Biodiversity & Nature Markets Scientist

About the role

TNC is seeking a biodiversity scientist to contribute to the scientific foundation for our strategy to engage in emerging biodiversity markets. The role involves supporting credible, equitable, and scalable approaches to biodiversity crediting in alignment with TNC’s mission and 2030 Goals.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to high-impact research publications and conceptual frameworks that strengthen our understanding of functional and equitable biodiversity credit markets.
• Build a scientific agenda focusing on biodiversity measurement and unit consolidation, biodiversity market mechanisms, and biodiversity credit outcome integrity.
• Partner across TNC, academic institutions, NGOs, and global initiatives to build the collaborative scientific infrastructure needed to move biodiversity markets from early experimentation to a robust and trusted nature finance tool.
• Design and facilitate scientific convenings, working groups, and expert dialogues.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in a science-related field and 4 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant high-impact journals.
• Knowledge of compliance and voluntary nature markets, nature-positive initiatives, or nature finance.
• Experience manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting statistical or environmental data.
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
• Experience leading or participating on cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing complex projects including the financial aspect and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.

Qualifications

• PhD and 1-3 years experience preferred.
• Multi-language skills and cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Experience in interdisciplinary science efforts that balance the rigors of science with the pragmatic needs of practitioners and policy experts.
• Familiarity with credit standards bodies, certification schemes, market governance, voluntary corporate nature disclosures and targets, or nature-positive accounting approaches.
• Experience in rapidly evolving biodiversity science technologies, such as agentic systems, biodiversity monitoring technologies including eDNA, acoustic monitoring, or camera traps, and experience working with associated data, biodiversity MRV and biodiversity metrics.
• Ability to exercise independent scientific judgment in defining research approaches and analytical methods.
• Ability to work across global time zones and ability to travel.

Skills

• Rigorous thinking and high-quality writing.
• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Independent scientific judgment.
• Effective communication skills.

Benefits

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $109,700 - $113,900 USD. 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.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ. Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.