Sierra Nevada Wildlife Ecologist at Point Blue Conservation Science

Location: Remote (must reside within the United States)

Deadline to Apply: 10/15/2023

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation and Benefits: $75,000- $85,000 Annually, depending on experience and internal equity. Point Blue provides a comprehensive benefit package including employer paid medical and dental for staff and 75% for dependents. Other benefits include life insurance, long-term care, long and short-term disability, flexible spending accounts, and retirement plans as well as time off benefits.

About Point Blue:

Point Blue Conservation Science is a growing and internationally renowned non-profit with over 160 staff and scientists based in Petaluma, California. Founded in 1965 as Point Reyes Bird Observatory, our mission and programs have evolved over time to include a broad range of conservation activity, from restoration to environmental education to innovative work in the field of regenerative agriculture. We have a proven track record of scientific excellence.

We recognize that increasing racial, gender, cultural, and other diversity, equity, and inclusion factors at Point Blue and in our partnerships is essential for the success of our mission, vision, and strategy. We are actively engaging in a process to create lasting organizational change. We seek applicants from all backgrounds to join our teams. We strongly encourage applications from people with backgrounds that are under-represented in the conservation community.

Job Summary:

The Sierra Nevada Wildlife Ecologist will oversee and manage multiple research and monitoring projects on wildlife ecology in the Sierra Nevada, including the long-term data sets such as the Sierra Nevada Broadscale Avian Monitoring (SNBAM) project. This position will lead efforts to use machine learning to detect species from autonomous recording units (ARUs). This position provides scientific leadership inside and outside the organization, collaborating with others to develop and fund research and monitoring projects and develop new approaches to their fields of study. This position provides technical assistance and quantitative ecology expertise within the Sierra Nevada Group and the larger organization. This position oversees management of seasonal staff, including training, mentoring, delegation, and ensuring adherence to policies, protocols and regulations while providing a nurturing, fun and team-oriented work environment.

Essential Functions:

Conservation Science: 50%

• Plans, designs, and oversees research and monitoring projects on wildlife ecology from conception through application, including study design, data collection, storage, statistical analysis, modeling, reporting, publishing, and disseminating findings
• Apply new remote-sensing methods and machine learning to tackle critical wildlife science questions for the conservation of the Sierra Nevada ecosystem.
• Responsible for data management, validation, curation, delivery, and accessibility.
• Leads in publishing in peer reviewed journals
• Disseminates science through appropriate venues including scientific meetings, symposia, workshops, and public outreach.

Scientific Leadership: 40%

• Collaborates with colleagues to secure funding for new projects in the Sierra Nevada to advance Point Blue’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Leads development of new research ideas.
• Keeps abreast of relevant peer-reviewed literature.
• Participates in intra- and inter-organizational studies, and identifies and provides input on new approaches, research opportunities, and conservation planning.
• Assists with Point Blue vision-setting efforts, including attending retreats and workshops that help deliver the strategic plan.
• Works directly with staff that need help with study design, research ideas and analysis.
• Provides internal review of research proposals, study designs, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Works closely with Point Blue’s Informatics Group and Quantitative Ecology Program to ensure sufficient capacity for data management and analysis for the Sierra Nevada group and other new types of data.
• Participates in the peer-review process for related research.

Other Duties: 10%

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent quantitative abilities with a background in wildlife data
• Thorough knowledge of advanced statistical analysis procedures and practices using R or other statistical software.
• Strong spatial data processing skills using ESRI and other geographical information systems.
• Working knowledge of data analysis with machine learning and artificial neural networks.
• Thorough knowledge of wildlife ecology.
• Experience in wildlife monitoring study design and sampling procedures and practices.
• Ability to program using languages such as Python or SQL.
• Knowledge of grant writing and/or fundraising techniques and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse stakeholders and developing partnerships to achieve strategic goals
• Well-developed understanding of climate change impacts to ecological communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated success in clearly and concisely translating science to diverse audiences via public speaking and written materials

Certifications and/or Licenses:

• A valid U.S. driver’s license and favorable driving history, and proof of auto insurance.

Preferred Education and Experience:

This position requires a master’s degree in ecology, wildlife ecology, or related field and at least 3 years of post-degree relevant experience conducting ecological research applicable to the position. PhD in ecology, wildlife ecology, or related field is preferred.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• This position operates in a hybrid environment between a home office and professional office setting. This position may also work from remote field locations with uneven terrain, limited vehicle access, limited cell phone reception, and sometimes in a solitary capacity.
• Requires ability to work outdoors under variable weather. Requires mobility over various terrains.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets
• Work environment is indoors with majority of time spent at a desk
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, walk, twist and turn
• Ability to move up to 25 pounds occasionally
• Ability to move up to 40 pounds occasionally
• Ability to use a computer keyboard and calculator
• May require the ability to operate an all-terrain vehicle, motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft and to travel to different sites and locations.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, and Travel:

• This is a full-time position.
• Days and hours of work vary according to the season.
• Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
• Limited travel to study sites within the full Sierra geography is expected for this position. Requires the ability to travel overnight up to one week per month during the spring/summer.
• Remote/hybrid employees should choose a work environment that is free from distractions, has a reliable internet connection, and supports the employee’s ability to dedicate their full attention to their job duties during work hours.

Point Blue is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, disability status of an otherwise qualified individual, membership or application for membership in an uniformed service, or membership in any other class protected by applicable law and will make reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities to complete the application and/or participate in the interview process.