What We Can Achieve Together:
The Nature Conservancy has owned and operated the 46,000 acre Santa Cruz Island Preserve, located 25 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, since 1978 as a center for large-scale ecological research and restoration and a site to cultivate support for the Conservancy’s mission.
The Island Restoration Manager directs some or all aspects of design, implementation, and monitoring of restoration projects, providing expertise and oversight for TNC’s established conservation goals on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. The Nature Conservancy recently received a large multi-year grant to implement habitat restoration projects on SCI and SRI, and the Restoration Manager is the principal project manager overseeing this grant.
We’re Looking for You:
The Island Restoration Manager works to improve the islands’ biodiversity, climate resilience and proactive ecological threat abatement with partners and TNC’s matrixed team. They lead the program in defining project objectives and design, specific to habitat and species level conservation outcomes. They develop and oversee multi-year restoration work plans across interconnected objectives which may include designing trials, tools and innovative methods. The Manager communicates complex solutions and best practices tailored to specific needs and audiences, including proposals and reports. They seek and engage support for TNC’s restoration work through community networks and funders to secure resources.
The Manager is required to work both independently and in collaboration with partners, contractors and a team of staff in a highly matrixed organization. Due to the remote nature of the work environment and eight-day work tours for field crews, successful candidates must be safety-oriented, methodically organized, and strong communicators through a variety of means.
This is a salaried, exempt position and living accommodations on-island are provided. The Restoration Manager is expected to be located on-site for at least nine days per month, primarily on Santa Cruz Island and regularly on other islands in the Channel Islands National Park. This position is currently termed based on funding, scheduled to end on September 30, 2027, with possibility for extension.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Develops, implements and reports on large multi-year project plans and budgets that encompass both TNC and partner work.
- Writes and manages grants, accomplishes deliverables and administers budgets.
- Participates in cross-island collaborations and forums for knowledge exchange.
- Builds cooperation with outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- Leads and manages contractors and volunteers to support and improve conservation efforts.
- Works collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams and supports program objectives by working in a matrixed organization environment.
- Establishes and maintains optimal standards of performance.
- Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
- Financial responsibility will include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets.
- Leads site visits and tours for a variety of groups, including donors, agency representatives, and the community.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Routinely makes independent decisions based on consultation, analysis, experience, and context.
- Leads site visits and tours for a variety of groups, including donors, agency representatives, and the community.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience planning, managing, and executing complex projects, including staffing, workloads, logistics and finances under deadlines.
- Experience completing tasks independently and managing timeline(s).
- Experience writing and managing grants, completing deliverables to budget and deadline.
- Experience leading and working with cross functional teams.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
- Experience facilitating groups, motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing outcomes.
- Project management, organization, and collaboration skills.
- Commitment to applying the principles of conservation and ecology in day-to-day decision-making.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Must be able to perform physical work, often under adverse conditions or in inclement weather, including lifting 45lbs, bending, kneeling and walking up to 5 miles on moderately steep terrain.
- Must have prior CPR and First Aid training and willingness to obtain additional related certifications.
- Experience with common software applications.
- Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
Desired Qualifications:
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years related experience in project management including planning and/or moderately complex processes including logistics in remote environments; budgets from multiple funding sources; and experimental design, data collection and monitoring.
- Demonstrated experience in utilizing GIS platforms.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing restoration plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Politically savvy.
Salary Information:
The starting annual pay range for this position is within the range of $82,700 - $97,275.
This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA, state of employment is California, and county of employment is Ventura or Santa Barbara. A successful candidate’s pay will be based on a variety of factors, including location, qualifications, skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.