Major responsibilities

This is a individual contributor role. The incumbent will report to Senior Ecologist, Integrated Species Conservation Section.

Responsibility 1
- Conceptualise and lead scientific studies that address applied ecological questions relevant to the restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem function, and which span multiple ecological and spatial scales.
- Develop and apply innovative approaches that integrate genetic, species, community and landscape data to better understand ecological processes and restoration outcomes.
- Apply quantitative, spatial and ecological modelling approaches to identify drivers of ecosystem function, resilience and biodiversity recovery.
- Integrate field observations, laboratory analyses, remote sensing and other technologies to develop evidence-based plant conservation and restoration strategies.
- Contribute to the development of emerging methodologies that connect ecological processes across ecological scales and improve restoration science and practice, including through the Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) framework.

Responsibility 2
- Support the Senior Ecologist and the Senior GIS Specialist in preparing research proposals, technical reports and project budgets.
- Liaise with and engage external collaborators, research institutions, government departments, consultants and students.
- Assist with field surveys, experimental studies and long-term ecological monitoring programmes within the department.
- Support the development and management of integrated ecological datasets that combine multiple data types and scales.

Responsibility 3
- Produce scientific papers and technical reports that advance restoration ecology and landscape conservation.
- Translate research findings into practical recommendations for restoration planning, adaptive management and conservation policy, especially at scale.
- Provide training and outreach to different stakeholders in fields including (but not limited to) plant conservation, restoration ecology, landscape ecology, ecological monitoring and quantitative ecological methods.
- Represent KFBG at scientific meetings, workshops and international conferences.

Responsibility 4
- Generate content for KFBG social media, blog posts and other forms of popular media to raise public awareness of plant conservation and ecological restoration.
- Assist with the planning and execution of occasional events and exhibitions that seek to bring conservation science to a wider lay audience.
- Handle other general administrative and operational duties of the Section/Department.
- Strive to work in line with KFBG values in pursuit of the Vision and Mission of the organisation, and to self-assess performance in this regard.
- Participate in activities arranged by KFBG.

Job Requirements
- A PhD in landscape ecology, restoration ecology, plant ecology, conservation science or a related discipline.
- A promising early career publication record demonstrating the application of multiscale ecological approaches to restoration, biodiversity conservation or ecosystem science.
- Demonstrated ability to integrate ecological information across multiple biological and spatial scales.
- A proven capacity to complete research projects on time and within budget.
- Experience supervising undergraduate and graduate students would be a plus.
- Experience using quantitative analytical approaches to investigate ecological processes, including proficiency in R and relevant statistical, spatial and/or modelling software.
- Familiarity with one or more of the following is desirable: remote sensing, GIS, ecological modelling, species distribution modelling, environmental DNA, genomics, trait-based ecology, network ecology, ecosystem monitoring or other emerging ecological technologies.
- Knowledge of the ecosystems and conservation challenges of Hong Kong, South China or tropical/subtropical Asia would be a distinct advantage.
- Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English and preferably also Chinese (Cantonese and/or Mandarin).
- A flair for bringing scientific findings to a wider, public audience.
- The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Physically fit and comfortable conducting fieldwork.
- Willing to work occasionally on weekends or public holidays, as needed.

Application Method
Interested parties, please send your CV with current / last salary, expected salary and availability to the People & Culture Department, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Corporation, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong or via email at pnc@kfbg.org