Environmental Conservation Science Research

Position: Conservation Scientist – Research Priorities, Partnerships & Monitoring
Organization: rare Charitable Research Reserve
Location: Cambridge, Ontario / Hybrid

Conservation Scientist –
Research Priorities, Partnerships & Monitoring

Who You Are

You are a scientist who has a passion for research and the environment and want to work towards a greater good by contributing to a diverse team. You understand that your success is only as good as the whole, and you contribute in a humble way while thinking big, for example by being the key lead on developing an interdisciplinary research plan that includes community science as well as partnering with universities, colleges and other institutions. You have high expectations for yourself and your work and a healthy appetite for risk and experimentation while willing to learn from failure. You are someone who enjoys being independent and the freedom to develop yourself over being micromanaged. You are excited about building a research program bringing together science, arts and education and to see it thrive and grow from start to finish, and are happy to share it in accessible ways with the community.

Who We Are

We are a community-based urban land trust and environmental institute that stewards over 1,500 acres of land in Waterloo Region/Wellington County. The lands we live on, work on and derive benefit from were taken away from the original stewards, and it is our goal to restore that connection and to work towards building ethical, reciprocal relationships. This includes learning about and acting on our responsibilities as settlers and unlearning our cultural and historical biases. Most of the land currently in our care is located within the Haldimand Tract, which is territory of the Onkwehon:we peoples of the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit Anishinaabe First Nation. In addition, we steward land at the border of the Upper Canada Treaty No. 3 and Treaty 19 which is also territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We honour and respect the sovereignty of these First Nations and their ancestors.

Conservation is our priority, and our goal is to make the environment more relevant in peoples’ lives through environmental research and education. Modelled after an academic institute or research lab, the culture we strive for is a casual work environment that is positive, supportive, collegial and often experimental. As a registered charity, we are not working towards making the biggest profit for a corporation but working towards finding the best ways on how we want to live sustainably. You can find more about our culture and values, who we are looking for and what you can expect in the Frequently Asked Questions section at: https://www.raresites.org/about/careers#jobs

The Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Conservation Scientist will work collegially as part of the program leadership team with program advisors, colleagues and volunteers to lead rare’s environmental research program. You will work collaboratively with the Senior Educator, Planning Ecologist, advisory committees and other key staff and volunteers to ensure that various forms of inquiry, often bridging the arts and science, are an integral part of all programs at rare.

The role requires demonstrated research experience, understanding of academia and higher education, a broad range of ecological knowledge, as well ability to oversee and manage a variety of support staff and volunteers. Your ultimate goal will be to grow and develop rare’s research program while overseeing our ecological monitoring efforts. You will have three overlapping areas of responsibility – environmental research, ecological monitoring and community engagement & visibility around research.

Responsibilities

1. Environmental Research:

• Tying into the organisational Strategy and Plans, build a multidisciplinary environmental research program that includes various forms of inquiry and disciplines, such as ecology, conservation, archaeology, technology/engineering, the arts, social science, etc.
• Developing annual plans for implementation of the research program
• Leading all research activities by developing and implementing research priorities and by building partnerships with appropriate national and international researchers and artists to undertake joint and independent projects
• Identifying priorities and trends in environmental research by keeping current and gathering information on key regional, provincial, as well as national and international research issues
• Closely working with Planning Ecologist and advisory committees to facilitate that land management related activities are research-based and include research components, where possible
• Leading the administration, selection process and further development of graduate scholarships and other research funds.
• Reviewing research applications for land use by visiting researchers from other institutions, and making any necessary updates, while also communicating changes/concerns to research applicants.
• Monitoring progress of current research projects including ensuring that visiting researchers complete agreed upon terms and conditions
• Ensuring advisory committees and colleagues are informed of projects that have land management implications and ensure all research approval processes are followed
• Developing and writing funding proposals and completing final reports to granting agencies or individuals

2. Ecological Monitoring:

• Ensuring that ecological monitoring remains a priority program at rare and becomes increased in scope by including additional organisms/indicators of interest
• Continuously overseeing, implementing and updating ecological monitoring plans
• Selecting and overseeing summer students and interns who conduct butterfly, benthic invertebrate, salamander, bird, snake, forest health and forest soil monitoring, while also training interns in relevant skills
• Supporting summer students/interns with field work as needed
• Preparing/supervising the preparation of final monitoring reports and summaries

3. Community Engagement & Visibility:

• Building appropriate relationships with representatives of local First Nations from this territory
• Making the organisation’s research and monitoring work known to potential collaborators, various groups, other organisations, universities and the public at large, for example through written communications or presentations
• Developing and maintaining policies and procedures, and best practices and training materials for effective research and monitoring processes, administration and communication
• Acting as point person to keep track of location of research projects and their relation to one another, while also ensuring that research information on the website is current and updated
• Identifying and defining volunteer opportunities for community members
• Leading efforts to formally analyse and publish long-term research and monitoring data
• Working collaboratively with Senior Educator to ensure that research and monitoring components are part of the Every Child Outdoors education program forming a Chain of Learning
• Together with Senior Educator, translating research at rare into curriculum-based modules
• Supporting the education team with leading interpretive hikes to research sites for school/public groups, where appropriate
• Providing and/or assisting with public lectures, media announcements, events and workshops related to research, monitoring, the arts and Indigenous resurgence
• Assisting with general rare events, where appropriate

