BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads, and finances under deadlines.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Supervisory experience.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Regional Watershed Specialist for Mexico and the North of Central America (MNCA) directs some or all aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for Water Funds in MNCA. The work will include providing assistance and lead on the development of feasibility studies, the institutional scheme to be created, financial plans and investment plans for the water financial mechanism. This includes support on ecosystem services modeling, climate change modeling, conservation planning and monitoring. The position should guarantee a consistent and coherent approach towards water funds throughout the Conservancy and water funds in MNCA, performing a variety of routine scientific tasks and/or conservation activities, with scientific staff, methods, practices and programs. This include the following functions:
- Collects and manages hydrological and biological data
- Develop ecosystem services and climate change modeling for water funds
- Follow up implementation of technical studies in water funds
- Support the implementation of science- based monitoring in water funds
- Delivers conservation tools, biodiversity data, field services, and training to Conservancy staff and its
- partners, in particular in topics such as ecosystem services modeling, climate change, conservation planning and monitoring
- Maintains data, writes project reports, and develops proposals
- Coordinates fieldwork and logistical support for research, project development and monitoring
- Performs fieldwork, including ecosystem assessment and field monitoring
He/she develops a systematic approach for sharing experiences and lessons learned among water funds and support institutions in MNCA.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- 5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in science-related field of watershed management or hydrology and at least 7 years’ experience in conservation or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions
- Ability to collect, manipulate, analyze, and interpret scientific data and prepare reports of findings.
- Proven time management skills and meeting deadlines while delivering quality results.
- Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes
- Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers) and ability to use computer technology to enhance the quality of work.
- Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs
- Demonstrated experience in the following areas: ArcGIS, interpretation of image analysis, complex spatial analysis, data modeling and landscape scenario analysis
- Experience in hydrological modeling
- Ability to make practical sense out of processed data and apply to real world applications
- Experience training individuals and groups
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English and Spanish.
- Knowledge of land management conservation practice and conservation science
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
- Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.) including extensive networking with high-level conservation contacts; political savvy.
- Proven interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
- Diagnoses complex problems and identifies creative solutions
- Negotiates complex agreements, sometimes in political environments
- Develops and implements creative ideas to improve overall performance in conservation strategies
- Interprets guidelines, evaluates information, and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances
- Ability to coordinate multiple projects with several variables, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes.
- Compiles and organizes scientific data with attention to detail.
- Analyzes situations, evaluates alternatives and implements solutions.
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
- Ensures program accountability and legal compliance
- Makes decisions based on incomplete or ambiguous information and accepts associated risks
- Work affords opportunity to act independently on assigned tasks.
- Consults peers to review own work
- Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- Performs tasks with minimal supervision.
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
- Responsible for operating within budget guidelines to ensure sound financial performance. Develop and
- administer departmental budget and has authority to modify budget based on changing circumstances.
- Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- May help develop work plans and project budgets.
- May negotiate and contract with vendors.
- Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
- Ability to work cooperatively with a number of staff and external parties, sometimes under pressure, in order to complete project work and goals in a timely manner.
- Works effectively under pressure
- Diffuses tension among colleagues comfortably
- Provide a variety of information to staff and others, contributing to conservation projects and assisting workflow throughout the organization.
- Produces results in a team environment work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information.
- Ability to write grants and researching proposals.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
These conditions may:
- require physical exertion and/or muscular strain
- present possibility of injury
- require long hours in isolated settings