Plant Conservation Coordinator

Indianapolis-Zoo; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indianapolis Zoo, through its Global Center for Species Survival, seeks a Plant Conservation Coordinator to support IUCN SSC plant groups and advance global plant conservation. You will help identify priorities, develop action plans, and coordinate across zoos, NGOs, and partners in a dynamic, mission-driven setting.

The role emphasizes program development, fundraising collaboration, and public engagement to promote biodiversity conservation across scales.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years related work experience.
• Practical biodiversity conservation actions and policy knowledge.
• Experience with international projects and cross-cultural collaboration.
• Strong skills in project management, planning and implementation.
• Knowledge of IUCN SSC and plant conservation leaders.
• Multilingual and international stakeholder experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• With guidance from Chairs of plant Specialist Groups, encourage and motivate the SSC plant Groups to advance global species conservation efforts around the SSC Species Conservation Cycle (Assess-Plan-Act-Network-Communicate), focusing on Plan, Act, Network, and Communicate.
• Gather and integrate knowledge into creating strategic proposals, launching projects, developing calls for action on species issues, and assisting in IUCN Resolutions and Recommendations.
• Contribute to and review formal documents, including reporting to SSC for annual Data process.
• Bolster collaboration across the SSC network and wider partners to maximize conservation impact of activities and joint projects for plant conservation.
• Build relationships with training programs to encourage emerging talent to integrate into the SSC network.
• Coordinate and evaluate GCSS engagement with the public on plant conservation through zoo initiatives and external communications.

Skills

Fluency in English

Education

Bachelor level degree in biology, ecology, botany, natural resources management or related field

Job description

Do you have a passion for species conservation and the determination to work within a global network to promote plant species conservation around the world? The Indianapolis Zoo Global Center for Species Survival is looking for a passionate Plant Conservation Coordinator to support the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Plant Specialist Groups.

As part of the Global Center for Species Survival (GCSS), this role will work closely with the Indianapolis Zoo team, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair's Office, the Plant Conservation Committee and Specialist Group Chairs, and wider partners. You will support the identification of priorities, challenges and opportunities across the management of conservation data and assessments, oversee the process of conservation planning, develop action plans, and support SSC network coordination, and facilitate interactions between various partner communities, individuals and groups.

What You'll Do

• With guidance from Chairs of plant Specialist Groups, encourage and motivate the SSC plant Groups to advance global species conservation efforts around the SSC Species Conservation Cycle (Assess-Plan-Act-Network-Communicate), with a specific focus on Plan, Act, Network, and Communicate.
• Gather and integrate knowledge and expertise into creating strategic proposals for approval, launching projects/initiatives, developing calls for action on specific species issues, and assisting in species-specific IUCN Resolutions and Recommendations.
• Contribute to and review formal, programmatic and communication documents as required, including periodic outcome and planning reporting to the SSC for the annual SSC Data process.
• Bolster collaboration across the SSC network and the constituent parts of IUCN, governments, the global botanic garden community, accredited zoo and aquarium communities and the wider conservation community to maximize the relevance and conservation impact of activities and joint projects for plant conservation.
• Build relationships with existing training programs, e.g., CLP, EDGE Fellows, Durrell Academy, to encourage emerging talent to integrate into the SSC network.
• Coordinate, implement and evaluate how the GCSS can engage with the public on issues relating to plant conservation, including locally through the zoo and globally through the development of resources, including social media communications, blogs and podcasts, graphics, and other emerging communication techniques.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor level degree in biology, ecology, botany, natural resources management or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years related work experience.
• Demonstrated experience and a good understanding of the practical aspects of biodiversity conservation actions and policy especially relating to plants.
• Working knowledge of the IUCN SSC, and leaders and stakeholders in plant conservation.
• Strong skills in project management, planning and project implementation.
• Experience with international projects and supporting new initiatives.
• International stakeholder management experience, multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience desirable.
• Evidence of experience working in / a deep understanding of international plant conservation related matters
• Experience in fundraising and/or demonstrated success in securing grants.
• Fluency in English a requirement. Fluency in other languages desired.

Why the Indianapolis Zoo?

The Indianapolis Zoological Society (IZS) is one of the largest privately funded zoos in the United States of America. As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution, the mission of IZS is to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. IZS works to achieve this mission through visitation by over one million guests each year, annual support to many field conservation projects, and the world-renowned Indianapolis Prize. IZS has a monumental goal for its community, state, country and the world - to transform the Indiana community into the most conservation-literate community in the world, with Indianapolis being considered the epicenter for species conservation worldwide.

Employment at the Indianapolis Zoo is contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment testing including a background check, motor vehicle check (if applicable) and a drug test.