Director, Climate Adaptation

Defenders of Wildlife

. Lead and develop a team of scientists and analysts .

Posted 9/18/2026full-timeWashington • District of Columbia • United StatesLead💰 $127,000 - $143,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in climate science and policy analysis, with a strong focus on wildlife conservation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Proven ability to lead teams, develop research agendas, and communicate complex scientific information effectively.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Climate Science ExpertiseProject ManagementStaff LeadershipApplied Research DevelopmentGIS Proficiency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Climate ModelingPopulation Viability AnalysisHabitat Connectivity AnalysisClimate Vulnerability AnalysisSocio-Ecological Systems AnalysisStatistical AnalysisComputational ToolsData VisualizationPolicy AnalysisTechnical Report Writing

Soft Skills

MentorshipStrategic DirectionCollaborationCommunicationRelationship Building

Tools & Technologies

GISRPythonRemote SensingMachine Learning

Industry Keywords

Conservation PolicyClimate AdaptationBiodiversityEcosystem ProcessesInterdisciplinary Teams

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonRemote Sensing

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and develop a team of scientists and analysts
Oversee planning, prioritization, and execution of the climate team’s project portfolio
Supervise staff and occasional volunteers, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and accountability
Lead climate science and policy analyses to improve wildlife conservation
Develop and oversee applied research and decision-support initiatives focused on climate vulnerability, socio-ecological systems, and conservation strategies
Develop innovative conservation approaches, technologies, and partnerships addressing climate and biodiversity challenges
Guide interdisciplinary teams in applying climate science, social science, and policy analysis
Advise on next-generation conservation policy frameworks
Identify cross-programmatic collaboration opportunities across energy, human-wildlife coexistence, and biodiversity initiatives
Build relationships across departments to promote communication and shared conservation outcomes
Cultivate and lead partnerships with researchers, agencies, NGOs, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders
Translate complex data into actionable insights for policy, advocacy, and field action
Support strategic communications, advocacy, media engagement, public outreach, and policymaker education
Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, reports, blogs, articles, and other media
Present findings at scientific conferences and other events
Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) or equivalent; Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent required
At least 8 years of relevant experience
At least 3 years managing staff and leading complex interdisciplinary projects
Equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a substitute for the stated education and experience
Deep expertise in climate science related to impacts on wildlife, habitats, and ecosystem processes
Knowledge of federal and state conservation policies relevant to climate adaptation and species recovery
Knowledge of social, economic, and governance factors influencing conservation outcomes
Ability to develop and implement an applied research agenda
Ability to supervise scientists and analysts and lead internal and external collaborations
Ability to align research questions and workflows with organizational goals
Experience with climate modeling, downscaled projections, uncertainty analysis, and adaptation frameworks
Experience with population viability analysis, landscape prioritization, habitat connectivity analysis, climate vulnerability analyses, and socio-ecological systems analysis
Ability to communicate complex scientific and policy information to diverse audiences in writing, presentations, data visualizations, and maps
Demonstrated scientific leadership through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, policy analyses, or other influential conservation products
Experience using geospatial, statistical, and computational tools
Proficiency with GIS and R or Python strongly preferred
Familiarity with remote sensing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence desirable
Ability to travel up to 5% of the time
Ability to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position

Benefits

Comp & perks

Travel requirements up to 5% of the time
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job
Equal employment opportunities regardless of protected characteristics