Project Manager - Ecologist
CORE FUNCTIONS:
The Project Manager/Ecologist for Irvine Ranch Conservancy is responsible for providing high-level science-based management of land management projects and contracts. Works closely with colleagues, partners, and agencies to ensure regulatory and contract compliance and successful natural resource management. Develops budgets, participates in planning, consults on land management issues, and oversees diverse projects and programs, including invasive species management, restoration, wildfire impacts management, and landscape-level habitat and species monitoring. Works collaboratively to ensure that projects are implemented successfully and completed on time and results are reported. May provide technical and scientific expertise to support others achieving strategic objectives and goals. Success will require effectively managing multiple projects and programs concurrently, supervising staff, collaboratively establishing and effectively managing priorities and deadlines, and balancing the Conservancy’s strategic objectives with contractual obligations. Success also requires close adherence to established organizational processes and procedures, effective organizational integration, and outstanding external partnerships. Requires working cooperatively in a fast-paced, practical, team-based, solution-oriented atmosphere. May help identify funding sources for projects and initiatives and develop funding proposals as needed and may be requested to provide larger program technical and scientific support.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
How to Apply: Visit http://irconservancy.applicantpro.com to submit your resume and cover letter. Selected candidate(s) will be subject to a federal background check including motor vehicle record. Open until filled.
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
The Project Manager/Ecologist for Irvine Ranch Conservancy is responsible for providing high-level science-based management of land management projects and contracts. Works closely with colleagues, partners, and agencies to ensure regulatory and contract compliance and successful natural resource management. Develops budgets, participates in planning, consults on land management issues, and oversees diverse projects and programs, including invasive species management, restoration, wildfire impacts management, and landscape-level habitat and species monitoring. Works collaboratively to ensure that projects are implemented successfully and completed on time and results are reported. May provide technical and scientific expertise to support others achieving strategic objectives and goals. Success will require effectively managing multiple projects and programs concurrently, supervising staff, collaboratively establishing and effectively managing priorities and deadlines, and balancing the Conservancy’s strategic objectives with contractual obligations. Success also requires close adherence to established organizational processes and procedures, effective organizational integration, and outstanding external partnerships. Requires working cooperatively in a fast-paced, practical, team-based, solution-oriented atmosphere. May help identify funding sources for projects and initiatives and develop funding proposals as needed and may be requested to provide larger program technical and scientific support.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
- Master’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resources management, or related field and at least three years of related work experience in land management. PhD preferred.
- High-level expertise with biological systems, flora, and fauna of Coastal Southern California. Strong knowledge of current trends in conservation and land management as well as ecological issues related to urban interfaces.
- Strong project management skills, including demonstrated experience developing, directing, and managing the implementation of multiple concurrent projects and timelines and obtaining consistent, high-quality, measurable results with a wide variety of implementation partners.
- Demonstrated skills in experimental design and analysis of conservation projects, monitoring for adaptive management, invasive species management and/or large-scale project implementation.
- Strong skills in developing and managing and coordinating contracts and budgets.
- Familiarity with biological compliance issues.
- Familiarity with state and federal regulatory policies and procedures.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
- Anticipates, analyzes, and addresses complex problems associated directly with land management, organizational, and project objectives. Solves problems in collaboration.
- Highly diverse work involves planning, managing, and executing projects in active collaboration with Conservancy teammates and aligned with contractual obligations and the organization’s broad, long-term strategic objectives.
- Highly adaptable; has ability to conceive and adjust strategy and tactics in a dynamic, collaborative, partnership-centered work environment within identified constraints; enjoys the challenge of complex problem solving directed at Conservancy’s established mission.
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
- Must think and act in a manner consistent with the broad organizational objectives and specific work program.
- Comfortable managing high ambiguity and risk factors and making wise decisions without complete information in a collaborative team and partner environment.
- Exercises good judgment and collaboration with senior management when faced with decisions that affect organization’s public image and credibility or that significantly impact sustainability.
- Ability to compile, organize, synthesize, and interpret scientific information and use it effectively in decision making.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Experience preparing clear, accurate, and professional proposals, reports and documents.
- Must work actively with organizational colleagues at all stages of work; ability to inspire, motivate, and engage individuals and groups toward developing common solutions and results on long-term programmatic initiatives.
- Skill in leveraging constructive and effective relationships inside and outside the organization.
- Works well with others at multiple levels from field staff to agency executives. Conveys project goals, objectives, and activities to diverse groups including partners, agency staff, and others who are essential to overall success – builds support for agreed-upon programs and projects.
- Effectively guides and engages with volunteers.
- Communicates a compelling and inspired vision and sense of core purpose.
- Thinks and acts ecologically at a landscape scale. Is able to communicate this perspective effectively and compellingly.
- Understands and stays focused on the primary goal of maintaining the natural resources of the open space wildlands while providing compatible public access.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
- Requires willingness to work long hours and/or variable hours outdoors at multiple locations as needed.
- Ability to perform tasks in an open space setting that involves diverse weather conditions and demanding field circumstances on difficult and sometimes hazardous terrain.
- Ability to lift and transport 40 lbs of materials, equipment or tools by hand and to traverse long distances on foot to remote work-sites.
- Work requires physical exertion and/or strain to the point of physical fatigue. Work will include kneeling or squatting for extended periods of time.
How to Apply: Visit http://irconservancy.applicantpro.com to submit your resume and cover letter. Selected candidate(s) will be subject to a federal background check including motor vehicle record. Open until filled.
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.