Program Associate for Landscape Ecology
How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume to resumes@christensenfund.org
or by U.S. mail to:
Resumes – Human Resources
The Christensen Fund
145 Addison Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
DEADLINE
April 8, 2005
For scheduling purposes, we anticipate interviews will be held during the week of April 25th, 2005.
Job Description follows.
Job Title: Program Associate for Landscape Ecology
Reports to: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared by: Carol Sage, Director of Finance & Administration
Approved by: Kenneth Wilson, Executive Director
Effective date: January 31, 2005
About The Christensen Fund:
The Christensen Fund (TCF) (www.christensenfund.org) is a private foundation committed to grant making on an international and domestic front, as well as partnering with grantees to network, learn from each other and optimize their use of TCF and other funding. Being an organization steeped in a background of the arts and conservation science and having made a meaningful contribution to the community for more than forty years, TCF is expanding its grant-making and combining its interests in arts, biological conservation and education into a single approach based on ideas of bio-cultural diversity and the stewardship of landscapes. Most TCF grants (http://www.christensenfund.org/frame_grants.html) are directed towards local organizations and their partners working to strengthen the understanding, appreciation and creative persistence of biological and cultural diversity in four geographic regions:
Complementing grant making in the regions TCF seeks to build knowledge and practice worldwide around integrating concerns for cultural and biological diversity, on the application of resilience theory, and towards enhancing local capacities to adapt to climate change and other impacts of globalization. TCF also funds San Francisco Bay Area-based organizations concerned with bio-cultural and educational outreach, and the vibrancy of the cultural life of diaspora from these geographic regions living in the Bay area. The grant budget for FY 2005 is $7m; grant making is expected to expand considerably in the next several years.
Candidates for the Program Associate for Landscape Ecology position would include post-docs exploring career opportunities to bridge research and practice in an ideas-based institution wanting to join a vibrant new team building this new program (http://www.christensenfund.org/frame_announcement.html). TCF is looking to the PA to bring expertise, practical orientation and deep intellectual curiosity-- to strengthen its work on the ecological dimensions of supporting traditionally-managed landscapes facing change. The focus will be on the development and application of ideas in this emerging field.
The Christensen Fund Staffing Philosophy:
TCF has designed its processes and procedures in a manner centered on the most effective means to fulfill its mission and ensure high fidelity grant making. It is the intention at TCF to employ its human resources, whether, direct, indirect, or ancillary, in a thoughtful and imaginative manner to facilitate its endeavors, and in compliance with US labor laws.
Nature of Position:
The position of Program Associate for Landscape Ecology will work closely with the Program Officers responsible for its four geographic priority regions, and with the Executive Director generally and in respect to the cross cutting program, to support:
(i) The further development of the landscape ecology component of TCF grant strategies and activities towards sustaining bio-cultural diversity and resilience,
(ii) The strengthening of the abilities of TCF grantees to develop landscape ecology approaches to their work which combine western scientific and indigenous ecological insight (for example through cultural and resource mapping).
(iii) The development of TCF and grantee capacities to evaluate the landscape ecology impacts of TCF grants and programs,
(iv) The interfacing of TCF and TCF grantee efforts with those of international and local conservation organizations,
(v) Developing and promoting good practice around landscape ecology and bio-cultural diversity at TCF and for the global community.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Program Associate will be expected to bring knowledge, creativity and collaborative energy to the following responsibilities:
(i) Review grant making strategies, proposals and other relevant documents with the Program Officers and Executive Director to identify ideas and opportunities to advance the ecological components of landscape grant making at TCF, both globally and regionally, and help evaluate the impact of activities funded to date by TCF and potentially others,
(ii) Undertake an extended field visit to each of the four TCF regions per year to work with Program Officers, grantees and/or others around how best to develop landscape ecological dimensions to this work, which may include workshops and practical training, as well as participatory field assessments as needed,
(iii) Represent TCF in select conference/workshop fora in the US and internationally, as well as engage with international and regional conservation institutions and funders in regard to TCF and landscape approaches. Publication and public speaking will be encouraged.
Intended to strengthen the overall programs of the Christensen Fund, the Program Associate will have no direct grant-making, supervisory or budgetary responsibilities.
Credentials, Essential Experience and Skills:
Educational Requirements
(i) A background in the biological sciences is essential, and
(ii) A PhD in some dimension of applied landscape ecology (conservation biology, ecological anthropology, ethnobiology, geography or similar), or a masters degree and equivalent substantial field research experience.
Essential Experience and Skills
(iii) Significant field experience in two or more regions of the world, especially semi-arid and/or montane, knowledge of TCF regions being an advantage,
(vi) Familiarity with the key landscape ecology issues of concern to TCF, both theoretical (e.g. resilience theory) and practical (e.g. around issues such as: the ecology of traditional grazing management systems, the agro-ecology of traditional farming systems, fire management regimes, the impact of hunting and gathering on species and ecosystems, factors affecting the biodiversity and ecology of managed landscapes, the impact of sacred places as refugia in landscapes, and so forth),
(vii) Demonstrated commitment to working in meaningful collaboration with indigenous communities and other local institutions,
(viii) A demonstrated passionate commitment to the maintenance of both cultural and biological diversity and to team work at TCF.
Employment Term:
The Program Associate will serve a three year contract, renewable up to a total of six years by mutual agreement.
Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with experience of candidate and norms in the field.
Physical Requirements:
Position requires minimal lifting (up to 25 lbs.), mostly deskwork. International travel and field visits to remote areas will be required.
Location:
Palo Alto, California
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to resumes@christensenfund.org.
The Christensen Fund is an equal opportunities employer
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.