Manager, Community Research & Partnerships

Natural Areas Conservancy, Inc.

New York, NY, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Science

Full Time

Job Description

Manager, Community Research & Partnerships

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Through its visionary leadership and high impact staff, the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) champions urban natural areas in New York City and across the nation through innovative research, partnerships, and advocacy. We increase the health and resilience of urban forests and wetlands, catalyze connections between people and nature, and strengthen the environmental workforce.

Started in 2012, the Natural Areas Conservancy is the first park conservancy dedicated exclusively to New York City’s natural areas–20,000 acres across all five boroughs. Since 2019, we have also worked on a national scale, leading a network of representatives from cities across the U.S. to strengthen research, information sharing, and communication efforts to enhance the field of urban forest management. More information about our work is at naturalareasnyc.org.

We want all people to feel welcomed, inspired by, and connected to the natural world.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Conservation Science, the Manager of Community Research and Partnerships will be responsible for building and strengthening communities of practice dedicated to the science-driven care of urban natural areas management. This role will supervise two full-time staff members and seasonal interns.

This role will be primarily responsible for managing programs that focus on strengthening governmental, NGO, and community partnerships around urban natural area care locally and nationally. This role will focus on developing programming to encourage peer-to-peer learning, providing technical assistance, creation and dissemination of tools and road-maps to advance urban natural area care and policy at multiple scales. This role will work closely with the Deputy Director of Conservation Science and the National Partnerships Coordinator to sustain the national Forests in Cities Network. This role will work closely with the Senior Ecologist, and other colleagues within the NAC to strengthen the NYC natural areas management practitioner community and oversee programming and local research by college interns.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grow and sustain the national Forests in Cities network. Develop and implement programmatic tactics that include strengthening urban natural area management, sharing best practices, and strengthening advocacy efforts to increase funding and policy to support healthy urban natural areas.
Create science-driven tools and products that advance the care of natural areas including management recommendations and best practices. Working with colleagues and partners, synthesize and contextualize research and best practices into case studies, reports, tools, and management plans for practitioner and policy audiences. Communicate outputs to stakeholders and partners with a focus on the practitioner community.
In close coordination with the NAC colleagues and NYC Parks, take a science-driven approach to developing a NYC practitioner-network to advance the care of NYC’s natural areas. Working with practitioners, synthesize best practices to develop step-by-step, high-level approaches to implementing natural areas management projects. Work with NAC colleagues to host workshops and trainings and to manage projects that support an NAC-led approach to the care of natural areas by nonprofit and non-NGO partners.
Support emerging partnerships and program development. Nurture existing partners and establish new relationships with peer and community groups that support urban natural area care. Participate in partner events, introductory calls, grant writing, and make space for new ideas and creative opportunities to apply research and grow the practitioner community. Forge new relationships around any fee for service or contracted projects to support natural areas work locally and nationally.
Supervise staff and interns and ensure alignment with other internal projects and teams. Supervise a small team by providing oversight, structure, and accountability to programmatic work. Work collaboratively and closely with NAC’s internal teams, including the executive team, workforce development program, trails program, and communications and external affairs.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree in natural resource management, ecology, forestry, or similar field, required
Knowledge of forest ecology and management, policy, forest conservation, silviculture, and/ or urban forestry, required
5-7 years of experience in natural resource management, forestry, research, or technical assistance, urban experience a plus
Demonstrated ability to create and grow successful programs
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, and develop effective relationships with internal staff, partners, peers to achieve project goals or objectives.
Demonstrated ability to write and synthesize technical content
Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and logical thinking skills
Proven ability to problem solve, listen to partner needs, and adapt project goals to achieve impact
Experience supervising and developing staff, required

PREFERRED SKILLS

Graduate or advanced degree in an environmental or a forestry field and experience in urban natural areas
Experience with R for basic statistical analysis and data visualization, website development, ArcGIS Story Maps, ArcGIS Online.
Experience leading community groups, students, or other constituencies through consensus building and facilitation
Experience with supervising interns, curriculum development, and teaching
Experience with event planning

JOB LOCATION

NAC currently offers a hybrid remote work schedule, with staff reporting to the Manhattan office a minimum of two days a week. This role should be willing to work from a primary office location in Manhattan, and field work reporting locations in all five boroughs of New York City. Access to a reliable network connection for meetings and presentations is required. This position will also include occasional domestic travel.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

The NAC is offering a salary of $82,000 - $85,000 annually for this Exempt position at 35 hours/week, in addition to a competitive benefits package including generous Paid Time Off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401K, work from home stipend, and professional development.

APPLICATION

To apply for the Manager, Community Research & Partnerships role at the Natural Areas Conservancy, please apply online at our Career Center and include your resume and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the closing date of March 21, 2025. Please address any questions to jobs@naturalareasnyc.org.