Manager, Data - Vancouver - Pacific Salmon Foundation

Description

Organizational Summary

The Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) is salmon first, salmon always. We harness the passion and power of people to save and restore Pacific salmon in B.C. and the Yukon. And, we never do it alone, working with Indigenous partners, streamkeepers, government agencies and fellow ENGO's, the PSF undertakes research, restoration initiatives and leadership in convening all those willing to help recover Pacific salmon. As People for Salmon, we're here to help ensure sustainable populations of Pacific salmon for generations to come.

Position Overview

The Manager, Data & Assessments provides strategic leadership for PSF's data and assessment programming, ensuring high-quality, actionable information supports salmon conservation, recovery, and management. The Manager leads the Data & Assessments Team—comprised of three Team Leads and an additional 5–7 staff—by setting clear priorities, allocating resources, and supporting Team Leads in translating organizational objectives into coordinated workplans and results. Acting as a key link between senior leadership and the Data & Assessment Team, the Manager provides oversight, guidance, and quality assurance to ensure timely, integrated, and high-impact delivery.

The Manager is responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of PSF's data systems, assessment approaches, and digital platforms, including PSF's flagship tools - the Pacific Salmon Explorer and the State of Salmon. The Manager ensures these tools remain credible, user-centered, and aligned with PSF's organizational objectives. By guiding the compilation, analysis, and visualization of key datasets, this role enables PSF staff, partners, and decision-makers to access and apply evidence-based insights that inform conservation, recovery, and management actions for salmon and their ecosystems.

What You Will Do

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership for PSF's Data & Assessment team, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategic direction set by PSF's Senior Director.
• Translate organizational strategy into integrated program plans, priorities, and deliverables.
• Monitor performance, risks, and progress to ensure timely, high-quality program delivery.

Team Leadership

• Lead and manage the Data & Assessment Team, including supervising three direct reports (Team Leads) and their respective staff.
• Support Team Leads in developing workplans, managing workloads, and delivering coordinated outcomes.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture through coaching, mentorship, and setting clear expectations.

Data Integration, Analysis & Visualization

• Guide the compilation, integration, and analysis of key datasets relevant to salmon conservation, recovery, and management.
• Ensure effective data visualization and presentation to support decision-making by PSF staff, partners, practitioners, and policy-makers.
• Promote best practices in data governance and accessibility.
• Oversee the development of effective and transparent workflows for consistent data ingestion, storage, and organization.
• Ensure data integrity, standardization, and documentation across platforms and datasets.
• Direct and oversee the analysis of complex datasets to generate insights that support conservation planning, salmon and habitat assessments, and applied management actions.
• Lead and support the production of summaries, visualizations, and analytical outputs that communicate key findings to PSF senior leadership, as well as external technical and non-technical audiences.

Data Systems, Platforms & Assessments

• Oversee the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of PSF's data systems, assessment approaches, and digital platforms.
• Provide technical oversight of the Pacific Salmon Explorer and State of Salmon, ensuring they are credible, user-centered, and fit for purpose and aligned with PSF's strategic objectives.
• Ensure data management, assessment methods, and analytical outputs meet high standards of quality, transparency, and scientific rigor.
• Oversee the Data & Assessment Teams efforts to design, build, and maintain tools, dashboards, and data platforms that support public access to salmon-related data.
• Ensure data management and visualization platforms remain user-friendly, secure, and aligned with open data standards.

Support Applied Decision‑Making

• Strategically develop data products and insights that directly support PSF's Action and Influence portfolios.
• Respond to internal and external data needs that inform conservation, recovery, and management decisions.
• Translate data into actionable knowledge for partners, project teams, and decision-makers.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with internal teams, partners, and stakeholders to understand data needs and develop appropriate solutions.
• Support collaborative projects that rely on shared data, tools, or platforms.
• Contribute data expertise to project planning, reporting, and evaluation efforts.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Implement efforts to improve data systems, workflows, automation, and user experience.
• Stay current on emerging data technologies, standards, and best practices relevant to ecological and conservation science including the use of Artificial Intelligence in PSF's data tools.
• Lead and support initiatives to strengthen PSF's data and assessment capacity and enhance the impact of data‑driven decision‑making both internally and externally.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and improvement in data systems and assessment practices.

What You Bring

Education & Experience

• Graduate degree (MSc or PhD preferred) in fisheries science, ecology, biology, computer science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 – 10 years of experience working with salmon population, fisheries, or ecological data, ideally in conservation, resource management, or applied science contexts.
• Experience developing or managing data systems, databases, dashboards, or digital platforms.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing, and interpreting Pacific salmon datasets for conservation and applied decision‑making.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and external partners on data‑driven projects.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Strong proficiency in data management, data modeling, and developing workflows for data ingestion and integration.
• Experience with data and statistical analysis tools, simulation modeling, and programming languages (e.g., R, Python, SQL).
• Proficiency with visualization tools and dashboarding technologies (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, custom web‑based tools).
• Experience with geospatial tools and mapping applications (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) is an asset.
• Knowledge of data governance, metadata standards, and best practices for secure and ethical data management.
• Extensive knowledge of salmon ecology, conservation, and resource management.

Communication & Collaboration

• Ability to translate complex data and analytical results into clear, accessible insights for diverse technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong communication skills, including experience creating visualizations, summaries, and reports, as well excellent written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders.

Organizational & Professional Skills

• Excellent problem‑solving abilities and a strong attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high‑quality work on deadlines.
• Commitment to supporting evidence‑based decision‑making, continuous improvement, and innovation in data systems and tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel including travel by road or commercial transport, being away from home for multiple nights, and a valid driver's licence.

What We Offer

• Mentorship and development: PSF is committed to lifelong learning. Team members benefit from ongoing mentoring and skill‑building opportunities to support career growth.
• Work–life balance: 15 paid vacation days (with additional days based on seniority), paid sick days, paid personal days for family or personal matters, and office closure during the winter holidays.
• Benefits: Extended health and dental coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, and a group pension plan with a 4% employer‑matching contribution (eligible from the start date).
• Base pay: The salary range for the Manager, Data & Assessments position is $97,500 to $140,400. The actual salary offered will be commensurate with the candidate's skills and experience, as well as the contribution they are expected to make in the role. In the normal course, employees are hired at a salary between the minimum and midpoint of the established range for a position.

Reporting and Supervision

Supervised by the Senior Director, Salmon Programs, the Manager, Data & Assessments is responsible for undertaking assigned work and meeting or exceeding the standard of care set by the Senior Director, Salmon Programs.

Location

This position is hybrid with regular travel to PSF's office in Vancouver and Victoria required. Additional travel will be required to participate in PSF events and externally hosted meetings.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe diversity is key to excellence and actively encourage applications from Indigenous persons, people with disabilities, members of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and members of groups that commonly experience discrimination based on race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin.

If you require accommodations or support during any stage of the recruitment process, please email

Application Instructions and Deadline

Qualified applicants are required to submit a resume and cover letter no later than 4:30pm on March 3, 2026.