Position Summary

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada is seeking a Conservation Research Associate to join our national biodiversity team. This position is an ideal opportunity for a recent graduate pursuing a career in conservation. You will work closely with our Director of National Conservation and other WCS scientists at the science-policy interface to develop knowledge that contributes to WCS Canada’s mission and Canada’s recent biodiversity commitments through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Your main responsibilities will be to research, collate, and summarize information on biodiversity and conservation in Canada, including the status and trends of species at risk, protected areas and biodiversity policies. The main objective of the Conservation Research Associate is to support and expand content on our SHAPE (Species, Habitats, Actions & Policy Evaluation) of Nature website (https://shapeofnature.ca/) and associated science communications. You will also help develop scientific reports, position papers, and journal articles.

The Conservation Research Associate will an integral part of the WCS Canada team and will participate in all- staff meetings, and training and learning opportunities on conservation. You will also have an opportunity to share information about your experiences through WCS blogs and social media.

Position Objectives

This position will support WCS Canada through the following primary objectives:

1. Create and build the content for WCS’s Canada’s SHAPE of Nature.
2. Support other National Conservation initiatives and programs
3. Gain experience and develop skills that will support the development of a long-term career in biodiversity conservation.

Principal Responsibilities

Provide scientific and program support to WCS Canada’s National Conservation initiatives, including:

• Research, collate, analyze, and summarize information on biodiversity and conservation in Canada including species at risk, protected areas, and policy to support and expand our SHAPE (Species, Habitats, Actions & Policy Evaluation) of Nature website. (75%)
• Research and review of literature and background information to support other WCS Canada conservation initiatives. (10%)
• Provide support in researching, coordinating, and organizing information and discussions on emerging conservation topics, policy documents, scientific articles, and WCS Canada initiatives. (10%)
• Support communication work to build awareness about Canadian biodiversity. (5%)

Eligible Applicants

• This position is funded by Eco Canada. The successful candidate must be age 30 and under and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or hold refugee status in Canada. You must have a post-secondary accomplishment (some exceptions apply) and not be an existing full-time permanent employee.
• To assist with determining your eligibility, you may complete the following questions.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a recent graduate degree focused on environmental science, biodiversity conservation or other related fields.

• Proven experience demonstrating excellence in research and reporting, including assembling, analyzing, and synthesizing data. Diligent and a strong attention to detail and documentation in needed.
• Knowledge of biodiversity and conservation in Canada.
• Familiarity with NatureServe, IUCN Red List, Species at Risk registry, and other sources of biodiversity information.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written science communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team. You are a problem-solver but willing to seek out help and clarification as needed.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Experience with GIS tools and WordPress is an asset.
• Passion for biodiversity data, research, and science communications.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills and experience.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Dan Kraus at dkraus@wcs.org.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Okechukwu Ezibe at oezibe@wcs.org

WCS Canada is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices. Applicants with a disability or any special needs may make a request for accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to meet your needs. Such requests should be communicated to Okechukwu Ezibe (oezibe@wcs.org) or by phone 437-770-2776.

Office Safety Plan Compliance

WCS Canada is committed to providing and maintaining a safe environment for our employees, contractors, and partners. As part of this unwavering commitment to safety, it is a condition of employment that Office-based WCS Canada employees be compliant with the respective Office Safety Plan, which includes being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a COVID-19 vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization. This condition is subject to the requirements of applicable human rights legislation.

About WCS Canada

WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to save wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of actors. WCS Canada has a track record of our science being recognized as relevant, credible and legitimate by researchers, NGOs and agencies. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed, while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries.

Diversity and inclusion are core WCS Canada values. We value the diversity of the people we employ and work with and we strive to provide an inclusive and equitable workplace in which we recognize the unique characteristics, skills and experiences of all employees. We are committed to engaging our employees in our diversity, equity and inclusion work and together we aim to create a workplace where all staff feel they belong and can grow.

WCS Canada’s programs occur on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples whose relationships various governments are described in historic (numbered) Treaties, modern land claim agreements, and negotiations around unceded lands. We recognize and support the international ecological and social commitments and responsibilities to Indigenous Peoples that Canada has signed, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Our commitment to engagement with Indigenous Peoples ranges from notification of research to the provision of scientific advice, to co-creation of research. We respect Indigenous knowledge systems and include this knowledge in our research and conservation programs where possible. We engage in land use planning and impact assessment processes that affect Indigenous Peoples, seeking ways to advance conservation as well as opportunities to sustain the livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous communities. We seek to motivate positive conservation outcomes by supporting effective governance and decision-making processes by Indigenous communities, particularly by supporting Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas.

WCS Canada is committed to contributing to the field of conservation science and the professional development of its employees. Employees are encouraged to participate in professional societies and present their research at conferences and meetings, as well as participate in relevant workshops and training opportunities. Employees are likewise encouraged to mentor graduate students, participate in relevant graduate student committees, and pursue adjunct status with universities as appropriate.