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Coexistence Scientist Job Description
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, sustainability, education, and community engagement. Our mission is to create adventure, convey knowledge, conserve nature, and serve our community. We accomplish this by inspiring every visitor with wildlife every day by providing opportunities to be close enough to care. We are passionate about our commitment to wildlife conservation and succeed at this by pursuing our Core Values of: Collaborative Relationships; Positivity & Energy; Accountability, Mutual Trust, & Respect; Progressive Thinking; and Pride, Passion, & a Sense of Ownership.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) is committed to growing our active leadership of wildlife conservation. The CZBG team has extensive history in conservation, including our industry-leading research projects at CREW for species like rhinos and cats, and our cutting-edge sustainability innovations across energy, waste, and water. Yet, environmental conservation pressures remain increasingly urgent. As a trusted voice and expert guide to animals, the Cincinnati Zoo is growing our commitment to conservation by focusing on wildlife coexistence.
Our vision is to facilitate a brighter future for wildlife and people. Coexistence requires listening to the voices and needs on all sides - animals, plants, and people. Through an empowering alliance promoting benefits for all, we can collaborate, reduce conflicts, and sustain healthy landscapes and resources for wildlife and people. Coexistence is the thread tying all of our conservation stories together, with balanced strategies, community engagement, and proactive Zoo leadership.
Our goal is to activate our staff, visitors, stakeholders, and audiences to be inspired by wildlife to participate in conservation. In 2021, we created the Conservation Impact department to coordinate and strategize conservation projects both at the Zoo and with our local and global partners. To reach the next level at the Zoo, we seek to hire a Coexistence Scientist to join our team at CZBG. The Coexistence Scientist will deepen our involvement and leadership in wildlife coexistence.
Position Summary:
The Conservation Impact team is seeking to fill a full-time
Coexistence Scientist position. This position will co-manage the Zoo's Coexistence Impact Fellowship program, ensuring Fellows' success by fostering professional development opportunities, facilitating storytelling and communication initiatives, coordinating logistics, and supporting the program's long-term viability through funding and impact evaluation. The Coexistence Scientist will also lead impact research on coexistence interventions with global partners, Fellows, and Zoo teammates, and they will facilitate coexistence storytelling to enable scaling of the programs and connections with collaborators.
The Coexistence Scientist will bolster the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's ability to achieve our mission of conserving nature and serving community by fostering leadership, storytelling, and action among coexistence Fellows, Zoo staff, and external partners. This position will also contribute to Zoo's four conservation impact goals: 1) direct wildlife conservation impact, 2) community mobilization, 3) Zoo elevation as a collaborative leader, and 4) pathways for communities to coexist with wildlife.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Research
- Collaborate with global partners in delivering science-based solutions for coexistence and helping them advance their work including assisting with impact evaluation efforts, providing support in research design, data collection and analysis.
- Supervise and mentor Coexistence Fellows and provide support in research design, data collection and analysis.
- Support coexistence research on at least one or more of possible topics including:
- Examining alternative livelihood programs of global partner organizations, including developing theories of change, community needs assessments, scaling successful models, evaluating their impact, and assessing benefits to local communities and target wildlife.
- Designing and evaluating human-wildlife coexistence interventions, refining and adapting coexistence evaluation frameworks and best practices, and conducting cross-site, interdisciplinary studies to understand ecological, social and cultural drivers of coexistence outcomes
- Creating and evaluating interventions and campaigns to mobilize more people to address threats to wildlife, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, or invertebrates, by cultivating tolerance, identity, and pride.
- Contribute to the broader Coexistence Program by working with the Conservation Impact team to co-design indicators of success aligned with the Zoo's Areas of Impact.
- Co-design campaigns and coordinate events for Coexistence Action and specific community science or habitat improvement initiatives. These actions and events will be strategically developed to contribute to targeted Species Recovery and Habitat Regeneration goals, ensuring tangible conservation outcomes.
- Write research manuscript(s) for scientific publication
- Write 6-month progress reports and annual impact reports for CZBG, our partners, and funders about best practices, findings, and future research in partnership with Conservation Impact team.
