Office Location:

Minnesota, United States

#Li-Hybrid

The AFCS will be based in Minnesota. Depending on location, hybrid in-office or flexible work arrangements are possible. The AFCS will be expected to travel occasionally to field offices or for partner meetings within and around the region. Travel frequency will be determined by project needs. 

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:

As the Applied Forest Climate Scientist (AFCS,) you will provide technical and scientific leadership in forest ecology, monitoring and evaluation of conservation strategies, and forest-based climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and policy. You will be part of the Science team and and an integrated member of the Resilient Forest team that serves as a thought partner to provide science to direct biodiversity and climate-driven strategies, fill research and information gaps, and quantify biodiversity and GHG emission outcomes. You will also supervise staff, including performance management, training, and onboarding. Task oriented projects may include leading a forest monitoring and evaluation initiative, evaluation of carbon benefits of improved forest management practices, developing carbon accounting protocols for conservation projects, evaluating effectiveness of adaptation approaches, or staying current on forest science to advise TNC’s external affairs team.

In this role, you will contribute to the Science Team and Resilient Forest Team’s communication goals by communicating scientific findings, literature, and knowledge syntheses to a diverse audience (including the general public, partners, media, and the scientific community). Communication outlets include written reports, fact sheets, scientific publications, popular media stories, media interviews, and both formal and informal oral presentations. You will also provide technical and scientific leadership for forest resilience and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and policy.

As the AFCS, you will work with internal and external colleagues to collect and manage data for forest resilience and climate mitigation and adaptation projects. You will convene/facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations, conduct scientific surveys and research, record data, write reports and support donor engagement, and develop proposals to support forest science information gaps or needs. Depending on the project, field work might be necessary; therefore, you should expect to work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain or under physically demanding circumstances.

We’re Looking for You:

The AFCS will contribute to an interdisciplinary team of scientists and staff with expertise in grassland, forest, and freshwater ecosystems and spatial and statistical analyses. You will have the opportunity to inform on the ground conservation actions across a diversity of landscapes and communities with a diverse set of partners and build the evidence base for our conservation work.

TNC is a global organization tackling climate change around the world. While focused on applying carbon accounting and adaptation strategies locally in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, you will have the opportunity to collaborate and connect with TNC colleagues working on similar challenges in other places. In this position, you will take a lead role in informing our forest resilience and climate strategies and quantifying impacts and outcomes, working both independently and collaboratively with multiple TNC teams and partners. Through this work, you will build and maintain relationships and collaborations with a broad and diverse knowledge and conservation community.

We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to lead cross functional teams in support of our conservation work. Communication and experience interpreting scientific information are key in this role. If that sounds like you, come join TNC and apply today!

What You’ll Bring:

• Master’s degree in science related field and 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing people, projects, workloads, and finances with adherence to deadlines.
• Experience leading and working with cross functional teams.
• Experience synthesizing, interpreting, and communicating scientific information.
• Experience preparing reports of findings.
• Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
• Experience working in forested ecosystems or with forest ecosystem carbon modeling.
• Experience with common environmental science software applications (e.g., ArcGIS, R, Microsoft Office).

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become 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, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Additional Job Information:

The AFCS will be based in Minnesota. Depending on location, hybrid in-office or flexible work arrangements are possible. The AFCS will be expected to travel occasionally to field offices or for partner meetings within and around the region. Travel frequency will be determined by project needs.

Creating a community of inclusivity and belonging through collaboration and feedback is an intentional effort in the Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Chapter which is in alignment with the broader organization. We’re committed to building a culture based on trust, transparency, empathy, and accountability. We value individuality and difference of backgrounds and ideas, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. 

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $65,280 - $89,675 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific 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.