Senior Science Director

About The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is the leading conservation organization working to protect America’s wild places and public lands for the health of local communities, wildlife, and climate. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure the sound management of America’s public lands. TWS is scaling up its work to address the existential threat of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and deep inequities with access to the benefits of nature. TWS is working to achieve four major collective impact results: protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, transitioning off of fossil fuel development on public lands to well-sited renewable energy, securing equitable access to public lands and their benefits, and building a critical mass of support for conservation of public lands.

The Wilderness Society recognizes the historic and ongoing injustices perpetrated against Indigenous peoples, particularly those perpetrated by traditional conservation organizations and is committed to being more conscientious and inclusive in our work. This includes working directly with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to support conservation outcomes that respect the priorities and concerns of Tribes to ensure a more just and equitable future.

General Description

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Federal Policy, the Senior Science Director is responsible for managing a team of highly talented and respected researchers, cartographers, and analysts who develop and apply scientific information to inform conservation strategy, shape land management policy, and guide our organizational priorities. The position is responsible for setting objectives and directing the Science team’s staff and resources to ensure innovative science and timely application. In addition to internal duties, the Senior Science Director represents the organization externally as a national leader in conservation science.

The Senior Science Director also plays a critical role in establishing and reinforcing an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization. This leader will integrate these priorities throughout our science, from expanding our partnerships to bringing equity considerations to all facets of their work. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, supervise and empower a results-oriented team of researchers, cartographers, and analysts, ensuring high-quality products and professional development through direct supervision of staff, oversight of the Science team budget and accountability for the performance of the whole team.
• Oversee the Science team in producing scientific reports, white papers, peer-reviewed papers and science & policy briefs needed to inform the protection, restoration, and stewardship of public lands, and in conducting innovative research addressing emerging challenges facing national public lands.
• Serve as an advisor to senior leadership (particularly the Vice President for Federal Policy and Vice President for Conservation & Communities) and other senior program staff in shaping the organization’s strategy, positions, and priorities.
• Provides technical guidance to colleagues and develops and review contracts for third-party research and scientific products.
• Independently contribute to multiple, concurrent policy and place-based campaigns by integrating science to advance key program goals. Serve as a subject matter expert, effectively communicating research findings, analytical insights, and policy recommendations to government agencies, elected officials, conservation partners, the media, judicial bodies, and other audiences
• Serve as a primary resource to Giving & Impact staff to develop and deliver on fundraising strategy. Participate in major donor and foundation solicitation and stewardship activities as needed, including building and maintaining relationships with some of our largest institutional donors.
• Experience leading and managing teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives. This includes a track record of successful recruitment, cultivation, and retention of highly skilled staff
• Travel within the U.S. as needed to assist with projects, connect with partners, or support the team
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, wildlife biology, landscape ecology, forestry, or related field and at least 10 years of experience leading research and applied science projects with established record of productivity.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing teams with a mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives. This includes a track record of successful recruitment, cultivation, and retention of highly skilled staff across race and gender.
• Exceptional communication skills and demonstrated ability to translate complex ecological information into terms that can be understood by a non-scientific audience.
• Familiarity with North American ecosystems and policies affecting U.S. federal lands.
• Working knowledge of GIS concepts and principles.
• Knowledge of conservation issues on public lands and how they relate to natural resource management and federal public land law and policy.

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, sick and vacation leave, paid parental leave, a sabbatical program, and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.

The salary range for this position is $132,000-$163,000 depending on location. The preferred locations for this position are Washington, DC; Hallowell, ME; Asheville, NC; Bozeman, MT; Boise, ID; Anchorage, AK; Oakland, CA; Seattle, WA; Albuquerque, NM; Tucson, AZ; Lander, WY; Denver, CO & Durango, CO. Other locations may be considered.

To apply please submit a cover letter and full CV by May 26th, 2025.

As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.