Sustainable Conservation Seeks Science Communicator

Salary Range: $68,000-$78,000 per year 

Job Type: Exempt, full time with benefits 

Experience Level:  Mid-Level (3-5 Years)

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Anticipated Start Date: August 7^th, 2023 

To Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume, 3-4 writing examples including any visual content to JOBS@suscon.org and include “Science Communicator” in the subject line. 

Sustainable Conservation (a leading non-profit in its field) advances the collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. Every day, we bring together businesses, landowners, and government in some of the most productive yet economically disadvantaged parts of California, to steward the resources on which we all depend in ways that are just and make economic sense. Please visit www.suscon.org to learn more about our work. 

Sustainable Conservation is committed to addressing policies and practices that have historically prioritized economic benefits to some at the ecological, health, and/or economic expense of others. We engage with diverse entities like businesses, non-profits, agricultural communities, government, etc. to partner in co-creating solutions to catalyze more substantial improvements in areas of California where the stakes are highest for getting it right. Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our mission and vision is the fullest expression of how we aim to support California. Only by weaving these values through everything we do – both within individual programs and the organization, both in the field and at the office – can we help shape a California where all can truly thrive. 

Sustainable Conservation has an exciting opportunity in our Development and Communications team. This cross-program role will be a key contributor in expanding our reach by working across programs as a Science Communicator. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer with dotted lines to all program leads, this newly designed position will help support all our programs: Accelerating Restoration, Water for the Future, Waste Not (dairies and water quality) and Advancing Soil Health.  The Science Communicator will collaborate with program staff and Development and Communications staff to identify, gather, analyze, and present data from our work in compelling and clear written, visual, and digital collateral. This position will also help the organization advance our mission by identifying new storytelling opportunities. A passion for translating and communicating complex, science-based information, data, and concepts to various audiences, a keen interest in learning about our work, and an exceptional ability to present visual stories from data are key skills needed for success in this role. 

Location: This position will ideally be based at San Francisco office, but we are open to working from our Modesto or Sacramento offices. Our teams work in a hybrid work environment with an option to work remotely a few days a week. Periodic travel throughout the state will be required. 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with technical program teams and Development and Communications team to identify, pull, organize, analyze, and synthesize available project data for storytelling purposes.
• Collaborate with the Development and Communications team to advance the organization’s mission and educational communications efforts by developing clean, compelling visuals for storytelling purposes in reports, publications, grant deliverables, general audience materials, and digital placement.
• Interact with subject matter experts to collect technical information and create written, visual, and digital communications for diverse audiences including farmers, water managers, restoration proponents, community members, industry leaders, policymakers, academics/researchers, NGOs, individual donors, corporate and private funders, etc.
• Create and maintain programmatic dashboards that synthesize available project data, including clear notes about sources and permissions for use, so everyone across the organization has access to consistent, up-to-date, nuanced data and statistics. Assist with contextualizing data for various audiences/uses. 
• Partner with the Development and Communications team, and program teams to understand key audiences and program needs. Co-ordinate, prioritize and execute relevant outreach strategies for our materials.
• Help the organization understand what kinds of stories we can tell through our historical data and identify new metrics, datasets, etc. that we can gather to enhance our communications efforts.
• Research and identify new, additional, and/or outside expert sources for additional context and data that is relevant to our work.
• Participate in cross- program specific tasks and responsibilities such as assisting with drafting a white paper from convenings, partner and guidance on documents for diverse audiences like farmers/TAs, and various partner agencies (State Water Resource Control Board, Department of Water Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service,) collaborate and work with respective program teams  for relevant webinar series, contextualize value / impact of each program (environment, economy, and people; post-SGMA & CV-SALTS.)
• Work in close partnership with the Communications and Programs teams to update existing publications for the organization’s website.

Degree/Education and Years of Experience  

Bachelor's degree in environmental sciences or natural resources management or a related field, with 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in outreach and/or communication. 

Experience and Skills Required 

• Extremely strong writing and visual communication skills
• Proven ability to communicate complex, nuanced scientific information to broad and/or varied audiences in an accessible way
• Proven ability to gather and use facts, statistics, and social drivers to make key points to advance environmental programs
• Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to work across several different programs, track and document conversations and concepts, and make common linkages in messaging
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently, and in cross-functional team settings
• Keen interest/aptitude in learning with a curiosity about science, and ability and desire to articulate our work in a larger environmental, policy, and/or relevant context
• Strong understanding of a variety of scientific disciplines with ability to communicate scientific processes to a general audience.
• Ability to adapt to and manage simultaneous workflows and agreed-upon deadlines, with strong problem-solving and independent thinking skills
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; desire to work in collaboration with a broad range of staff and partners
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.), BioRender or comparable scientific image and illustration software, visual communication tools, and GIS
• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of MS applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Valid CA Driver’s License and a willingness to travel as required
• Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including booster) required

Also Desirable

• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Multi-lingual skills and/or training

What we offer: A competitive compensation package based on experience, fully paid health insurance benefits, generous match on 401k, FSA, EAP, vacation, floating days, sick leave, plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as holiday leave. Our greatest benefit is our culture. Our staff is collaborative, dedicated, and caring. We believe in articulating and practicing our values (Collaboration, Respect, Results, Honesty, Learning, Well-Being) at work and have a strong commitment to bringing a DEI lens to our work and workplace culture. 

At Sustainable Conservation we value culture and diversity and as an equal opportunity employer we encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our job openings.