World Wildlife Fund
Location flexible

World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) half-century of conservation success is rooted firmly in science; it informs and underpins everything the WWF does. The scientific rigor WWF brings to their work is unmatched in the nonprofit conservation sector. Building on this legacy, WWF is recruiting a Global Science Team to advance the organization’s mission to build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
 
WWF is hiring six individuals to shape an interdisciplinary research agenda and apply science to accelerate and improve the conservation agenda for each of WWF’s global goals—Climate & Energy, Sustainable Food, Forests, Freshwater, Oceans, and Wildlife Conservation. WWF is also hiring two individuals to build teams in Sustainability Science and Data Analytics & Technology. WWF seeks candidates to advance a coordinated WWF effort that will deliver science for tangible biodiversity conservation results at a speed and scale commensurate with the trends of the world today. The Leaders will report directly to the WWF Chief Scientist and are key members of WWF’s Network Science Team.
 
The Global Oceans Lead Scientist (Lead Scientist) will provide the scientific leadership for WWF’s Global Oceans Practice. The Lead Scientist will be a key partner to the Chief Scientist and the Practice Lead, providing thought leadership, science direction for goal setting, analysis in support of strategy development and the management of internal and external science talent to support the Global Oceans team in advancing their ambitious agenda. The Lead Scientist will serve as a member of the WWF Global Science Leadership Team to provide expertise and support for interdisciplinary analyses to advance cross-functional strategies. This is an unparalleled opportunity for a dynamic, strategic thinker who is passionate about WWF's mission and has had demonstrated success in leading rigorous scientific research to support ocean conservation.

Responsibilities:

  • Works with leadership and colleagues to ensure that goals, strategies, and assessments of impact are grounded in, and informed by, the best available science, providing scientific and policy-relevant science expertise and promoting innovative research and synthesis of research
  • Conducts and supports colleagues in conducting research in a conservation-relevant science discipline and publishes in high-profile journals for impact and stays abreast of the scientific literature and shares important findings with team staff
  • Reviews, synthesizes and disseminates most relevant scientific knowledge across the WWF network and externally, and in coordination with knowledge management leads
  • Builds and maintains an extensive network of science professionals and partnerships – with key conservation NGOs, government agencies, academics, and other groups – for the purposes of science collaboration, research and to advance WWF’s priorities
  • Travels internationally on a frequent basis to represent WWF at meetings, workshops, conferences, and for the purposes of site visits and/or field-based research
  • Represents WWF to promote conservation goals, activities and thought leadership in conservation
  • Leads and supports science and fundraising efforts, in collaboration with science and practice staff, to support the network’s Oceans Practice
  • Manages, coordinates and supports science staff and external collaborators for implementation of priorities
  • Develops, analyzes and manages operating plans and grant budgets

Qualifications:

  • Graduate degree with commensurate experience required; doctorate strongly preferred
  • A broad knowledge of conservation, and expertise in ecological and/or socioeconomic aspects of ocean conservation such as biogeochemistry, ecology, fisheries, ecological/environmental economics, oceanography and/or behavioral psychology.
  • Sophisticated understanding of large-scale trends in ocean conservation, and of the major opportunities and threats that must be addressed
  • At least 8-12 years’ experience leading collaborative conservation/research projects and integrating science into large-scale strategies, management and outcomes
  • Demonstrated experience leading and fundraising for major initiatives
  • Demonstrated ability to convene and direct high-level scientific capacity to inform  ocean conservation and policy issues
  • Ability to work effectively with individuals across cultures and time zones
  • Extraordinary communication skills—written, oral, strategic; experience leveraging the full range of modern media to realize programmatic goals
  • Vision—the ability to think and act on a global scale
  • Proven ability in the development and management of strategic partnerships and alliances
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