Senior Scientist bei Arbor Day Foundation

Does the opportunity to devote your talents to a cause much greater than yourself excite you? Do you enjoy applying science to real-world challenges and communicating insights that inspire action? The Arbor Day Foundation is a place where you can do work that matters, with people who care. As we say at the Foundation: life is short, love where you work.    

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. We foster a growing community of more than one million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by our bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees.    

Join the Arbor Day Foundation as a Senior Scientist. As a Senior Scientist, you’ll connect established and emerging science with our mission, strengthening the credibility of our work and advancing innovation across the Foundation and its subsidiary, Arbor Day Carbon. 

Success in this role means you’re helping position the Arbor Day Foundation as a trusted, science-led voice in nature-based solutions. You’ll turn emerging and established science into practical insight that drives innovation, shapes decision-making, and builds partner confidence. Teams across the Foundation will look to you for scientific leadership that strengthens strategy, storytelling, and credibility. Your expertise ensures that every project—from forest carbon initiatives to ecosystem restoration—is grounded in integrity, transparency, and measurable impact. 
 
Our headquarters are in Lincoln, NE, - we are open to remote candidates in the U.S.  
Candidates in Lincoln, NE are expected to be in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Team members can work remotely on Wednesday and Friday, subject to their schedule and needs. This position reports to the Director, GIS.  
 
Travel Requirements: This position requires travel up to 10-15%: 1-2 times a quarter, for meetings, training, and Foundation events. May require travel domestically and internationally  

What you’ll do: 

• Advance science-based decision making. Connect scientific insight to the Foundation’s mission, helping drive innovative and informed choices across teams.  
• Champion impact through communication. Serve as a key spokesperson and technical expert who translates science into meaningful stories for internal and external audiences.  
• Guide reforestation and carbon strategy. Lead due diligence for carbon credit purchases and stay ahead of evolving market standards, certifications, and methodologies.  
• Foster partnerships for progress. Build trusted relationships with technical providers, project partners, and business teams to deliver credible, high-quality reforestation projects.  
• Inform and inspire innovation. Support marketing and sales efforts through accurate technical resources and review of RFPs and promotional materials. 

What you’ll bring:   

• Passion for the Foundation’s mission, nature, environmental stewardship, and people.  
• Our ideal candidate has a master’s degree in environmental science, forestry, sustainability, or a related field.  
• Demonstrated experience in research and analysis in forestry, carbon science, or environmental sustainability.  
• Deep understanding of forest carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas accounting, and regulatory frameworks related to carbon reduction and removal.  
• Exceptional analytical and communication skills - you can interpret complex data and explain it clearly to diverse stakeholders.  
• A collaborative spirit that thrives in cross-functional teams working toward a shared mission of using trees as a solution to climate change. 

 Love Where You Work:    

• Our work changes the world. We find deep purpose in our daily work, we’re helping to shape the planet for future generations.  
• We're in this together. A culture focused on a genuine interest in the wellbeing of others, collaboration, and the intrinsic shared purpose to do what's right.  
• We pride ourselves on the culture we’ve built. We love it, and we know you will too.     
• We care about your health. We offer competitive healthcare (health, dental, vision) coverage for you and your loved ones matched with a wellness incentives program.    
• We invest in your future. Company paid short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, life insurance and 401k with company match are available.    
• We know the little things matter. Team members receive a monthly parking stipend, a fully stocked kitchen, and access to a plethora of benefits at Arbor Day Farm.    
• We care about your growth. We allocate 40+ hours annually for our team members to focus on learning and development.    
• We want you to unplug when needed. We believe in taking your time off without guilt, including the week between Christmas and New Years that we close our Lincoln Campus to recharge.    
• We'll round out the experience. We put our culture first, and we host events and experiences throughout the year to show that we care about you (and your family).