Natural Capital Analyst - 16005
World Wildlife Fund - Washington D.C. Metro Area
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World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, seeks a Natural Capital Analyst. This position is focused on supporting WWF’s work on Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services, managing and deploying internal geospatial resources and supporting internal Geographic Information Systems (GIS) operations while advancing spatial analysis in our conservation projects. The analyst will advance knowledge of natural capital and ecosystem services and support select projects, perform spatial analysis, curate ecosystem spatial data and provide spatial analysis expertise to conservation projects at various scales. They will also produce high quality maps, provide geospatial support to WWF-US and WWF network offices; and liaise with similar functions across the WWF Network.
Responsibilities
- Perform natural capital and ecosystem services analysis, mapping and modeling in support of national development planning in various project countries and help with establishing a replicable spatial analysis protocol for integrating natural capital assessments into green economy/sustainable development and resilience-building policies elsewhere.
- Develop and curate a spatial database that supports natural capital and ecosystem services mapping; collecting and curating data necessary for ecosystem analysis and working closely with natural capital scientists.
- Support mapping of natural capital and ecosystem services by developing in-depth knowledge of the Natural Capital Project’s approach to assessing ecosystem services and researching and developing skills in other approaches necessary to ensure success of WWF’s portfolio of natural capital projects. Build knowledge through research to keep up to date with the state of the art knowledge in ecosystem services modeling and applications and apply the same to WWF projects.
- Lead geospatial and natural capital mapping capacity development by designing, developing, conducting and leading training courses in GIS and natural capital applications.
- Support development of natural capital and ecosystem services tools and approaches by capturing and communicating field project needs to scientists and modelers both within WWF and in the broader Natural Capital Project community
- Participate in developing funding proposals for natural capital projects by bringing critical information from both the science literature and existing field applications.
- Write reports that demonstrate and communicate natural capital and ecosystem services results and outcomes from projects. Prepare manuscripts for peer review and publication to communicate WWF natural capital work and to build confidence in the results and approaches
- Contribute GIS analysis and cartography expertise to select conservation projects. Participate as a team member for projects that require significant GIS expertise and cartography, and lead components of these projects. Share experience, advice, lessons learned and ideas with colleagues who are using GIS tools or conducting GIS analyses of their own in order to stay current with skills and applications.
- Manage and maintain GIS software and hardware resources including servers, plotters, workstations and laptops. Coordinate with IT to ensure reliable operation of development and production servers. Advise IT about GIS-related hardware requirements when procuring new hardware. Ensure that shared resources like plotters, loaner computers, etc. are properly maintained and operational.
- GIS resource budgeting. Develop an annual budget for WWF-US GIS hardware, software and data resources. Manage functions to deliver reliable and responsive service within that budget. Explore potential mechanisms for cost-recovery or opportunities for fundraising or in-kind support.
- Provide overall oversight of the GIS lab supporting inexperienced users needing GIS resources. Develop and help implement GIS solutions in other departments in support of other conservation support programs.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, seeks a Natural Capital Analyst. This position is focused on supporting WWF’s work on Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services, managing and deploying internal geospatial resources and supporting internal Geographic Information Systems (GIS) operations while advancing spatial analysis in our conservation projects. The analyst will advance knowledge of natural capital and ecosystem services and support select projects, perform spatial analysis, curate ecosystem spatial data and provide spatial analysis expertise to conservation projects at various scales. They will also produce high quality maps, provide geospatial support to WWF-US and WWF network offices; and liaise with similar functions across the WWF Network.
Responsibilities
- Perform natural capital and ecosystem services analysis, mapping and modeling in support of national development planning in various project countries and help with establishing a replicable spatial analysis protocol for integrating natural capital assessments into green economy/sustainable development and resilience-building policies elsewhere.
- Develop and curate a spatial database that supports natural capital and ecosystem services mapping; collecting and curating data necessary for ecosystem analysis and working closely with natural capital scientists.
- Support mapping of natural capital and ecosystem services by developing in-depth knowledge of the Natural Capital Project’s approach to assessing ecosystem services and researching and developing skills in other approaches necessary to ensure success of WWF’s portfolio of natural capital projects. Build knowledge through research to keep up to date with the state of the art knowledge in ecosystem services modeling and applications and apply the same to WWF projects.
- Lead geospatial and natural capital mapping capacity development by designing, developing, conducting and leading training courses in GIS and natural capital applications.
