Conservation Scientist

Founded in 2001, the **_rare_** **Charitable Research Reserve is a community-driven urban land trust, nature reserve and environmental institute with its headquarters and seven locations comprising over 1200 acres within the Haldimand Tract that spans six miles on either side of the Grand River from source to mouth, land granted to Indigenous Peoples in 1784 to recognise their support for the British in the American Revolution. In Wellington County, **_rare_** is creating an Eramosa River Conservation Corridor to protect forever the river and its adjacent forests and uplands -- lands of the highest ecological significance and which are so far largely unaffected by direct human impact -- ensuring connectivity of spaces and survival of species in an increasingly and rapidly developing area. For all its properties, **_rare_** acknowledges and is grateful to all of the original stewards of the land. Understanding that this land has been rich in diverse Indigenous presence since time immemorial **_rare_** honours and respects the sovereignty of both First Nations in the area: the Onkwehon:we Peoples of Six Nations of the Grand River and the Anishinaabe Peoples of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. As well, rare acknowledges the Neutral people -- for whom there is archeological evidence on the property dating back 10,500 years -- and also those Indigenous Peoples who currently live, work, play and learn in the urban landscape around the properties, such other self-identified and status First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

While the goal of **_rare_** is to steward its sites and ecosystems intact in perpetuity, for the community to enjoy, forever, in a natural state, it also promotes the lands as a living laboratory for research — including in-house monitoring programs and partnerships with other institutions, citizen scientists, artists and Indigenous Peoples, including various forms of inquiry and world views. Research then informs restoration practices and education programs through a Chain of Learning that reaches even the youngest learners in a program called Every Child Outdoors (ECO), a model of active, hands-on, problem-based environmental learning, driven by inquiry in the out-of-doors.

Reporting to the Executive Director, and as part of the program management team, the Conservation Scientist - Research Priorities, Partnerships & Monitoring is responsible for the Research and Ecological Monitoring program at **_rare_**. The Program Scientist works collaboratively with the Senior Educator, Planning Ecologist, Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), Research

Advisory Committee (RAC) and other key staff and volunteers to ensure that various forms of inquiry, often bridging the arts and science, are an integral part of all programs at **_rare_**.

**Responsibilities include, but are not limited to**:

- Lead all research activities by developing and implementing research priorities and by building partnerships with appropriate national and international researchers and artists to undertake joint and independent projects
- Build appropriate relationships with representatives of local First Nations from this territory
- Identify priorities and trends in environmental research by keeping current and gathering information on key regional, provincial, as well as national and international research issues
- Tying into the organizational Strategy and Plans, build multidisciplinary environmental research program that includes various forms of inquiry and disciplines, such as ecology, conservation, archaeology, technology/engineering, the arts, social science, etc.
- Continuously develop, implement and update research and monitoring plans for peer reviewed research at **_rare_** for approval by the ED
- Bring research-related ideas and concerns forward to discuss with EAC, ED and other or relevant staff
- Closely work with Planning Ecologist and EAC to facilitate that land management related activities are research-based and include research components
- Make the organization’s research work known to potential collaborators, various groups, other organizations, universities and the public at large, for example through written communications or presentations
- Ensure that research approval processes are followed, liaise with RAC and make recommendations, with full management information, to the Executive Director
- Monitor progress of current research projects including ensuring visiting researchers complete agreed upon terms and conditions
- Ensure RAC and EAC are informed of research projects that have land management implications and ensure all processes are followed
- Develop and maintain policies and procedures, best practices and training materials for effective research and monitoring processes and administration
- Lead the administration, selection process and further development of graduate scholarships and other research funds
- Act as point person to keep track of location of research projects and their