Conservation Science Manager - Nonprofit Career Growth

Conservation Science Manager - Nonprofit Career Growth — Remote

This is a mid-to-senior level management role within a conservation nonprofit, offering meaningful leadership scope: you\'ll oversee project managers, manage cross-sector partnerships, and drive scientific publishing. It is well-suited for researchers or field conservationists ready to transition from pure science into strategic program management.

Skills developed in this role are highly transferable and in demand across the conservation, NGO, and ESG sectors:

• Conservation program design and grant management
• Cross-sector stakeholder and partnership management (government, NGO)
• Scientific publishing and conference representation
• Regulatory compliance across federal, state, and county jurisdictions
• Use of project management tools (Asana) and distributed team coordination

Compensation signals: No salary is listed, which is a yellow flag for senior candidates. The benefits package — 3% IRA match and up to $750/month toward health insurance — is modest but reasonable for a nonprofit. Candidates should benchmark against similar roles, which typically pay $60,000–$85,000 at this level in the US nonprofit conservation sector.

Culture signals: The Turtle Survival Alliance appears to be a lean, mission-driven organization. The role reports to a Senior Director, implying a relatively flat hierarchy. The emphasis on "rigor," "scalability," and continuous workflow improvement suggests a professionalizing organization — a good environment for someone who wants to shape systems, not just execute them.

Green flag: Remote work with a stipend, plus professional development funding. Watch for: Undefined salary and the breadth of responsibilities, which could signal resource constraints typical of smaller nonprofits.

The Manager of Domestic Conservation & Science (MDCS) leads the strategic planning and implementation of conservation programs and scientific research within the organization for the United States and Canada. This role involves overseeing and developing domestic field conservation projects, creating and managing domestic partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations, and helping secure funding through grants and donations. The MDCS, working with the Senior Director of Conservation & Science (SDCS), ensures that all conservation efforts align with the organization\'s mission and goals, integrating scientific research to inform and enhance program effectiveness.

The MDCS will be part of a team working to execute the day-to-day activities outlined below. Additionally, the MDCS will work and integrate into a multidisciplinary team of scientists, researchers, and conservationists across multiple domestic projects. They are responsible for developing research agendas, publishing findings in scientific journals, and representing the organization at conferences and public forums. By fostering a collaborative environment and leveraging their scientific expertise, this role drives innovative solutions to address conservation challenges and promotes sustainable practices both locally and globally.

Foundation Administration

• Aiding in ensuring: (i) all necessary permits, authorizations, protections (e.g., land permissions, insurance, etc.) and all other operating considerations relevant to each jurisdiction are proactively identified; (ii) the full scope of needs and costs are appropriately understood and defined upfront; (iii) qualified field participants are vetted and contractually engaged; and (iv) all such requirements are implemented, actively managed, and monitored.
• Understanding of local laws, regulations, and risks in each of the jurisdictions (Federal, State, County, etc.) where the TSA operates or is considering future potential projects.
• Working to continuously improve workflows, systems, reporting, and operations to improve the rigor and effectiveness with which the TSA operates.

Mission Execution

• Overseeing domestic field conservation projects, developing and managing domestic partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations, and aiding in securing funding through grants and donations.
• Identifying and evaluating opportunities to expand TSA\'s domestic conservation footprint.
• Aiding in ensuring that all conservation efforts align with the organization\'s mission and goals.
• Integrating scientific research to inform and enhance program effectiveness.
• Working with the SDCS to produce quarterly and annual conservation impact reports.
• Attending and representing the TSA at meetings, when requested.

Program Oversight & Management

• Overseeing all project managers and independent contractors working on domestic programs.
• Leading the assessment and onboarding of new field sites and target species, ensuring new programs are designed with rigor, scalability, and alignment to TSA\'s conservation priorities.

Governance & Board Support

• Disseminate best practices, provide training, and build strategic and technical capacity among field conservation programs and partnerships.
• Participate in coordinating meetings for the Field Conservation Committee, Country Program Leads, Project Managers, and individual PIs.

Requirements

• Minimum of a \"Master\'s\" degree, plus 5+ years of demonstrated success in field-based conservation and research or project/program management.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage complex projects, work both independently and with a team, complete detailed work with a high level of accuracy, and manage time effectively.
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to resolve conflicts professionally and effectively.
• Proven track record of project design, management, and execution.
• History of publishing and presenting results in international journals/conferences.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and virtual technologies, including Google Calendar, Google Drive, and Asana or similar project management software.

Turtle Survival Alliance offers an individual retirement account with a 3% employee match, medical, dental, and vision insurance (up to $750 employer contribution per month), as well as employer-paid life insurance, paid time off, and sick leave. The Alliance also offers a remote-office stipend and ongoing professional development.

No specific salary range is published in this job posting. Candidates are encouraged to review the additional information document linked in the posting or inquire directly during the application process.

The Manager of Domestic Conservation & Science oversees programs across the United States and Canada, including compliance with federal, state, and county-level regulations in both countries.

Yes, candidates are expected to have a history of publishing and presenting results in international journals and conferences, and the role includes developing research agendas and publishing findings.