Nature-based Solutions Applied Scientist (m/f/d)

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪

Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪

Job ID: 53902

Location: Germany

Full/Part Time:

Regular/Temporary: Regular

OFFICE LOCATION

Berlin, Germany

Brussels, Belgium

WHO WE ARE

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature.

The Nature Conservancy’s Europe Program is recruiting a NbS Applied Scientist to work with an interdisciplinary team to study how to NbS can be effectively and equitably applied to adapt to climate change. This is a good position for recent graduates with skills in remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) and knowledge of ecosystem service mapping and models, who wish to gain practical, real-world conservation experience.

The NbS Applied Scientist will report to the Lead Scientist for Nature-based Solutions at TNC, and will be key technical support for a large project just getting started with support from the EU Horizon, called “Naturescapes”. The goal of the Naturescapes project is to study how the European Union can use NbS to create climate resilient, nature positive, and socially just communities in diverse landscapes. There are multiple university and NGO partners from Europe and Latin America, and so the NbS Applied Scientist will have the opportunity to interact with a large community of conservation professionals as part of this project.

The NbS Applied Scientist will use remotely sensed imagery and land-cover information to map natural land cover over time in 12 in-depth case study cities. Then, for a broader set of 30 cities, they will analyse the equity of the current distribution of natural land cover relative to socioeconomic data. These datasets will be key for the success of the larger Naturescapes project.

Main responsibilities:  

  • Working with the Lead Scientist for NbS, design a methodology to map natural land cover and NbS, and analyze the equity of its distribution.
  • Implement this methodology, leading the analysis but with guidance and support from the Lead Scientist.
  • Coordinate TNC’s interaction with the larger Naturescapes project, including scheduling occasional ad hoc meetings with other institutions working on related parts of the Naturescapes project.
  • Write reports or scientific publications that document the results of the analysis.
  • Travels occasionally across Europe and internationally, to working meetings as well as well as to the annual meetings of the Naturescapes consortium.

This is a full-time position with 1-year, fixed term contract. The place of work is one of the TNC Europe offices in Brussels or Berlin. Flexible working arrangements are possible. No relocation or immigration assistance is offered with this position.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. If you have experience using GIS and remote sensing to analyse conservation problems- look no further! The Nature Conservancy may be the place for you. Apply today and find a career where you can find meaning and purpose. We’re looking for someone who is a passionate, motivated problem-solver. Come join TNC and apply today! 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

  • Master’s Degree in the environment, conservation, sustainability or similar topics, and 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. The year of experience may include internships and other applied conservation experience that occurred during the candidates education.
  • Experience with Geographic Information Systems software and Remote Sensing (e.g., ENVI, ERDAS, ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine). 
  • Experience with the concept of ecosystem services and with the basic ways of modelling and mapping ecosystem service provision.
  • Experience with communication via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, which is the working language for the Naturescapes project.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. 
  • Familiarity with statistical analysis software (for instance, R or SAS).
  • Hands-on experience with using land use (land cover modelling and future projections) data.

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers. 

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 53902, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 01.09.2023. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other status protected by law.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development