COLORADO NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
POSITION DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Director/Chief Scientist (Senior Research
Associate)
POSITION: Permanent, Full-time
WORK LOCATION: Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Department of Fish,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Warner College of Natural
Resources
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
PAY RATE: $60,000-70,000/year
The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP; http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu)
is Colorados primary biological conservation information center housed
within the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology of the
Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. CNHP is a
key player in Colorados conservation of open lands and maintains the only
centralized conservation database in Colorado that includes plants, animals,
and natural communities. The staff consists of approximately 30 highly
experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory,
research, and monitoring of Colorados flora, fauna, plant communities, and
conservation issues. Recent conservation success stories include partnering
with various organizations to provide site-specific data and biological
expertise to keep large working landscapes intact by placing conservation
easements on the land or purchasing the land for public open space. CNHP
has participated in protecting over 100,000 acres of biologically
significant lands over the past two years and received several national
awards for their conservation work in Colorado. CNHP serves a wide variety
of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants,
environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and
the public. CNHPs annual revenue is approximately 2 million dollars and is
generated from contracts and agreements through CNHPs partners and clients.
CNHP generally works on over 40 conservation projects per year.
The Director/Chief Scientist is supervised by the Department Head for Fish,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and will be responsible for leading a
strong and experienced state-wide conservation organization.
Colorado State University Research Associate benefits include:
Approximately 24 days paid vacation per year
Eighteen paid sick leave days per year
Health benefits
Retirement plan, including employer matching
Three credit hours of tuition per semester for academic development
Working in the northern Colorado area. Fort Collins demographic
information available at: http://www.fcchamber.org/data/Demographics.pdf
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT (approx. 70%)
Coordinate partnership building with both academic and
non-academic entities, including Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of
Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Natural Areas Program, U.S. Department
of Defense, Great Outdoors Colorado, NatureServe, National Park Service, The
Nature Conservancy, County Planning offices, Colorado Open Lands, Colorado
Cattlemens Association Land Trust, Universities, and others.
Coordinate with the Warner College of Natural Resources and the
Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at Colorado State
University
Oversee development of outreach materials
Generate strategic vision for biodiversity conservation in Colorado
Identify sources of funds, projects, and collaborative
opportunities and communicate with staff
ADMINISTRATION (approx. 15%)
Report to Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Department Head
Directly supervise Botany, Ecology, Zoology, Conservation Data
Services, and Conservation Planning Team Leaders
Work with Assistant Director and Team Leaders on developing and
implementing CNHP strategic plan, administrative duties, etc.
Assist Principal Investigators with contract development
Monitor the financial status of CNHP operations and projects to
ensure overall fiscal health, stability and accountability. Meet all
contract/grant, administrative, and product requirements.
Generate quarterly reports for Department and staff
Develop a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Colorado Department
of Natural Resources
SCIENCE (approx. 15%)
Assist Principal Investigators with science and report/product
review
Incorporate CNHP conservation information into conservation action
Develop a way to measure success of CNHP as well as conservation
success for the state
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Masters degree or Ph.D. in natural resources, ecology,
conservation biology, or related field
Demonstrated professional experience supervising staff
Demonstrated ability to generate funding proposal ideas and in
grant writing
Demonstrated knowledge of the natural history of North American
flora and fauna
Demonstrated understanding of current conservation biology
issues and solutions
Demonstrated experience with administering budgets
Ability to work flexible hours as necessary
Ability to travel extensively throughout the state
Demonstrated ability to speak effectively in public
Demonstrated ability to work with government officials
Good listening and negotiating skills; work well with people
Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
Passion and vision for conservation
Big picture thinking
Ability to develop and nurture partnerships
Ability to handle multiple demands and set appropriate priorities
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience with development
Understanding of Natural Heritage Program methodology
Strong commitment to conservation through the use of scientific data
APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED; HOWEVER FOR FULL
CONSIDERATION APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS AUGUST 31,
2007. SUBMIT AN ON-LINE APPLICATION AT:
http://www.warnercnr.colostate.edu/hr/. INCLUDE A RESUME, COVER LETTER, AND
THE NAMES OF 3 REFERENCES (WITH PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES).
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE ABLE TO LEGALLY WORK IN
THE U.S. BY OCTOBER 1, 2007. HIRING IS CONTINGENT ON FINAL APPROVAL OF FUNDING.
Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations,
and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements. The Office
of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. In order to assist
Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action
responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class
members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.
