POSITION
Santa Cruz Island Restoration Manager
ORGANIZATION
The Nature Conservancy
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Nature Conservancy has owned and operated the 46,000-acre Santa Cruz Island (SCI) 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 TNC’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 will be the principal project manager overseeing this grant. Their scope also includes working to improve the islands’ biodiversity, climate resilience and proactive ecological threat abatement with partners and TNC’s matrixed team. They are the Restoration Program’s lead for defining project objectives and design specific to habitat and species level conservation outcomes. They develop and oversee long-term restoration work plans to accomplish multi-year conservation outcomes 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. In close partnership with TNC’s science, stewardship and conservation technology teams they set objectives; design projects; coordinate work; and track and report on progress. They collaboratively develop and manage internal and external relationships and serve as a principle contact with government and NGO partners who are critical for achieving TNC’s mission on the Channel Islands. The Manager will participate in cross-island collaborations and forums for knowledge exchange.
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 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 is currently a 3 year termed position, with potential for extension.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
• Leads and manages large teams and complex multi-year projects to achieve conservation efforts.
• 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.
• Builds cooperation with outside parties to accomplish program goals.
• Manages multi-disciplinary staff and contractors, with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development.
• 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.
• Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Leads tours for a variety of groups, including donors, agency representatives, and the community.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
CONTACT
Esther Gonzalez
esther.gonzalez@tnc.org
https://careers.nature.org/psp/tnccareers/APPLICANT/APPL/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&SiteId=1&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=56162&PostingSeq=1