We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Head of Field Research to join our team focused on revolutionising the monitoring of carbon and biodiversity, with an initial focus on African rangelands but broadening to other biomes. The Head of Field Research will work with Natural State's Head Biometrician to coordinate the successful delivery of research activities and ensure the timely achievement of the department's milestones. As a young organisation, Natural State requires employees to be flexible, quick to learn new skills, and ready to tackle evolving responsibilities and challenges.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scientific
- Manage, train, and mentor the Field Implementation and Botany teams in the implementation of their data collection and research activities to meet Natural State's goals and commitments to donors and partners.
- Work with the heads of the Biometrics, Carbon Sciences, Technical Delivery, and Lab Science teams, other NS scientists and specialists, and external partners and collaborators to design and implement state-of-the-art field research projects aimed at improving how we cost-effectively monitor biodiversity and carbon stocks.
- Work with the Head Biometrician and Head of Project Implementation to translate research projects into widely applicable tools to underpin financial mechanisms for restoration and conservation projects.
- Ensure that all field data collected are accurate, properly categorised and labelled, and in the format required by NS protocols, including designing automated Quality Control workflows.
- Contribute to the development of Natural State's ecological intactness index and other monitoring tools and services.
- Coordinate with team heads and leads to write reports to partners and donors on the activities undertaken by the Research & Monitoring department.
- Coordinate with team heads and leads to develop and optimise sampling protocols and data models for collecting field observations including writing and reviewing survey design documents, standard operating procedures, and field manuals.
- Work with other scientists to write and publish scientific articles on Natural State's work in peer reviewed publications and present scientific outputs at conferences and workshops.
Logistical
- Coordinate with team heads and leads on the planning and logistics of research activities.
- Foster and maintain partnerships and collaborations with external stakeholders, organisations and institutions.
- Attend meetings with landowners and stakeholders to build and maintain collaborations across focal landscapes.
- Act as a point of contact for academic partners and students.
- Assist with budgeting, procurement and logistical planning of the Research & Monitoring department's work.
- Work with the Director of Research & Monitoring to manage resources and ensure timely completion of activities, documentation, and communication of funding and reporting deadlines.
- Represent the Research & Monitoring department with visiting donors, partners, and researchers.
Operational
- Assist Natural State's fundraising team in developing funding pitches and grant applications tailored to research and development projects of specific interest to the Research & Monitoring team.
- Coordinate with Natural State's Operations department to facilitate the procurement of field equipment for the Research & Monitoring department.
- Coordinate with Natural State's Operations department on permitting requirements for all fieldwork activities. This will include supporting the preparation, submission and renewal of research permits, facilitating the acquisition of export permits for biological samples and import permits for equipment whilst also ensuring that Natural State's fieldwork complies with all location-specific guidelines.
Human Resources
- Contribute to a productive, positive and inclusive culture in the team.
- Practise Natural State's core values.
- Contribute to the professional development of direct reports and their teams.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Postgraduate degree in biology, ecology, conservation or related discipline.
- 3 years of experience leading field research with exceptional organisational and planning skills.
- Fieldwork experience in African rangelands.
- Experience interpreting and analysing scientific data.
- Experience managing large data sets.
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili.
- Good writing skills.
- Proficiency in open-source data management and statistics software, such as SQL, Python, and R, and the ability to rapidly learn new software programmes. At a minimum, the Head of Field Research will need to develop basic proficiency in ODK, Markdown, Apache Superset, Earth Engine, and Data Build Tool in addition to the aforementioned programmes.
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The Head of Project Delivery will lead Natural State's MRV implementation across all project types, including credit-generating projects, donor-funded conservation programmes, compliance monitoring, and government or partner reporting.
This role combines strategic oversight with operational leadership and scientific acumen. It requires someone who can build systems, interpret complex scientific data, manage teams, coordinate complex field and lab workflows, and engage confidently with technical partners, auditors, verifiers, and land stewards. A strong technical foundation in biodiversity MRV is essential, with additional MRV experience in carbon, social, or water monitoring considered highly desirable.
The role will also work in close collaboration with the Nature Finance Department to ensure MRV implementation aligns with project crediting requirements, feasibility assessments, and emerging nature-finance mechanisms, whilst maintaining scientific rigour and operational integrity.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Division Establishment
- Pursue Natural State's mission of transformational nature restoration through project partnerships underpinned by cost-effective, transparent, and robust impact monitoring using best-in-class technological solutions.
- Establish and lead the Project Delivery Division responsible for delivering all MRV-dependent projects, including credit-based MRV cycles, compliance monitoring, donor/funder reporting, ecological baselines, and landscape performance monitoring.
- Develop scalable workflows, management systems, and operational standards suitable for diverse project types and partner requirements.
- Contribute to departmental planning, pipeline prioritisation, and decisions related to capacity growth and resource allocation.
- Work with the Conservation Technology division to ensure data quality, build data pipelines, and generate robust and informative metrics of performance.
- Work with the Biometrics and Lab Science divisions to iteratively improve and expand monitoring capabilities and to package these capabilities for project partners.
- Survey the credit framework landscape to identify the best standards and frameworks to robustly and cost-effectively capture project impact and build partnerships with certification bodies.
Project Oversight and Execution
- Coordinate closely with the Biometrics, Conservation Technology, and Lab Science divisions to ensure project delivery aligns with analytical models, digital pipelines, sensor systems, and laboratory workflows used across Natural State.
- Coordinate closely with the Nature Finance division to ensure MRV delivery supports crediting pathways, verification cycles, feasibility assessments, funder expectations, and project structuring needs.
- Oversee planning, budgeting, and execution of MRV activities for existing PV Nature (PVN) projects and other active MRV workstreams, ensuring high-quality delivery against scope, timeline, and financial targets.
- Develop operational capabilities, systems, and workflows to support future delivery of MRV solutions across a broader set of frameworks.
- Monitor project risks and performance; develop mitigation plans where needed.
- Lead project close-out activities, including financial reconciliation, deliverables submission, partner reporting, and lessons-learned reviews.
Partner Coordination and External Engagement
- Serve as the primary liaison with project partners, including project developers, conservancies, community organisations, NGOs, government agencies, funders, and research collaborators.
- Represent Natural State in technical discussions with auditors, verifiers, donors, and other external stakeholders.
- Communicate project expectations, deliverables, timelines, and technical requirements clearly throughout the project lifecycle.
- Coordinate verification cycles, audits, and compliance reviews with standard bodies, government agencies, and independent verifiers.
- Conduct technical evaluations of project capacity and determine the technical feasibility of prospective projects.
Team Leadership and Management
- Supervise and mentor the MRV Specialist, Project Managers, and Project Data Officers.
- Build a culture of integrity, excellence, scientific rigour, and accountability within the Project Delivery Division.
- Develop KPIs, performance systems, and professional development pathways for staff.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Master's degree or PhD in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, geography, or a related field.
- Significant professional experience leading conservation, ecological monitoring, or MRV projects across diverse landscapes, with proven ability to manage complex teams and workflows.
- Strong technical knowledge of biodiversity MRV methods (e.g., ecological field surveys, bioacoustics, eDNA, camera traps, remote sensing-derived indicators).
- Proficiency in data science and ecological statistics using open source software (e.g., R, Python, Julia, SQL).
- Proven ability to build and manage multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
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