Fish Ecologist, Research, Pristine Seas (Science & Innovation)

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society invests in a diverse, global community of National Geographic Explorers who are leading a new age of exploration in support of our mission: to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. These bold individuals represent more than 140 countries, and their vast array of backgrounds, perspectives, and fields bring us to the far reaches of the globe.
Within NGS, the Science & Innovation team is a department that oversees the Society’s grantmaking efforts in science, conservation and technology, develops and manages major mission programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Over the last fifteen years, Pristine Seas, National Geographic’s flagship ocean conservation program has helped to inspire the protection of 29 of the last wild places in the ocean, encompassing more than 6.7 million square kilometers of ocean. Additionally, we aim to cultivate and expand a network of best-in-class partners to build a community of support for protected areas. We are seeking a Fish Ecologist, Research, Pristine Seas to support and scale our approach over the next five years
The Fish Ecologist for Pristine Seas conducts high-impact scientific research in furtherance of the Pristine Seas’ mission. The candidate will conduct coral reef research on expeditions, support the production of high-quality scientific reports and publications, and provide input to inform decision-makers regarding the necessity of protecting the last wild places in the ocean
The Fish Ecologist reports to the VP of Research and will be part of a cohesive, collaborative, and high-performing research team. The research team is comprised of experts from a wide variety of marine disciplines; we value adaptability, curiosity and scientific rigor and value team members that enjoy collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team and are thoughtful and respectful of other cultures and partners with whom we work. They will contribute to the Pristine Seas research program by facilitating research planning for Pristine Seas expeditions, participating in field research expeditions, analyzing scientific data, and contributing to the writing of reports and peer-reviewed publications.
This is a fixed-term role through December 2030.

Your Impact

Marine Expeditions (40%)

• Lead scuba-based fish surveys while on expedition at a high level of taxonomic resolution

• Collaborate with VP of Research and participate in at least 2 and up to 3 expeditions per year

• Be the scientific lead for an expedition at least once every two years. This involves multiple trips to the country prior to and after the expedition.

• Assist in development of expedition science plans.

• Assist with operation and execution of existing pristine seas data collections methods as needed in the field.

Data Analysis and Reporting (40%)

• Contribute to all expedition reports (2-3 per year)

• Lead the writing and synthesis of at least one expedition scientific report every other year

• Collaborate with scientists from around the world in the creation of high-impact scientific publications, which utilize Pristine Seas data and research to highlight the importance of these remote areas in better understanding how pristine ecosystems function.

• Lead the production of at least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal each year.

• Participate in conferences to report on Pristine Seas scientific findings, as agreed upon with the Executive Director.

• Disseminate scientific information to a variety of stakeholders from academics, to government agencies, local communities, and school groups.

 Policy activities (10%)

• Provide oral briefings, presentations, written material and occasional on-camera appearances in supporting media to support Pristine Seas’ mission.

• Provide content and review Pristine Seas policy documents, presentations, and briefing materials.

 

Programmatic Activities (10%)

• Work with the Communications and Education teams to disseminate research 

• Assist in developing educational products in collaboration with the NGS Education department.

• Support the purchasing of scientific gear and other administrative needs for the science team.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

• Masters Degree in relevant field required

• PhD in Marine Biology or a related field is strongly preferred. 

• Post-doctoral experience is preferred.

Minimum Years and Types of Experience

• 10+ years of professional work experience in marine science and conservation. 

• Established peer-reviewed publication record, including first authored manuscripts.

• Experience with non-profit, environmental, academic, and governmental organizations. 

• Experience participating in and/or leading scientific expeditions.

• Experience working in remote locations for extended periods of time 

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time, including both domestic and international travel

• Broad understanding of marine ecosystems, marine protected areas (MPAs) and conservation issues in the tropics

• Knowledge of fish taxonomy in the tropical Pacific

• Experience with, and capacity sharing with local communities 

• Advanced scuba certification is essential with at least 500 dives

• Ability to convey complex scientific concepts to a broad range of audiences (e.g., scientists, policy makers, public, students)

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Strong teamwork ethic and ability to successfully work within a dynamic, highly collaborative team environment

• Strong quantitative analytical skills, competency in analytical software and methods, including R abd Microsoft Office

• Excellent organizational skills with high attention to detail

• Strong leadership skills

• Ability to anticipate problems and find creative solutions to challenging situations

• Ability to work with minimal instruction and supervision

• Strong personal and professional integrity

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in fish taxonomy across ecosystems (i.e. mesophotic and deep-sea species)

• Experience with shark and fish tagging

• Experience in underwater visual observation methods and analysis such as BRUVS (baited underwater video).

• Experience with deep sea research

• Experience with eDNA collections and analysis

• Experience in managing and analyzing data across scales

• Experience with version control (GitHub) and GIS applications

• Experience with scientific, governmental and non-profit organizations in the tropical Pacific 

• SCUBA Rescue Diver, Nitrox diver, CPR, first-aid, AED, and oxygen administration (Emergency First Response)

Supervision

None

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $104,500 - $110,000.

 

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31; paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Remote - Our Remote designation includes staff who must work in another location in the U.S. or abroad, such as our regional leads for our Education and International teams or regional fundraisers in Advancement. Staff may also be designated as Remote by their supervisors (with approval by the Senior Team lead) because of their job duties, and are afforded this status when it is beneficial to NGS, their respective team, and the employee.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.