science, and the Global Science Team.
• Working in close partnership with fundraising staff, expand base of strong supporters and the enabling conditions to realize the potential of this important body of work.
• Build, supervise, manage, and mentor a diverse team of existing staff and anticipated new hires to develop, implement and adaptively manage this body of work, and doing so in a way that strengthens psychological safety and empowers each team member to reach their full potential.
• In collaboration with your team, facilitate a transparent process to establish and implement a multi-year strategic plan and associated annual work plans and budgets. To inform this work, you will also create structured opportunities for scientists (within and outside of Global Science) and non-scientists to provide input to shape the focus of your team’s work for greatest impact across TNC’s global reach.
• In collaboration with your team, develop and implement a strategic internal communications plan to distribute information across the organization to engage staff and leadership to participate in the Science Capacity Building Program.
• Designing and implementing a system of monitoring, evaluation and learning to track progress and support adaptive management towards the Science Capacity Building Program’s strategic goals and in support of the One Conservancy Science Plan.
• Preparing reports, materials, and other information for communication and discussion of program outcomes with the Chief Scientist, other key internal leaders, donors, trustees, and external partners.
• Meeting regularly with your direct reports, alongside periodic meetings with others on your team who do not directly report to you, to ensure team cohesion, progress towards work objectives, and to support career development objectives.

This position requires travel both domestically and internationally, flexibility to work outside of regular working hours, occasional work in variable weather conditions and/or at remote locations. The program will be shaped by the experience and strategic guidance from this new hire; if you are passionate about building science capacity across TNC and have been envisioning what you would do for our scientists if you had the chance, this is it – please apply today!