Director of Science, Water Program

Remote, USA
Posted Jun 14, 2026
Full-time

Job Description:
• Provide strategic, technical and scientific leadership and manage a multidisciplinary team.
• Drive the science, scientific products and scientific collaborations needed to inform and inspire conservation initiatives.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to identify priorities and strategies for conservation engagement.
• Ensure the delivery of the science needed to execute conservation strategies.
• Lead and manage a team of scientists to focus on essential issues and strategic engagement.
• Advocate for alignment and integration of science, policy, and place-based conservation work.
• Coordinate with internal and external scientists to address priority questions.
• Advance research initiatives relevant to the Program’s strategies and scientific body of work.
• Represent TNC and TNC Science externally in various fora and engage diverse audiences.
• Develop funding proposals to advance Conservancy strategies.

Requirements:
• Ph.D. in science related field and 8 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, coaching, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience conducting original research and publishing in peer reviewed scientific journals.
• Experience building relationships and collaborating successfully with a broad array of people.
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
• Experience designing, organizing and directing multiple complex projects of strategic importance and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience synthesizing and integrating research findings and lessons learned into conservation strategy.
• Experience communicating and presenting effectively to senior management.
• Experience networking extensively in scientific communities and maintaining strong relationships.
• Experience working on socio-ecological, political, and freshwater conservation issues in California.
• Experience with systematic conservation planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Experience leading and participating in coalitions that have successfully led to multi-benefit outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically-dispersed organization.

Benefits:
• Health care benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
• Parental leave
• Accrued paid time off
• Life insurance
• Disability coverage
• Employee assistance program
• Other life and work well-being benefits

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