Senior Director, Wildlife Tracking Systems

Overview

Bird conservation data science and technology

Position: Senior Director, Wildlife Tracking Systems

Organization: Birds Canada

Location: Option to work onsite at any Birds Canada office (Port Rowan, ON or elsewhere) or remote at your home office in Canada

Salary: $115,000 - $125,000 annual salary

Birds Canada is the country’s leading national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Our team of 100+ staff works with thousands of volunteers and supporters to advance science, conservation action, and habitat protection. We are a leader in conservation technology through our data platforms and Motus Wildlife Tracking System, a global research network that tracks birds, bats, and insects using miniaturized tags and a shared receiver infrastructure to support conservation outcomes.

Motus has grown into an international community of more than 3,000 collaborators in 34 countries, including over 100 academic institutions and 20 government agencies, with ongoing publications and research impact.

Reporting to the Vice President, Science, the Senior Director, Wildlife Tracking Systems:

• Directs and grows a team currently numbering ~10 staff.
• Liaises and negotiates with Motus-compatible technology companies and innovators to ensure that bird conservation priorities are supported by current and emerging technologies.
• Collaborates with the Senior Director, Data Science and Technology to ensure decision makers have high-quality information for conservation actions.

Knowledge

• Leadership in collaborative, coalition-based approaches in international, multi-cultural settings spanning non-profit, academia, government and industry, with strategic development and management of conservation partnerships and large-scale initiatives.
• Effective remote team management across multiple departments and organizations.
• Major fundraising strategies and success in attracting major investors, including case for support, donor stewardship, or cultivating high-level relationships with funders.
• How science informs decision-making for a broad range of rights holders and stakeholders.
• Additional assets:
• Movement and population ecology and conservation technology: tracking small flying animals, acoustic monitoring, data flows, storage, and processing
• Indigenous priorities: understanding Indigenous community needs and priorities in conservation technology
• Business acumen and diplomacy to optimize multiple technologies for a shared conservation goal

Skills

• Leadership: coalition-building, team management, mentorship, partnership building, cross-departmental collaboration, and senior staff oversight.
• Spanish and French language are assets.
• Problem solving: advanced critical thinking and proactive problem-solving across business, non-profit and regulatory contexts.
• Relationship management: cultivating and maintaining strategic internal and external partnerships.
• Time management: handling multiple high-priority projects and deadlines in dynamic environments.
• Technical understanding to guide development and maintenance of technology infrastructure.

Experience

• Conservation business leadership: 10 years in a senior role intersecting environmental work with strategic development and multi-stakeholder conservation partnerships.
• Influence: experience in working with and influencing large groups of practitioners and stakeholders.
• Fundraising: success in attracting major funding or investment partnerships.
• Team leadership: proven ability to form, nurture, facilitate, and lead highly collaborative teams.

Education

• A postgraduate degree in a related field is beneficial, but candidates with equivalent experience gained through alternative or non-academic pathways will also be considered.

Application

Interested in this role? This search is being conducted by Crawford Connect, a search firm specializing in recruiting leaders for Canada’s non-profit sector.

How to apply: Qualified applicants may apply by March 2, 2026 by emailing their cover letter and resume directly to  We thank all applicants for applying; however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

For more information or to request a Position Profile with details about job responsibilities and non-salary benefits, please contact Muneerah Shiraz at  If someone you know may be interested, feel free to share this information. This is an existing vacancy. AI is not used in candidate assessment. Please mention you saw this at