High Divide Rangeland Ecologist

Who We Are:
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.
Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:
The High Divide Rangeland Ecologist serves as TNC’s primary contact for our collaborative work with ranchers, landowners, and the conservation community to test new technologies, tools, and knowledge aimed at improving the profitability and flexibility of the ranches while improving sagebrush steppe and grassland ecosystem biodiversity and resilience, through purposeful, planned livestock grazing. The Rangeland Ecologist will provide technical leadership and support to achieve collaborative conservation planning, implementing, monitoring, and assessment of livestock grazing plans on ranches across private and/or public lands within the High Divide Headwaters geography of Southwest Montana. The major focus of this body of conservation work will be to seek and test science-based methods (tools, technologies, knowledge) to help keep working ranches profitable and sustainable while improving soil and habitat health and then to foster cross-site learning by sharing economic and environmental outcomes widely within the High Divide Headwaters and beyond. The Rangeland Ecologist will develop and foster relationships to work collaboratively and effectively within conservation planning teams that include ranchers, agency specialists, academia, conservation groups and/or community members. The Rangeland Ecologist will also provide support to colleagues addressing the four key threats affecting the sagebrush ecosystem: conifer encroachment, invasive species management, mesic or riparian degradation and fragmentation caused by human modifications. This is a 5-year term position with a starting salary of $64,000 annually.

Responsibilities and Scope:
• Develops and leads monitoring work groups consisting of staff, interns, partners, and volunteers in western Montana.
• Financial responsibility may include working within a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, and fundraising targets.
• Networks with diverse groups, including ranchers, landowners, academia, neighbors, conservation partners, Tribes, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy programs/outcomes.
• Serves as project lead to oversee collaborative development of livestock grazing projects and plans and coordinating plan/project implementation, completing follow-up monitoring, sharing of data, and reporting when required.
• Works under minimal and/or distant supervision; will make some independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
• Will work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, in occupied grizzly bear habitat, and under physically demanding circumstances.

What You’ll Bring:
• BA/BS in Rangeland Ecology/Management or similar field and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with plant identification and soil classification.
• Experience in managing, and training staff or volunteers.
• Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners.
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
• Experience using applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers.
• Experience using spatial software apps, including ArcGIS Field Maps & Pro, Survey123.
• Experience with communication via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

Apply today! To apply for job ID 55638, submit your materials online by 10/6/2024 at 11:59pm EST using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.