Applied Climate Modeling Scientist – The Nature Conservancy

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC, we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in and where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone who can serve as a climate science leader and technical subject matter resource for diverse conservation initiatives. Communication, managing complex science projects, working with diverse teams, and capacity building are key in this role. 

The Applied Climate Modeling Scientist will represent the Conservancy as a science leader on multidisciplinary/multi-partner project teams that require climate data or modeling inputs related to conservation, adaptation, and climate resilience. They will ensure that the latest methods, tools, and learning as well as cutting-edge data, modeling and analysis approaches are coordinated and implemented across the Conservancy. They will lead and support the timely development of peer-reviewed publications that report on these analyses. Together with TNC colleagues, they will work to demonstrate and communicate that nature-based solutions are an integral component of a human-centered approach to climate resilience, keeping both people and nature safer in an uncertain future.

The Applied Climate Modeling Scientist Responsibilities & Scope include:

• Providing strategic leadership, oversight, and implementation of climate data and high-resolution projections across the Conservancy. 
• Helping to develop training programs for non-specialist internal and external programs and colleagues on best practice and state-of-the-art climate science to support adaptation planning decisions.
• Ensuring that global and field-based projects utilize appropriate climate data and projections to ensure climate resilience.
• Fostering internal and external collaborations with TNC business units, universities, and project partners around the world to integrate climate data and projections into diverse planning contexts.
• Managing and writing grants, contracts, or funding proposals.
• Maintaining scientific credibility through applied research, peer reviewed publications, and communication to diverse audiences.
• Reporting and communicating on project impact to TNC and project partners.
• Managing projects and direct reports. 
• Being self-motivated in ongoing learning so that skills remain current.
• Working in a complex matrix organization environment. 
• Being willing to travel between two to seven weeks per year locally, regionally, and internationally as required to meet project and strategy needs. We prioritize virtual engagement but recognize that some projects may require travel. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• A minimum of a master’s degree in a science-related field and at least 6 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fluency in R, NetCDF, MATLAB, Python, and/or other relevant computing programs and languages 
• Experienced in analyzing, interpreting and applying observational climate data, global model projections, and scenarios.
• Experience in the development and application of high-resolution climate projections from dynamical and/or empirical statistical downscaling models to climate impact assessments and climate adaptation and resilience planning across a broad range of sectors and geographies. 
• Experience in identifying the most appropriate climate inputs, including observations and model projections, for use in projects that span a broad range of sectors, resources and geographies.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and technical reports that include quantitative analysis of climate data and/or climate projections.
• Experience writing grants and research proposals.
• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
• Excellent communication skills, written, spoken and graphical.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken.  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD and several years of related experience in climate modeling and the application of climate data and projections to assess climate impacts and vulnerability.
• Experience integrating climate data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based tools, such as ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, GRASS, and other similar tools. 
• Experience with climate resilience and adaptation planning in more than one of academia, non-profit, private and government settings. 
• Experience in teaching or developing training materials and workshops related to helping non-experts understand climate modeling, vulnerability assessments and/or adaptation planning concepts.
• Experience and eagerness to work in a transdisciplinary environment, developing collaborative approaches and valuing knowledge plurality (natural sciences, social sciences, Indigenous and local knowledge).
• Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects, including budgets and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
• Independent and self-motivated with the ability to participate effectively in a remote team environment.
• Professional network in climate adaptation science and sectoral impacts analysis.
• Supervisory experience.
• Multilingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.

Learn more and apply: https://careers.nature.org/psc/tnccareers/APPLICANT/APPL/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=52690&PostingSeq=1&