As part of our Biodiversity Credits Program at TNC you will work with our Global Science Team to build the scientific foundation for our strategy to engage in emerging biodiversity markets. You will support credible, equitable, and scalable approaches to biodiversity crediting in alignment with TNC’s mission and our ambitions 2030 Goals.
In this role, you will contribute to high-impact research publications and conceptual frameworks that strengthen our understanding of functional and equitable biodiversity credit markets. You will build a scientific agenda that focuses on biodiversity measurement and unit consolidation, biodiversity market mechanisms, and biodiversity credit outcome integrity.
By partnering across our organization, academic institutions, NGOs, and global initiatives, you will help build the collaborative scientific infrastructure needed to move biodiversity markets from early experimentation to a robust and trusted nature finance tool within a broader finance toolbox. You will design and facilitate scientific convenings, working groups, and expert dialogues.
The location for this position is negotiable for locations where TNC is an established NGO. No immigration/visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available with this position.
TNC is seeking a biodiversity scientist with publications and experience in biodiversity, nature markets, and credit frameworks, including work related to private sector engagement and nature-positive initiatives, who thrives in a dynamic, fast-evolving environment and is energized by the potential for rapid growth of nature markets.
This role will:
Play a central part in advancing TNC’s science agenda for biodiversity credits, with a particular focus on biodiversity measurement and accounting.
Identify priority scientific gaps and research questions that must be addressed to scale positive biodiversity outcomes through responsible use of credits.
Translate emerging biodiversity science into clear, actionable insights that can inform strategy, policy, and market engagement across TNC.
Evaluate and synthesize global biodiversity datasets and emerging biodiversity monitoring technologies.
Develop and articulate scientific narratives, frameworks, and foundations needed to strengthen the integrity, coherence, and credibility credits globally.
Span highly collaborative applied research teams, engage with external scientific partners, write, and contribute to scientific community building.
Contribute scientific expertise to biodiversity credit projects, helping assess feasibility, risks, and outcome integrity from early design stages through to implementation.
Consider biodiversity market design principles, including demand signals, fungibility, and scalability across regulated and voluntary contexts.
The ideal candidate is a strong applied biodiversity scientist with an interest in emerging biodiversity markets. Your insights through this role will advance both TNC's positioning and the field as a whole. You have knowledge of nature markets and nature finance, including voluntary and compliance biodiversity markets, key standard-setting bodies, and the policy landscape driving biodiversity market demand. You are someone who has demonstrated rigorous thinking, high‑quality writing, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration. You have experience in shaping the scientific underpinnings of a rapidly evolving field to build shared understanding and momentum around how biodiversity outcomes are defined, measured, and credited. You bring proven credibility and communication skills to represent TNC's science in both internal and external settings. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of biodiversity markets by ensuring markets develop grounded in science and aligned with real‑world conservation outcomes.
Master's Degree in science related field and 4 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant high-impact journals.
Knowledge of compliance and voluntary nature markets, nature-positive initiatives, or nature finance.
Experience manipulating, analyzing and interpreting statistical or environmental data.
Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
Experience leading or participating on cross functional teams.
Experience managing complex projects including the financial aspect and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
PhD and 1-3 years experience.
Multi-language skills and cross-cultural experience appreciated.
Experience in interdisciplinary science efforts that balance the rigors of science with the pragmatic needs of practitioners and policy experts.
Familiarity with credit standards bodies, certification schemes, market governance, voluntary corporate nature disclosures and targets, or nature‑positive accounting approaches.
Ability to convene and facilitate multi-stakeholder groups and build working relationships across disciplines.
Experience with rapidly evolving biodiversity science technologies, such as agentic systems, biodiversity monitoring technologies including eDNA, acoustic monitoring, or camera traps, and experience working with associated data, biodiversity MRV and biodiversity metrics
Experience exercising independent scientific judgment in defining research approaches and analytical methods.
Ability to work across global time zones and ability to travel.
The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $109,700 - $113,900 USD. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.
The location for this position is negotiable for locations where TNC is an established NGO. No immigration/visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available with this position.
Who We Are:The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring:Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
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TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
