Summary: Responsible for providing leadership in support of the Madagascar program. Responsible for leading the definition, development, and implementation of the Garden’s scientific, conservation, and restoration strategy in Madagascar, and developing business plans in support thereof. The Senior Manager, Madagascar Program will ensure that initiatives function proactively to support and achieve departmental and division-related objectives in support of the Garden’s mission, to include leading, developing, supporting, and motivating an effective team, fostering strong communication and collaboration among staff and contributing to the program’s sustainable future. This position will help to promote the Garden’s role in science and conservation to internal and external audiences and is instrumental in securing ongoing funding. The Senior Manager, Madagascar Program will develop research on plant diversity and related topics, focusing on Madagascar, and involving a diversity of approaches, including field and herbarium studies as well as one or more analytical methods (e.g., biogeography, conservation analysis, etc.).
Language Skills: Ability to communicate fluently in English and French (oral/written) essential. Ability to communicate fluently in Malagasy language strongly preferred.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
In collaboration with Garden leadership and the Madagascar program will help to craft the vision, strategic development, and delivery of objectives of the Madagascar program in support of the Plants and People Division and Garden’s global mission of plant science, conservation and sustainability.
Serve as a liaison between Madagascar-based and St. Louis-based staff, working closely with both teams to facilitate effective communication, co-design of programs, and increased local program development and decision making. Contribute to strategic development, delivery, and assessment of the program’s initiatives.
Initiate, conduct and publish significant independent research and write results for publication in books and peer reviewed journals, specifically on the taxonomy, systematics, biogeography of Malagasy plants, and participates in research and publications on Malagasy ecosystems.
Maintain scientific research projects that involve students, staff, and external collaborators.
Initiate, cultivate and sustain partnerships that enable long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between the program and other entities, including universities, botanical research institutions, other scientific organizations, and the private sector.
Coordinate efforts to identify a large diversity of funding sources and prepare and submit proposals to raise funds to support initiatives within the program, department, and division, including independent research programs.
Participate in developing a sustainable programmatic budget, aligned with available resources.
Provide leadership to, and directly manages, coaches and develops the program’s team of professionals.
Write, review, and facilitate grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
Participate in scientific meetings and delivers lectures to professional organizations and to the general public as appropriate.
Lead and serve on scientific panels/committees as appropriate.
Ensure that all applicable safety standards are followed; informs Garden employees, volunteers, and interns professional museum object handling protocols, installation guidelines, safety guidelines, and methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
Meet expected attendance guidelines.
Follow and adhere to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
Behave and communicate in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within the program and department, as well as the division and throughout the Garden,…