Paid Scientist: Island Scientist (Ventura, CA)
The Nature Conservancy’s California Science team is seeking an Island Scientist to provide scientific leadership for conservation efforts on Santa Cruz Island and across the Islands of the Californias (California & Baja California). Application Deadline: Feb 16, 2026!
Agency/Organization: The Nature Conservancy
Location: Ventura, CA
Job Description:
In this role, you will lead and support conservation planning, applied research, and management strategies focused on terrestrial ecosystems—working alongside multidisciplinary teams and an incredible network of academic, government, nonprofit, and private-sector partners.
Primary Duties:
The Island Scientist will provide technical and scientific leadership and support for conservation projects of The Nature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island and in partnership with managers of the other islands of the Californias (the Pacific Islands of the states of California and Baja California [Mexico]), with a focus on the terrestrial biota. The Island Scientist will lead and support conservation planning, applied research projects, and implementation of conservation management strategies on Santa Cruz Island and across the Islands of the Californias archipelago.
The Island Scientist will identify conservation challenges, knowledge gaps, and research needs in terrestrial ecology and facilitate research that utilizes TNC’s place-based work. They will ensure that the Conservancy’s decision-support tools and conceptual models are built on strong scientific foundations. The Island Scientist is a member of multidisciplinary teams focused on developing cutting-edge conservation strategies and builds and leverages a network of external scientific collaborators in academia, government, for-profit and non-profit sectors to deliver the science needed to advance the Conservancy’s conservation strategies. The Island Scientist strategically and effectively communicates – through publication and oral presentation –science to inform conservation in islands and island habitats in California and to export select, high priority conservation strategies and practices to islands elsewhere.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a science-related field (PhD preferred)
- Experience with California terrestrial ecosystems and field research
- Strong collaboration, communication, and project management skills
- Record of peer-reviewed publications
- Passion for inclusive, science-driven conservation
Wage/Compensation: $82,700 – $97,275
To Apply: Please visit https://nature.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com/ExternalCareers/job/Remote—California/Island-Scientist–California_JR101830
Application Deadline: Feb 16, 2026
Start Date: April 16, 2026
Contact: Esther Gonzalez (lara.brenner@tnc.org)
