Director, Conservation Technology & Data Innovation

Defender of Wildlife; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 143,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Defenders of Wildlife is seeking a Director of Conservation Technology to lead a multidisciplinary team using data science, AI, and remote sensing to advance wildlife conservation. The role partners with field, policy, and agency staff to deploy innovative tech solutions that drive conservation outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in GIS, cloud platforms, and data visualization, plus proven leadership and communication skills to influence decision-makers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field; PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years managing staff.
• Experience applying data science and geospatial analysis to conservation challenges.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Leads and develops a team of scientists and technologists.
• Oversees the planning, prioritization, and execution of the technology team’s portfolio of projects.
• Builds partnerships with conservation organizations, agencies, Tribal partners, and tech companies.
• Develops data-driven conservation tools, dashboards, and analytics.
• Communicates findings for decision-makers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public.

Skills

Data science

Geospatial analysis

Python/R

AI/ML

Leadership

Communication

Education

Advanced degree (Masters/PhD)

Tools

GIS

Python

R

Remote sensing

Cloud platforms

Data visualization

Job description

Defenders of Wildlife is seeking a Director of Conservation Technology to lead a multidisciplinary team using data science, AI, and remote sensing to advance wildlife conservation. The role partners with field, policy, and agency staff to deploy innovative tech solutions that drive conservation outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in GIS, cloud platforms, and data visualization, plus proven leadership and communication skills to influence decision-makers and stakeholders.