About Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is dedicated to the conservation of bonefish, tarpon and permit—the species, their habitats, and the fisheries they comprise at scale. We pursue this mission with science-based conservation initiatives, education and advocacy across a region that includes Florida and the southern United States, The Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, and other locations. Our record of accomplishment and ongoing research programs distinguish BTT as a global leader in the conservation of these species and their habitats. Visit BTT.org to learn more.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is seeking a spatial conservation scientist with a professional background and personal interest in strategic landscape conservation. Work will include procuring and analyzing GIS data, with a focus on mapping and modeling to inform spatial prioritization to guide conservation and restoration of habitats important to BTT’s focal species at the landscape scale. The work will be done collaboratively with BTT staff, external scientists, and stakeholders to guide habitat conservation in support of BTT’s strategic plan. We invite applications from people of all natural resource backgrounds who also have strong multi-platform GIS skills and analysis background. An understanding of landscape-level connectivity between terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and habitat connectivity of organisms is a plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Under the direction of the Chief of Science, develop a strategy to acquire and analyze GIS layersto support BTT’s strategic plan to conserve and restore important habitats in Florida, Belize, the Mexico Yucatan, The Bahamas, and other locations to maintain or restore landscape integrity.
• Work with collaborators to develop multilayered maps that include species habitat use and connectivity, land use, land use planning, habitats, threats that will be used to prioritize areas for protection and restoration. This will require a strong network of geospatial science.professionals and experience working with remote sensing companies (e.g., Planet, Maxar) and public organizations (i.e., NASA, USGS).
• Generate geospatial data in the field which may require experience using Trimble GPS units, drones (aerial stereoscopic imagery, lidar, etc.), sidescan sonar, field operations design, and experience using the software to stitch those data together.
• Develop projects to obtain the required mapping products by outsourcing via grants to external collaborating scientists.
• Provide technical expertise and make recommendations in development and application of geospatial analysis, design, database implementation, procedures, and quality assurance/quality control for departmental projects.
• Develop species and landscape spatial models using a variety of methods.
• Develop scripts and tools to facilitate workflow efficiency, data consistency, and reproducible analysis.
• Develop data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for geospatial applications, including web-based applications.
• Create a public-facing web-based application that enables sharing of information relevant to strategic habitat conservation and restoration.
• Prepare reports, presentations, data analysis, and summaries for internal and external audiences.
• Work with BTT staff to translate the science into layman’s terms for public outreach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate degree in GIS, Geography, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Biology, or a related field and a minimum of five years of experience
• Experience with ESRI ArcGIS software
• Demonstrable experience using at least one scripting language for data analysis and presentation (Python, R, or both)
• Familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of AI tools for code development
• Familiarity with databases and SQL
• Strong digital organization skills and a commitment to reproducible analysis methods
• Some experience in the use of remote sensing
• Ability to communicate well in person and in writing, serve as a representative of BTT and interface well with professional colleagues and the public, work well with BTT and other scientists, as well as stakeholders
• Ability to collaboratively develop the landscape conservation program, and oversee its execution, and to work independently and meet deadlines
• Experience in species habitat or distribution modeling
• Experience with habitat interpretation from aerial photographs, satellite imagery

TERMS

• This is envisioned as a five-year position, renewed annually after annual review
• An office will be available in Miami, Florida. Alternate locations and remote work options are available, with virtual and in-person meetings as needed
• Travel, some international, will be required to collect data, conduct groundtruthing, and meet with collaborators
• Reports to Chief of Science
• Salary $85,000