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Biocultural Conservation Specialist

Job Details

Tucson, AZ

Biocultural Conservation Specialist

Join the Adventure at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!

 

 

Are you ready to embark on a wild journey with a team that's as passionate about the desert's wonders as you are? The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking a motivated, driven, and collaborative individual to join our Conservation, Education, and Science team as an Biocultural Conservation Specialist.

 

 

Be sure to include a letter of interest or cover letter with your resume (in one file) – we want to get to know you better! The quest for our ideal candidate starts NOW and will continue until we find our perfect match.

 

 

 

This position is considered open until filled; however, application review will begin immediately. Please understand that if offered a position, you will, as a final condition of employment, be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen and provide a satisfactory 39-month DMV report.

 

 

 

Job Title: Biocultural Conservation Specialist

Department: Conservation, Education and Science

Reports To: Associate Director for Conservation

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation:  Anticipated Starting Salary $48,025 - $50,850 per year, plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business, sick leave, and vacation.

 

 

 

Summary

The Biocultural Conservation Specialist supports the Museum’s work on the conservation and research of plants and cultural practices central to Sonoran Desert foodways. Working closely with researchers, local experts, Tribal partners, and community members, the Specialist will document and contribute to the conservation of plants significant to food and agriculture, including crop wild relatives and other culturally, ecologically, and economically important native species. This dynamic role combines research, fieldwork, education, and community engagement to strengthen connections between biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage. The position emphasizes collaboration—especially with Tribal partners—to support conservation actions that align with cultural values and community priorities.

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

 

Research and Fieldwork (35%)

  • Conduct ethnobotanical and ecological research on the plants and cultural practices central to Sonoran Desert foodways.

  • Document important plant species and conduct fieldwork, including plant collections, to support conservation activities following best practices and ethical standards.

Partnerships and Community Engagement (35%)

  • Assist in the development of best practices for partnerships in conservation, natural resource management, and Indigenous data sovereignty.

  • Build and maintain respectful, reciprocal partnerships with local Tribes, conservation NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions.

  • Facilitate co-designed projects that support biocultural conservation goals and respect Tribal sovereignty and knowledge systems.

  • Represent the Museum in regional conservation collaborations, working groups, and professional meetings.

Education and Public Programming (10%)

  • Develop and deliver educational content, including public talks, workshops, interpretive materials, and youth programs.

  • Support outreach campaigns that highlight the importance of biocultural diversity in the Sonoran Desert.

Program Development and Support (20%)

  • Participate in program planning and project development.

  • Assist with grant writing, reporting, and tracking program outcomes.

  • Collaborate with horticulture, collections, education and exhibit teams to integrate biocultural stories and collections into the broader Museum experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job may supervise interns and volunteers.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Education and/or Experience

  • College degree or higher in natural or social sciences or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Minimum five years’ experience in natural or social sciences, Tribal relations, or related fields.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have experience working with Word Processing software, Spreadsheet software, and Powerpoint. Must have knowledge of cloud storage platforms (Google Drive, Box, Dropbox). Basic GIS recommended, but not required.

Certificates

  • Must have an Arizona Driver’s License.

Other Skills and Abilities                                             

  • Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to work respectfully and effectively with Indigenous communities.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Preferred

  • Experience in conservation and related fields.
  • Experience working with Tribal governments, organizations, and communities.
  • Familiarity with the Sonoran Desert region and its Indigenous cultures.
  • Experience in educational program development and delivery.
  • Experience writing and executing grants.
  • Spanish or Indigenous language proficiency.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 

 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

 

The individual is frequently required to work in high, precarious places and be able to deal with outdoor weather. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Fieldwork may include hiking over rough terrain and working in extreme weather conditions. Occasional weekend and evening work required for programming and outreach. Travel throughout the Sonoran Desert region.

 

 

 

The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships, and position requirements for this job classification. It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.

 

 

 

IDEA Commitment
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.

 

 

We believe inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Ways in which commitment is demonstrated include continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively addressing bias. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s IDEA page to learn more.

 

 

The Museum’s IDEA Coalition consists of staff members who are driving our efforts to build a culture where people feel they belong and have a voice.

 

 

 

ABOUT US
The 
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to the conservation and research of the Sonoran Desert region with the goal of making the Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable and valued. We are a fusion experience zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, art gallery, natural history museum, and research institute. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has recognized the Desert Museum for over 25 years of continuous accreditation.

 

The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

 

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