Director, Great Plains Science

Company Description

Founded in 1961, WWF works to help people and nature thrive. As a global conservation organization, WWF operates in more than 100 countries, partnering with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions. Grounded in science and driven by collaboration, WWF works to help nature by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. Nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 5 million globally are WWF members.

Job Description

Major Function

The Science Program Director will oversee the Science program whose purpose is to ensure WWF’s Great Plains (GP) Program is guided by robust science to 1) sustain and expand intact grasslands, 2) enhance the ecological function of prairie ecosystems, and 3) restore keystone and endangered wildlife, while ensuring WWF continues to be a leader in grassland conservation science. This work entails managing a staff of 2-4 science specialists and senior specialists; developing and maintaining key partnerships in the science community; engaging with public and private sector partners; prioritizing strategies to meet overall program objectives; measuring progress toward program goals; designing and implementing a variety of programs focused on improving grassland conservation; fundraising for program goals and objectives; and managing project workflows that involve numerous other internal WWF teams.

Responsibilities

• Management. Manages a high performing, strong and united team of 2-4 staff members, facilitating good communication, collaboration and sharing of lessons learned. Provides leadership to the Great Plains team to implement program priorities, including designing research workstreams with staff, tracking progress and evaluating results. Ensures team members have clear work plans and expectations.
• Strategy development and implementation. Works with Science team and others (e.g. Sustainable Ranching Initiative, Great Plains Wildlife Initiative, Wildlife Team, Freshwater, etc.) in developing, implementing and regularly evaluating strategies, priorities, budgets, and timelines. Ensures results are delivered on time and within budgetary guidelines.

• Partnership Development: Develop, build, and maintain partnerships with leaders in the science community within the government, non-profits, ranching community, Native Nations, and the private sector to support the goals of the GP Program including improving management of grasslands, protecting land from conversion, restoring native grasslands and native wildlife. Identify new partners to broaden the reach and enhance the durability of grassland conservation science. Coaches the Science team on partnership development.
• Policy. Coordinates with Great Plains team, WWF Policy & Government Affairs, and external partners to support science needs for advocacy of policies at numerous levels of government that promote grassland conservation, wildlife restoration, and incentivize sustainable grazing and grassland management.
• Leadership Team. Serves as part of GP’s leadership team to drive integration of programs within the GP (including identifying emerging opportunities, improving existing conservation projects and troubleshooting and resolving conservation challenges), address regular field office issues, and build team cohesiveness.
• Fundraising. In coordination with WWF Development, Private Sector Engagement, and GP team, the Director will lead development and conceptual framework for proposals. Works closely with the Operations team to clarify priorities and develop budgets. Leads drafting of proposals and/or oversees staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals and reports. Engages with the WWF GP VP to determine priorities, communicate with funders, attend events or conduct field site visits as needed.

Qualifications

Key Competencies:

Leadership/Management – is needed to lead, develop, and support a high-performing science team while setting clear priorities, clarifying workplans and expectations, providing feedback, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the team’s work is aligned with the Great Plains Program strategic plan.

Research/Analytical Thinking/Intellectual Curiosity – is needed to ensure the Great Plains Program is guided by rigorous science, strong ecological and social monitoring, adaptive learning, and the ability to synthesize complex scientific information into practical conservation strategies.

Strategic Planning and Implementation – is needed to translate science priorities into actionable strategies, budgets, timelines, and measurable outcomes that support intact grassland protection, improved ecological function, and wildlife restoration across the Great Plains.

Partnership Development and Engagement – is needed to build and maintain trusted relationships with universities, agencies, nonprofits, Native Nations, ranching communities, funders, additional WWF science teams, and private-sector partners, while strengthening the credibility, reach, and durability of WWF’s grassland conservation science.

Detail-Oriented, Results-Oriented Project Management – is needed to manage multiple complex workstreams, staff responsibilities, budgets, consultants, timelines, proposals, reports, and metrics with a high level of accuracy and follow-through. This role requires someone who can track details carefully, anticipate gaps, uphold scientific and operational quality, and ensure that science priorities are delivered on time and in support of broader organizational objectives.

Skills and Abilities

• Master’s degree and minimum 10 years' experience, in a related field is required. PhD contributes towards experience.
• Knowledge of, and experience working in, the Great Plains ecoregion
• Expert scientific knowledge of the drivers, threats, and opportunities in grassland conservation.
• Scientific leadership on grassland conversion, ecological and social indicators, climate mitigation and biodiversity accounting, and wildlife restoration.
• Deep familiarity of ecological/conservation principles, including proven experience with monitoring the ecological response of restoration and conservation efforts.
• Knowledge of community led conservation principles and understanding of social science that can be applied to measure conservation outcomes.
• Deep familiarity of ecological/conservation principles at ecoregional scale, history, and trends.
• Excellent knowledge of national and regional conservation arena, key players, and policies. 
• Ability to think strategically and incorporate input from a variety of stakeholders, collaborators, and fellow staff members.
• Experience managing complex projects, and many projects at once, including managing staff, budgets, workplans, timelines, and tracking metrics.
• Strong fundraising skills, including excellent skills in writing/editing proposals and reports, setting goals and objectives, and developing budgets and timelines.
• Demonstrated success synthesizing and packaging big ideas for individual donors, government grants, foundation, and corporate support.
• Experience supervising staff, including developing work plans, providing feedback and managing performance, and providing leadership to a team.
• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with a variety of science partners including, universities, non-profits, private entities, government agencies, tribal colleges, and funders.
• Excellent communication skills, both one-on-one and in a group setting.
• Ability to take initiative, make decisions, facilitate and inspire the work of others.
• Experience managing external consultants/contractors.
• Willingness to travel as necessary, which may be up to 5-10%.
• Knowledge and experience working with Native nations in the Northern Great Plains preferred. Cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Willingness and ability to think outside the box, be innovative, and work with a wide range of conservation practitioners.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
  • Courage Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
  • Integrity Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
  • Respect Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
  • Collaboration Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

Additional Information

Location: Bozeman, MT. Preference will be given to candidates based in Bozeman or elsewhere within the Northern Great Plains region (central/eastern Montana, western South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and would consider Colorado).

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  

This position is eligible for domestic (United States) relocation.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.