Science Director, California Water Program
Quick answer
The Nature Conservancy is hiring a California-based Science Director for its Water Program, offering a salary range of $128k-$275.5k to lead scientific research and multidisciplinary conservation strategies.
- Role
- Science Director, California Water Program
- Organization
- The Nature Conservancy
- Location
- California
- Work setup
- Hybrid
- Level
- Senior
- Compensation
- $128,000 – $275,500
- Category
- Research & Evaluation
The role
The Science Director for the California Water Program at The Nature Conservancy provides strategic, technical, and scientific leadership for freshwater and groundwater conservation initiatives. This role involves managing a multidisciplinary team to drive scientific research, product development, and external collaborations to advance biodiversity conservation. The Director partners with the Water Program Director to integrate science, policy, and place-based strategies across the organization. The position requires extensive experience in scientific research, team leadership, and persuasive communication with diverse stakeholders.
What you'll do
- Lead, manage, and mentor a team of scientists to drive program objectives.
- Develop innovative scientific strategies and products to support freshwater and groundwater conservation.
- Build and maintain strong external partnerships with academic, government, and non-profit sectors.
- Represent the organization as a freshwater science expert to diverse public and professional audiences.
- Oversee grant management, budget development, and tracking of project spending.
What it takes
- PhD in a science-related field with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
- Proven experience in supervisory roles, including coaching and performance management.
- Demonstrated history of conducting original research and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and leading complex, multidisciplinary projects.
- In-depth knowledge of socio-ecological, political, and freshwater conservation issues in California.
What you'll bring
How we treat you
Competitive health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan with 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, and an employee assistance program.
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary for this position?
The salary ranges from $128,000 to $275,500 depending on the specific California location of the candidate.
Is this position remote?
The organization supports a flexible work environment, but the role requires up to 50% travel, including to remote field locations, indicating a hybrid or field-based operational model.
What are the core educational requirements?
Candidates are required to have a PhD in a science-related field along with 8 years of relevant professional experience.
How should I apply?
There is no specific deadline mentioned, but the organization uses a rolling interview process and encourages candidates to apply as soon as possible.
How to apply
Apply directly on The Nature Conservancy's site. We link straight through — no resume parsing, no profile to fill out.
This listing is aggregated from a third-party source and its summary may be auto-generated, so details can be inaccurate or out of date. ForGood is not the employer and is not liable for the content — please verify everything on The Nature Conservancy's official posting before applying.