Postdoctoral Associate, Freshwater Science
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.
POSITION SUMMARY – This position could be based in Arlington-VA, Brazil (remote), Singapore, Australia (remote) or Bogota-Colombia
Avoiding dangerous declines in the extent and health of freshwater ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people requires transformative actions across all sectors of our societies and economies, technological innovation, and unprecedented investment in nature-based solutions, all pursued urgently, globally, and in parallel. The Freshwater Science team within the Moore Center for Science (MCS) at Conservation International conducts high-impact, innovative, and applied research in support of advancing actionable freshwater science, employing a range of spatial analysis and modeling techniques, remote sensing, GIS and in-situ monitoring, in close collaboration with colleagues across CI’s Global and Field Divisions. Our work is grounded in a system-wide perspective engendered by our ‘healthy watersheds’ approach to watershed management, which ensures benefits flow to both people and nature. That perspective is critical for our, and partners’ ability to contribute to delivering on one of the most important global policy goals of this decade—the ‘Freshwater Challenge’—announced at the UN Water Conference in March 2023. This challenge aims to bring 300,000 km of rivers and 350 million ha of inland waters under restoration by 2030. Our freshwater work seeks to maximize delivery of this goal through, and in the context of, CI’s institutional priorities. Our freshwater science recognizes that local communities are deeply invested in securing their water supply, as well as resilience against cycles of floods and droughts, which are all benefits shaped by healthy freshwater ecosystems. At the same time, there is a growing opportunity to utilize globally recognized mechanisms for carbon financing to support the mainstreaming of natural climate solutions (NCS) to deliver climate mitigation outcomes (carbon storage and sequestration) through the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems.
The Freshwater Science team is now looking for a Postdoctoral Scientist to support and/or lead research and technical initiatives to help rapidly scale the protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and hydrologically important terrestrial ecosystems, by aligning actions that deliver freshwater, climate and biodiversity benefits at local, regional and global scales. These will include a range of geospatial modeling analyses across multiple scales; ‘big data’ analysis and associated data compilation; and helping convene expert stakeholder workshops to tackle specific issues such as options for improved management of working forests and farms to reduce pressures; all designed to deliver freshwater conservation, restoration and sustainable use. The successful candidate will deliver rigorous research products, tools, and related outputs that provide CI staff, partners, and decision-makers with the resources needed to make evidence-based decisions and deliver on the goals of the Freshwater Challenge.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and/or support ecohydrological and geospatial modeling – potentially from global to local scales.
- Provide technical support on climate and freshwater integration – with a particular focus on carbon storage and sequestration in freshwater ecosystems.
- Function as a contributor to implement CI’s institutional priorities and enhance CI’s country program’s ability to deliver on their programs faster and with greater impact.
- Write reports, author/co-author scientific publications, and develop relevant communications materials for CI leadership and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate across CI’s country programs, Moore Center of Science, and other key CI divisions (e.g., Conservation Finance, Center for Natural Climate Solutions, and Center for Sustainable Lands and Waters) to evaluate evolving internal freshwater science needs.
- Work with external collaborators (e.g., research institutions and universities) to apply and refine CI’s freshwater research efforts.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Work is performed in a typical office environment.
- Frequent travel: > 25% may be necessary.
- Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate time differences between HQ and the region may be necessary.
- Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
- This is a 1-year fixed-term assignment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Ph.D. in ecohydrology, water resource management, hydroinformatics, climate-freshwater nexus, or related fields.
- 4-6 years of work experience in scientific research, conservation, and/or managing research projects in multiple freshwater contexts.
- Proven ability in successfully interpreting and applying hydrological and geospatial modeling (e.g., SWAT, etc.) and developing creative solutions to achieve practical results.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the current state of play around carbon storage and sequestration issues, challenges, and opportunities, in the context of climate mitigation, as they relate to freshwater ecosystems.
- Technical skills in programming (e.g., R or Python) and data processing.
- Proficient in statistical, remote sensing, and GIS software systems and procedures, including Google Earth Engine.
- Demonstrated ability to write scientific reports and peer review papers.
- Demonstrated ability to think critically, with excellent analytical and mathematical skills.
- Proficient in relevant software systems, terminology, and procedures.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a broader team.
- Eagerness to work effectively across geographically distributed, multi-cultural teams and within and across organizations, especially in Global South.
- Highly organized and strong attention to detail.
Preferred
- Experience with ecohydrology methods and research, extending to interactions between freshwater and climate.
- Experience working in a developing country context.
- Experience conducting research and/or practice on the efficacy and implementation of nature-based solutions (e.g., ecological restoration, reforestation) for freshwater health.
- International work experience.
- Demonstrated ability to think at the system level, recognizing that climate mitigation and adaptation is a multi-sectoral challenge, and using interdisciplinary thinking to solve complex problems.
- Multilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French).
To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
Application Deadline: November 30, 2023 (11:49 PM EST)
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.
As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.
