Director, Conservation Technology

Defenders of Wildlife

. Lead and develop a team of scientists and technologists .

Posted 9/18/2026full-timeWashington • District of Columbia • United StatesLead💰 $143,000 - $155,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in leading interdisciplinary teams and managing complex projects within conservation technology. Proficient in data science, GIS, and developing innovative solutions that align with conservation goals.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data Science ApplicationGeospatial AnalysisTechnical Team LeadershipProject ManagementGIS Expertise

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Data ScienceGeospatial AnalysisComputational MethodsSoftware DevelopmentGISRPythonData VisualizationArtificial IntelligenceRemote Sensing Imagery

Soft Skills

Strategic PlanningExcellent Communication

Tools & Technologies

Cloud-Based PlatformsMonitoring and Evaluation SystemsDashboardsOnline Applications

Industry Keywords

Conservation GoalsU.S. Endangered Species ActFederal Conservation PoliciesPartnership Development

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudPythonRemote Sensing

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and develop a team of scientists and technologists
Oversee planning, prioritization, and execution of the technology team's project portfolio
Supervise and mentor scientists, application developers, and occasional volunteers
Provide guidance, professional development, and accountability for project delivery
Guide Defenders' data science and emerging technology strategy
Identify opportunities and prioritize investments aligned with conservation goals
Connect conservation challenges with analytical and technology solutions
Advance responsible-use approaches, partnerships, and policies for innovative conservation technologies
Prototype, develop, and deploy tools, analyses, monitoring and evaluation systems, and decision-support resources
Create dashboards, visualizations, online applications, and other practitioner resources
Translate technical concepts and findings for diverse audiences through communications, advocacy materials, media engagement, and public outreach
Cultivate partnerships with conservation organizations, government agencies, Tribal partners, technology companies, and other stakeholders
Represent Defenders at meetings, conferences, trainings, and other forums
Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g. master's) required; PhD preferred
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
Demonstrated experience applying data science, geospatial analysis, computational methods, software development, or related disciplines to conservation challenges
Ability to identify innovation opportunities and connect conservation challenges with practical, scalable solutions
Experience leading and developing technical teams and managing applied research, analytical, or technology programs
Technical expertise in GIS, R/Python, large and complex datasets, cloud-based platforms, remote sensing imagery, and data visualization tools
Experience evaluating and applying artificial intelligence highly desirable
Experience building partnerships with conservation practitioners, agencies, Tribal partners, academic institutions, technology organizations, and other stakeholders
Knowledge of the U.S. Endangered Species Act and relevant federal and state conservation policies
Strong strategic planning and project management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to perform essential duties and responsibilities satisfactorily
Ability to work in a sedentary environment involving prolonged sitting/standing and constant communication or repetitive hand/wrist/finger motions

Benefits

Comp & perks

Professional development for supervised staff
Travel opportunities up to 5% of the time
Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities
Equal employment opportunity protections
Non-union eligible position