Climate Metrics Specialist

The Climate Metrics Specialist is an impact scientist who provides technical and scientific support and leadership for climate metrics and indicators in service of TNC’s 2030 goals and beyond. Specifically, they provide technical support and advice and ensure climate metric accounting is consistent, reliable, and accurate. They work closely with the Global Climate team, the Chief Conservation Office, and TNC field teams to refine and report outcome and intermediate result indicators and metrics in service of programmatic monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans and internal tracking systems.     

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

 The Climate Metrics Specialist is an impact scientist who supports the quality and accuracy of conservation impact indicators and metrics for both the Global Climate team and key priority climate projects and strategies across TNC. The Specialist will inform the development of climate mitigation metrics, particularly through carbon accounting for nature-based solutions and clean energy programs, as well as climate adaptation and resilience metrics. They will help ensure the effectiveness and overall accountability of priority strategies and programs in service of TNC’s 2030 climate goals. They will support the Chief Conservation Office’s (CCO) Conservation Data and Conservation Strategy teams in ensuring that appropriate metrics robustly and accurately capture the impact of climate projects and programs. As relevant, they may also conduct analysis and research in support of improving baselines, measuring and monitoring impact and/or co-benefits, and adaptive management. The Specialist may develop metrics and MEL capabilities in line with TNC’s Conservation Impact System and other organizational needs.   

The Specialist will report to the Global Climate Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Lead and will work closely with climate strategy teams, the CCO’s Conservation Data Team, and relevant field teams. They will serve as the Global Climate team’s primary expert on climate monitoring and metrics, leading and advising the Global Climate team and other TNC teams on the development of direct and proxy metrics and measures in service of the 2030 Climate goals.  

The location for this position is flexible within countries where The Nature Conservancy has an established office, with a preference for the Washington, DC Metro area. Salary is based on physical working location. No relocation assistance will be offered.   

This is a two-year funded position with the possibility for extension based on deliverables and funding. 

The position will be accepting application until 11:59pm EST September 30, 2026.

Please submit both a resume and cover letter for consideration

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE 

• Serve as primary expert and point of contact for the Global Climate team on all aspects of impact metrics and tracking systems, and support priority field projects and strategies with metrics selection and use.  

• Work with the MEL Lead to develop and deploy climate mitigation or adaptation metrics, proxy metrics, or methods in service of 2030 climate goal progress reporting. 

• Develop adaptive management and MEL plans and support the design and implementation of adaptive management and monitoring protocols with a focus on data, indicators, and metrics. 

• Design and conduct quantitative analyses as relevant to inform baselines and measure impact, drawing on conservation knowledge and methodological variety including carbon accounting, additionality principles, impact evaluations, surveys, field sampling, and more. 

• Support climate adaptation and mitigation metric refinement and help teams develop and utilize high-quality program monitoring approaches and impact metrics.  

• Help develop MEL systems and protocols to inform 2040 and beyond goals, outcomes, adaptive management, and reporting approaches to demonstrate ongoing conservation impact.  

• Deliver tools and training to staff and partners, as appropriate.                                            

• Manage spatial, tabular, and other data, develop new datasets and tools as necessary, and ensure access to collaborators. May include fieldwork to collect data. 

• May conduct applied, reproducible statistical and geospatial analyses on climate actions and outcomes, as well as the impact of the Global Climate team and other priority projects, providing rigorous interpretations and compelling visualizations of findings. 

• Contribute to others’ research and analysis as appropriate to support metrics and MEL priorities described above. 

• May supervise staff, interns, or volunteers on a project basis.                        

• May manage a grant, contract, or request for proposal.                        

• Must be able to work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master's degree in science-related field and 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.                    

• Experience collecting, manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data.  

• Experience synthesizing, interpreting, and communicating scientific information, including translating scientific concepts to general audiences.          

• Experience preparing technical reports, or scientific publications, and creating engaging visualizations of findings.   

• Experience leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams. 

• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people. 

• Experience working with conservation or climate programs.  

• Experience in developing metrics, monitoring, evaluation, outcome reporting, or related expertise.   

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Previous or current experience working with The Nature Conservancy.  

• Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience. 

• Team player with ability to either lead or support depending on situational need. 

• Specific experience working in climate, such as carbon accounting, the intersection of clean energy and nature conservation, quantifying ecosystem services or co-benefits of climate action, measures of ecosystem resilience, measuring indirect or unintended outcomes of climate or land use policy, articulating the people benefits of climate outcomes and ecosystem resilience, or similar concepts. 

• Extensive experience in the field of MEL, particularly on the topics of metrics selection and quality. 

• Knowledge of common software applications for analysis or MEL. 

• Track record of producing reproducible analysis. Experience coding in R, Python, or other computing languages for large-scale geospatial analysis and/or data manipulation would be an advantage.  

• Statistical skills, potentially including sampling design and impact evaluation, and ability to apply a variety of analytical tools as determined by the research question.  

• Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals. 

• Experience developing or conducting trainings or building capacity. 

• Negotiation skills and ability to influence without authority. 

• Ability to take initiative and drive results based on program goals in a decentralized work environment.  

• Ability to advance multiple projects in parallel and prioritize diverse responsibilities to meet deadlines.  

• Strong organizational and time management skills.     

• Ability to make independent decisions. 

• Attention to detail.  

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job. 

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $69,275 - $103,785 (grade 7) for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

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.”

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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