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated research and analytical experience, for example through a completed advanced university degree (MSc or PhD) or other equivalent post-graduate experience in Conservation, Environmental Science, Ecological Monitoring, Biology, Ecology, Geography, Forestry or related fields
• Strong interest in ecology, the environment, conservation and different worldviews and forms of inquiry, including science/technology and the arts
• Strong interest in learning more about settler responsibility, settler–Indigenous relations and contributing to Indigenous resurgence and reconciliation
• Minimum 5-years of experience in environmental research or monitoring, preferably in Southwestern Ontario, or comparable qualification
• Ability to be highly organized with good record-keeping
• Ability to liaise, negotiate and work with diverse groups of collaborators and partners and colleagues, demonstrating humility, respect and diplomacy
• A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle to travel between sites and attend meetings and learning opportunities
• Ability to work independently in the field in all weather and in off-trail terrain conditions, carrying gear and equipment up to 40 pounds
• In addition to following all COVID-19 safety measures to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and guests, the rare Charitable Research Reserve requires all staff be fully vaccinated (at least two doses) against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of current issues in environmental science
• Experience in academic as well as not-for profit organisations
• Experience and demonstrated success in publishing scientific journal articles and other forms of academic writing
• Working knowledge and understanding of national and international research funding and research opportunities at different levels
• Staff and/or volunteer management experience with excellent communication skills
• Ability to simplify messages for community members, while understanding the complexity of research and monitoring
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to independently produce ideas, to independently write plans outlining priorities/strategies/tactics and to pursue those plans with minimal supervision
• Proven ability to develop successful projects from start to finish
• Ability to manage a large volume of work, while also comfortable with competing priorities
• Flexibility to meet emerging deadlines and changing priorities
• No fear of big ideas and ability to embrace change
• Creativity and can-do attitude with the ability to develop new initiatives for the research success of the organisation

Don’t meet all requirements?

We don’t expect you to be perfect, but we want you to have confidence in your own ability to progress. We appreciate that non-traditional career paths may have developed your competency and alternate combinations of education and experience might be considered. If we decide to hire you, we want you to succeed and we will support and train you in areas that need developing. Conferences, training and mentorship by more experienced colleagues and volunteers are all considered part of your work and encouraged.

Work Environment

• A hybrid work model, responsibilities for this role are carried out primarily in our office and on site, and remotely when possible. This position requires in-person visits with researchers and other staff/volunteers and presence for field work. Tuesdays are in-office collaboration days.
• Required to work outside of regular office hours to accommodate event schedules which is adjusted by flexible tracking system for time worked.
• Invitation for voluntary participation on the JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization and Inclusion) committee.
• We operate across different sites, many of which are not accessible by public transit.

Compensation

This is a salaried full-time 35hrs per week position with a competitive health benefits package and additional benefits, as outlined below. Salary range is $50,000-65,000 annually and commensurate with experience, skills, education and training of the successful candidate.

Anticipated start date is March 17, 2025 and we expect you to have all prior obligations and any degrees completed by that date.

Additional Benefits

Excellent group benefit package, including:

• Extended Health and Dental
• AD&D Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Spending Account ($1,500 for employee with dependants or $500 for individual employee)

• Additional days off – beyond your annual vacation leave. In 2025, there are 11 extra paid holidays in addition to statutory holidays
• 15 paid Personal Days.
• 3 paid Volunteer Days to support community organizations/programs
• Overtime in lieu of regular working hours (35 hours/week) accrued at time and a half
• Possibility for flexible hours, easy to manage using the organisation’s HR portal (BambooHR)
• Opportunities for training, mentoring and professional development
• Support for taking initiative and pursuing aligned personal interest projects as time permits
• Monthly team building and social opportunities, including outings, lunches and being together on the land
• Dogs are welcome to visit the office in accordance with related policies
• Free employee parking

HOW TO APPLY

Deadline for applications is January 15, 2025.

Applicants are invited to send their application as ONE attachment to the following email address: jobs@raresites.org .

Only documents including a cover letter and resume compiled into ONE PDF file will be reviewed. Any application materials provided within the body (text) of your email or as separate documents will not be considered. Cover letters for this position may be addressed to Stephanie Sobek-Swant. Please include the name of the position for which you are applying in the email subject line.

Please mention you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

No phone calls or social media outreach please. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

As part of our commitment to racial justice, reconciliation, and equity building, we welcome individuals from marginalized communities including Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and self-identifying women candidates to apply for this position. We encourage people with disabilities to apply. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We are dedicated to removing bias from our hiring process. For this reason, we have implemented an anonymous review component in our recruitment process. What does this mean? We will be removing your name, address, and e-mail address and any other potential identifying information from your application/resume prior to it being reviewed by the hiring manager, during the first stage of the recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview, this information will become available to the hiring manager only at that time.