- Support development of natural capital and ecosystem services tools and approaches by capturing and communicating field project needs to scientists and modelers both within WWF and in the broader Natural Capital Project community
- Participate in developing funding proposals for natural capital projects by bringing critical information from both the science literature and existing field applications.
- Write reports that demonstrate and communicate natural capital and ecosystem services results and outcomes from projects. Prepare manuscripts for peer review and publication to communicate WWF natural capital work and to build confidence in the results and approaches
- Contribute GIS analysis and cartography expertise to select conservation projects. Participate as a team member for projects that require significant GIS expertise and cartography, and lead components of these projects. Share experience, advice, lessons learned and ideas with colleagues who are using GIS tools or conducting GIS analyses of their own in order to stay current with skills and applications.
- Manage and maintain GIS software and hardware resources including servers, plotters, workstations and laptops. Coordinate with IT to ensure reliable operation of development and production servers. Advise IT about GIS-related hardware requirements when procuring new hardware. Ensure that shared resources like plotters, loaner computers, etc. are properly maintained and operational.
- GIS resource budgeting. Develop an annual budget for WWF-US GIS hardware, software and data resources. Manage functions to deliver reliable and responsive service within that budget. Explore potential mechanisms for cost-recovery or opportunities for fundraising or in-kind support.
- Provide overall oversight of the GIS lab supporting inexperienced users needing GIS resources. Develop and help implement GIS solutions in other departments in support of other conservation support programs.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Desired Skills and Experience
- A graduate degree in Geography, Natural Resources Management, Ecology or related field.
- At least five years experience with spatial ecology, spatial analysis of natural capital is required. Knowledge of biodiversity conservation, or natural resources management as well as an understanding of international conservation issues is required.
- At least 5 years experience with the following is required:
- Spatial ecology, spatial analysis of natural capital and ecosystem services feeding into land use planning.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and methods for manipulating, processing and analyzing spatial data including modeling, GPS data collection and land cover mapping.
- Applying GIS and spatial analyses to conservation; excellent knowledge of GIS software including ESRI software.
- Knowledge of open source GIS tools like QGIS strongly desired.
- Experience with conducting training in natural capital mapping, GIS and other spatial technologies a strong plus
- Basic knowledge of python programming for modeling and automating GIS analysis and database management desired.
- Knowledge of server GIS strongly desired.
- Must be a self-starter, with experience in conducting independent research with limited supervision. Is able to keep up with relevant scientific literature and new spatial tools and methodologies, and deploys them on his/her own initiative as needed to execute projects.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interface between WWF staff, decision makers, and the ability to provide clear and patient instruction.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills. Able to work to meet deadlines.
- Strong communications skills, verbal and written.
- Able to work is a fast paced team-oriented environment with frequent interactions across cultures.
- Able to take direction and then work independently to deliver.
To Apply:
- Please visit our careers page and submit an on-line application.
- Submit cover letter and resume to http://www.worldwildlife.org/careers, job #16005
- Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone.
As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and veteran or disability status.
- A graduate degree in Geography, Natural Resources Management, Ecology or related field.
- At least five years experience with spatial ecology, spatial analysis of natural capital is required. Knowledge of biodiversity conservation, or natural resources management as well as an understanding of international conservation issues is required.
- At least 5 years experience with the following is required:
- Spatial ecology, spatial analysis of natural capital and ecosystem services feeding into land use planning.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and methods for manipulating, processing and analyzing spatial data including modeling, GPS data collection and land cover mapping.
- Applying GIS and spatial analyses to conservation; excellent knowledge of GIS software including ESRI software.
- Knowledge of open source GIS tools like QGIS strongly desired.
- Experience with conducting training in natural capital mapping, GIS and other spatial technologies a strong plus
- Basic knowledge of python programming for modeling and automating GIS analysis and database management desired.
- Knowledge of server GIS strongly desired.
- Must be a self-starter, with experience in conducting independent research with limited supervision. Is able to keep up with relevant scientific literature and new spatial tools and methodologies, and deploys them on his/her own initiative as needed to execute projects.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interface between WWF staff, decision makers, and the ability to provide clear and patient instruction.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills. Able to work to meet deadlines.
- Strong communications skills, verbal and written.
- Able to work is a fast paced team-oriented environment with frequent interactions across cultures.
- Able to take direction and then work independently to deliver.
To Apply:
- Please visit our careers page and submit an on-line application.
- Submit cover letter and resume to http://www.worldwildlife.org/careers, job #16005
- Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone.
As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and veteran or disability status.