Forest and Conservation Worker jobs in Oakland, CA

Please note: A Cover letter and a resume of no more than 2 pages are required for this role to better consider your application.

Pay Range: $34.61 - $36.05 per hour ($72k - $75k annualized) 

Position Summary

The Conservation Field and Co-Existence Manager will advance Oakland Zoo’s mission by expanding and deepening our field conservation initiatives. Conservation projects will focus on human-wildlife conflict and co-existence solutions, as well as climate change and habitat loss for California native predator species.  Capacity to expand into global predator initiatives with a focus on African lions and chimpanzees will also be explored. Joining the Conservation Team, the primary responsibilities are establishing and implementing plans to conserve species such as gray wolves and mountain lions through alliance building, co-existence project expansion and creation, research-based conservation programs, community action, and behavior change strategies.

 Travel: This position will be a combination of in-office and remote work. Some California travel will be required in the Bay Area and Northern California in order to collaborate with partners and programs.

Essential Job Duties

Wildlife Conservation and Co-Existence Program Management:

• Research, identify, develop, and lead programs with various partner organizations to support holistic conservation strategies, that include co-existence to maximize conservation impact
• Co-create and lead effective, long-term plans that leverage local knowledge systems and values, and support capacity-strengthening to improve the status of ecological and human well-being 

• Collaborate across departments, aligning Oakland Zoo resources with conservation field initiatives 

• Develop and operationalize monitoring and evaluation frameworks for zoo wildlife conservation efforts for further understanding of impact and investment

Conservation Leadership:

• Create alliances with relevant NGOS, IUCN programs, California state conservation strategies, AZA Initiatives, etc. to build alignment, strengthen partnerships, and optimize conservation actions 

• Participate in the planning and implementation of Conservation Department initiatives to help inform Oakland Zoo’s strategic and future campus planning work 

• Align efforts of conservation programs with Oakland Zoo departments, such as Public Engagement, Education and Marketing, to ensure a staff and public engagement reflects our conservation mission and work
• Complete other duties as needed and assigned as part of a small and driven team


Who You Are 

This position will play to individual strengths. Interested candidates are invited to expand on our position description and emphasize individual attributes, passions and ideas to demonstrate what Oakland Zoo would gain from their leadership. 

Oakland Zoo does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here and will consider the combination of formal education, training, and practical experience of each applicant. We are committed to supporting the career development of our employees. A strong candidate who is interested in growing and learning in this role will possess at least 75% of the following qualifications. If this is you, then we strongly encourage you to apply. 
 

• Demonstrated commitment to wildlife conservation and the human element
• Expertise in human-wildlife conflict mitigation and resolution, and co-existence strategies 

• Deep understanding of the connections between wildlife (particularly predators) and humans in complex socio-ecological systems and the impacts of habitat loss and the climate crises on those systems
• Successful track record of program management from conception through implementation and evaluation
• Experience in climate change and habitat loss solutions for California native predator species 

• Understanding of social science, community engagement and behavior change theory 

• Ability to effectively collaborate with a variety of stakeholders that hold varying perceptions of wildlife: conservationists, government agencies, communities, ranchers, researchers, 
 

• Strong oral and written skills with an ability to tell the stories of the people, species, habitats and programs we are committed to
• Experience in wildlife applied and actionable research 

• Ability to be a team player, but also able to work independently/remotely and achieve results with minimal supervision

Would be nice to have:

• Experience in intra-agency, interagency, and tribal coordination and cooperation
• Experience managing a team of interns or volunteers 

• Experience supporting fundraising and getting, fulfilling and managing grants

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities– May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position. 

• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing
• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued
• Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems
• Time management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments 
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife

Benefits

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and A Family Zoo Membership.

Who We Are

Oakland Zoo (managed by The Conservation Society of California) is an award-winning facility stretching 100 acres and overlooking the city of Oakland atop the hills of beautiful Knowland Park. Our mission is to deepen connection with animals, save wildlife, and inspire champions for the natural world. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Zoo is part of the largest conservation organization in the nation. Our employees take PRIDE in our values of being Positive, Respectful, Inquisitive, Driven and Effective members of a team who places the care of our animals, stewardship of the natural environment, and the experience of our guests at the forefront of all that we do.

Oakland Zoo’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access 

We believe that all people should have safe access to the Zoo and culturally relevant and responsive experiences with our staff, programs, and curriculum. Oakland Zoo is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and valued for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race, and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement toward a vision of equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community in which we exist and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ identifying folks, and women to apply.

The Conservation Society of California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or other characteristics protected by law. The Conservation Society of California also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.