The Field Research Scientist (internally referred to as Head of Field Research) will join the Natural State research centre team focused on revolutionising the monitoring of carbon and biodiversity, with an initial focus on African rangelands but broadening to other biomes. This role requires working with Natural State’s Head Biometrician to coordinate the successful delivery of research activities and ensure the timely achievement of the department’s milestones. As a young organization, Natural State requires employees to be flexible, quick to learn new skills, and ready to tackle evolving responsibilities and challenges.
About Natural State
Through large-scale restoration and rewilding, Natural State secures biodiversity, sequesters and stores carbon, and helps achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal at the Natural State research centre is to develop technology and financial systems that will catalyse large-scale restoration globally as well as help train future leaders for this work.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scientific & Management:
- Manage, train, and mentor the Field Implementation and Botany teams in the implementation of their data collection and research activities to meet Natural State’s goals and commitments to donors and partners.
- Work with the heads of the Biometrics, Carbon Sciences, Technical Delivery, and Lab Science teams, other NS scientists and specialists, and external partners and collaborators to design and implement state-of-the-art field research projects aimed at improving how we cost-effectively monitor biodiversity and carbon stocks.
- Work with the Head Biometrician and Head of Project Implementation to translate research projects into widely applicable tools to underpin financial mechanisms for restoration and conservation projects.
- Ensure that all field data collected are accurate, properly categorised and labelled, and in the format required by NS protocols, including designing automated Quality Control workflows.
- Contribute to the development of Natural State’s ecological intactness index and other monitoring tools and services.
- Coordinate with team heads and leads to write reports to partners and donors on the activities undertaken by the Research & Monitoring department.
- Coordinate with team heads and leads to develop and optimise sampling protocols and data models for collecting field observations including writing and reviewing survey design documents, standard operating procedures, and field manuals.
- Work with other scientists to write and publish scientific articles on Natural State’s work in peer reviewed publications and present scientific outputs at conferences and workshops.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Education: Postgraduate degree in biology, ecology, conservation or related discipline (MBA/MSc/MA).
- Experience: 3 years of experience leading field research with exceptional organisational and planning skills.
- Fieldwork: Fieldwork experience in African rangelands.
- Data Proficiency: Experience interpreting and analysing scientific data and managing large data sets.
- Language Skills: Fluency in English and Kiswahili, and good writing skills.
- Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in open-source data management and statistics software, such as SQL, Python, and R, and the ability to rapidly learn new software programs.
- Software Requirement: At a minimum, the Head of Field Research will need to develop basic proficiency in ODK, Markdown, Apache Superset, Earth Engine, and Data Build Tool (DBT) in addition to the aforementioned programs.
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