Communications
- Lead efforts in communications and storytelling by empowering Fellows to share their conservation stories through written, audio, and video formats.
- Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with international conservation organizations and universities.
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities to ensure financial support for the Fellowship program. Maintain strong relationships with existing funders by providing regular updates, tracking consistent metrics across all Fellows, and delivering required grant reports.
- Work closely with the Zoo's Conservation Impact Team and Marketing team to design and implement campaigns that engage various audiences, including Zoo staff, visitors, social media followers, and the broader Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) community, as well as promote the Fellowship program to other AZA zoos, encouraging them to adopt similar initiatives.
Logistics
- Manage the selection and onboarding of new Fellows, overseeing logistics such as US visa processing and funding disbursement, and ensuring that fellows receive proper support throughout their two-year term. Regular check-ins will be conducted with Fellows to track progress on project timelines, assist with research-related challenges, and ensure they have the necessary resources and materials for their work.
- Support program administration including for Fellows Week (held annually in May). Coordinate and promote professional development opportunities, including webinars, courses, and mentorship programs.
- Facilitate connections between Fellows within their cohorts, foster relationships between current and alumni fellows, and create structured mentorship opportunities with Zoo staff.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education & Experience:
- A Doctoral degree in conservation science, human dimensions of conservation, environmental studies, ecological or social sciences, or a related field is preferred over a master's degree, due to the scientific mentorship responsibilities for multiple Fellows.
- Equivalent experience in conservation program management, community-based conservation, or human-wildlife coexistence will also be considered.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in wildlife conservation; and specifically, at least 2 years of experience conducting conservation research or impact evaluation including design, data collection, analysis, reporting, and/or adapting strategies using data, preferred.
- Research & Evaluation:
- Strong understanding of impact evaluation, research design, and conservation science principles. Field experience using social science and/or ecological data collection methodologies, and knowledge of relevant statistical tools and software is required.
- Experience in conservation strategic planning and project management tools (e.g., logic models, Miradi software, etc.).
- A publication record that illustrates their ability to conduct and complete research.
- Program Management:
- Demonstrated experience in managing or coordinating conservation programs, fellowships, or capacity-building initiatives, preferably in an international context.
- Experience coordinating stakeholder collaboration with global partners, respecting diverse cultural perspectives, and fostering strong relationships across different regions.
- Strong organizational skills with experience in planning and executing events, managing travel logistics, and coordinating professional development activities.
- Ability to adapt to a changing work environment, navigate complex challenges, work independently and handle multiple assignments simultaneously.
- Must be willing to travel for field work and project management meetings/conferences. Extent of travel expectations dependent on project needs for onsite work, decided in collaboration with the person in the role.
- Communication & Outreach:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in storytelling, public engagement, and developing content for diverse audiences.
- Prior experience engaging communities in conservation or working in a zoo setting is desirable but not mandatory; however, the applicant should demonstrate a commitment to community and understanding of the role of zoo visitor engagement in active wildlife conservation.
- Experience identifying and securing funding sources, managing grant requirements.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and data management tools.
- Familiarity with GIS, statistical software, or digital media tools is a plus.
Work Environment
This position requires a substantial amount of contact with staff, volunteers, and other departments. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions and may be occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and chemicals. This employee will be required to have contact with animals and may be exposed to zoonosis. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Position Details & Benefits
We offer a competitive salary, aligned with the candidate's experience and qualifications. This full-time position is overtime-exempt, and is eligible for the Zoo's benefits programs for non-union employees.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package in support of our employees' Total Well-Being including affordable medical, dental & vision coverage; free mental health counseling and coaching, 401(k) plan with company match; flexible spending accounts; generous paid time off banks; company-paid disability & life insurance; park discounts and free passes.
To Apply:
Cover letter and resume should be attached to your online application.
Deadline to apply is Monday, March 31, 2025
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Cincinnati Zoo
life insurance, paid time off, 401(k)
Mar 13, 2025