Conservation Monitoring Scientist

About the position The Conservation Monitoring Scientist position at Woodland Park Zoo is a full-time role that requires frequent international travel and involves developing and refining adaptive monitoring strategies for field conservation programs. The successful candidate will lead the design and implementation of monitoring protocols for target species, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support protected area management systems. This role is crucial for aligning conservation priorities with community-defined success measures and IUCN recovery goals. Responsibilities • Lead the development and refinement of adaptive monitoring strategies across Woodland Park Zoo's field conservation programs. • Oversee program work plans for the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, particularly in relation to monitoring and protected area management. • Design and implement monitoring protocols for target species using population viability analyses and modeling platforms. • Facilitate workshops and stakeholder engagement processes to align conservation priorities with recovery goals. • Support and evaluate protected area management systems, advising on opportunities for better alignment across governance levels. • Review and implement best-practice tools for ecological and social data collection. • Lead or coordinate field research projects to address knowledge gaps in species monitoring. • Collaborate with Animal Care teams and conservation partners for species reintroduction efforts. • Manage data integration across internal and external systems for conservation reporting. • Maintain and build scientific and technical partnerships with universities and NGOs. • Represent WPZ in international forums and working groups. • Contribute to monitoring-related fundraising and grant proposals. • Support the refinement of WPZ's conservation monitoring and evaluation framework. • Travel regularly to domestic and international field sites and conferences. Requirements • Advanced degree in conservation, natural resource management, data sciences, or related fields. • Minimum three years of professional experience in conservation monitoring and field-based ecological research. • Experience with protected area management and community-based conservation programs. • Proven ability to lead international fieldwork and manage scientific partnerships. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, GIS software, and monitoring tools like SMART and Vortex. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Nice-to-haves • Ability to speak a language in addition to English. Benefits • Medical, dental, and vision HMO and PPO plans for you and eligible dependents. • 11 paid holidays and 4 personal holidays. • Accrue 12 vacation days and another 12 days of sick leave your first year. • Flexible Spending Account (FSA). • Employee Assistance Program (EAP). • Tuition reimbursement. • Free zoo membership including zoo admission and discounts after 90 days. • 4 complimentary tickets per year plus other discounts and perks. • Free staff parking. • 403(b) Retirement Plan. Apply tot his job