Environmental Social Scientist - Keller Science Action Center

Field Museum • Chicago, IL

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center translates museum science and expertise into action for conservation and quality of life. We are seeking an Environmental Social Scientist to support work in the Chicago Wilderness region, where we collaborate with a wide network of partners to advance conservation on the ground in Chicago, Kankakee County, and Northwest Indiana, with the potential to extend into other areas. The successful candidate brings strong knowledge of regional conservation context and natural and human communities, a passion for collaborative interdisciplinary research, and a dedication to quick and tangible results. This experienced environmental social scientist will contribute to the strategy, methods and future direction of the Chicago Program, and will work with team members to develop and implement effective, collaborative approaches to community engagement in Chicago region conservation. The work integrates social science into conservation practice by building partnerships, leading community-engaged research, and advancing landscape-scale initiatives. This position is hired on a 3-year term with potential for renewal, is based at the Field Museum in Chicago and reports to the Sr. Director of the Keller Science Action Center. The work involves regular local field work, and 10-20% of the year devoted to regional travel.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in anthropology, human geography, or related social science field
• Minimum 4 years of experience in community-based conservation, participatory action research, sustainable natural resource use with communities or related work
• Experience working on interdisciplinary teams that blend social and natural science disciplines and methodologies
• Experience managing projects and competent working both independently and in a team
• Demonstrated experience building partnerships across diverse stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, verbal communication, and writing and editing skills: able to structure ideas clearly and to communicate them in English to a range of audiences
• Extensive knowledge of the Chicago region
• Demonstrated experience working with communities in the Chicago region or a similar large metropolitan region where conservation occurs across an urban�rural mosaic and at corridor/landscape scales.
• Proficiency with digital work platforms such as MS Office and Google Workspace
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in Spanish
• Experience working with Indigenous and/or historically underserved communities

Responsibilities

• Provide social science expertise to Action Center conservation efforts.
• Lead initiatives within the Chicago program.
• Collaborate as a lead scientist in the Chicago region, including planning, fieldwork, technical reporting with the goal of establishing and sustaining conservation that benefits local communities.
• Manage key relationships with partners and help build and sustain new partnerships with community organizations, agencies and other stakeholders that advance conservation and well-being goals.
• Work closely with Action Center staff and partners to synthesize insights and outcomes across particular experiences and generate understanding applicable to large landscape scales and produce demonstrable results on the ground.
• Design and conduct research and community engagement processes, including participatory action research, asset-based planning, and rapid ethnographic and qualitative methods approaches to place community knowledge, values and aspirations at the center of conservation efforts.
• Build and sustain partnerships with community organizations, agencies, and other stakeholders
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning across projects
• Contribute to grant proposals, technical reports, and other materials for dissemination, including peer-reviewed publications that support conservation landscapes
• Integrate social scientific expertise into the development of long-term conservation and well-being strategies in collaboration with other Action Center scientists and partners, identifying and implementing opportunities to expand programming and funding

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.
• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.
• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior