Current Openings
Reserve Steward, Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve
Research Manager, Santa Cruz Island Reserve, UC Santa Barbara
Director, Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, UC Merced
Director, Yosemite Field Station and Sequoia Field Station, UC Merced
Reserve Steward
Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve
Job #1909246
Apply online at UC Santa Cruz
Initial review date: January 5, 2020
Inquire with Mark Readdie, Resident Director-Big Creek Reserve, readdie@ucsc.edu, 831-667-2543
The Natural Reserve System (NRS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz invites applications for the position of Reserve Steward at Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve. Big Creek Reserve is located 50 miles south of Monterey on the Big Sur coast. It is remote, rugged, and operates off the grid in a rural setting. Much like a museum or library, Big Creek functions as an extension to the University’s on-campus laboratories and classrooms to support academic research and teaching. The facilities include an extensive network of roads and trails, a classroom, staff office, two steward residences, two researcher cabins, three workshops, and four campgrounds. The reserve has a mesh network for scientific data collection, a wireless internet network, VHF radio repeaters, a teaching collection, a research database, and a library.
Under direction of the Resident Reserve Director, and overseen by the Lead Reserve Steward, the Reserve Steward performs complex operations at Big Creek Reserve and Circle M Ranch. In support of academic researchers and educators, the Reserve Steward ensures the quality and proper function of the Reserve through design, logistics and implementation of specific ongoing, seasonal and new projects; carries out the maintenance of any and all facilities, including visitor buildings and overnight accommodations and their associated infrastructure (power, water, and safety equipment), trails, roads, defensible space and grounds; assists the Reserve Director in the planning and designing of facilities upgrades to meet, and improve on, user-based needs; trains and orients reserve employees; and advises reserve users of the potentialities of various specimens for study and research projects. These tasks require independent contributions based on a working knowledge and application of multiple skilled and technical trades as well as experience with research support in an academic setting. The Reserve Steward is also expected to carry out natural history observations; contribute to archival programs by documenting additions to species lists, historical sites and other landscape features; assist the Reserve Director to determine the need for new operational resources to be engineered in the field or by purchase; represent the reserve to the general public in matters concerning the reserve and its lands, operations and facilities; lead groups of scientists and students in the field or direct the material aspects of their installation of monitoring studies and scientific equipment; lead members of the public during outreach events such as volunteer work days and docent tours; and support on-site fundraising and donor relations efforts.
The Reserve Steward is expected to live on the reserve, work a flexible schedule, be available outside of normal working hours, and be in charge when the Reserve Director is absent. The Reserve Steward may, at times, oversee variable-time staff, outside contractors and volunteer work crews. The rugged living and working conditions require a high level of personal integrity including the ability to sustain professionalism among a small crew of colleagues. Storms, landslides, floods, wildfires and highway closures can result in physical isolation for extended periods of time. Of critical importance is a heightened awareness of safety as this is essential when working in a location far from emergency services. Significant creativity and novel solutions are often needed to respond to extraordinary problems that often have an unusual degree of difficulty requiring the use of a wide variety of tools and using on-site materials to fabricate and assemble materials necessary for daily reserve operations. An appreciation for, and support of the scientific and educational mission of the NRS is required.
The University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS) is a unique assemblage of 39 protected wildland sites throughout California. The reserves encompass nearly all of the state’s major ecosystems, preserved in as undisturbed a condition as possible to support University-level research and teaching programs. The NRS is a Trustee Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, and UC manages the NRS resources in the Public Trust. The five Natural Reserve sites that form the UC Santa Cruz unit are spread along 60 miles of the central coast: Año Nuevo Island Reserve (25 acres), Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve (8,000 acres), Ford Ord Natural Reserve (606 acres), Younger Lagoon Reserve (26 acres), and the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve (400 acres). Each reserve has unique research and teaching opportunities, physical conditions and constraints, regional and local political considerations, and funding and administration issues.
Research Manager
Santa Cruz Island Reserve, UC Santa Barbara
Job #: 20190614
Apply online at UC Santa Barbara
For primary consideration apply by November 7, 2019. Thereafter open until filled.
The Natural Reserve System (NRS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), invites applications for the position of Research Manager at Santa Cruz Island Reserve (SCIR) located on Santa Cruz Island in Santa Barbara County, due south of the City of Santa Barbara, and twenty miles west of Ventura, CA. SCIR is operated through cooperative agreements with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the National Park Service (NPS) – Santa Cruz Island’s two landowners. Located on TNC property, SCIR facilities include 9 buildings, a microwave and weather repeater system, an internet system, vehicles, and equipment. SCIR is part of the UCSB NRS and operates within the UCSB Office of Research and the University of California Natural Reserve System. The responsibilities of the position are year-round and weather-independent. This position is offered at 75% of full time. For more information about SCIR visit http://santacruz.nrs.ucsb.edu/.
The NRS mission is to support research, education and public service, and contribute to the understanding and wise stewardship of the Earth. There are over 4500 user days of activity at SCIR, and users include researchers, university classes, outreach groups, volunteers, and K-12 school groups.
The Research Manager provides a combination of research support, administrative assistance, and stewardship duties for the Santa Cruz Island Reserve. This includes support for researchers and research projects, university classes and public service uses, and facilities maintenance. The Research Manager is responsible for coordinating the SCIR user schedule, tracking use of reserve facilities, including orienting visitors and providing accurate data concerning use of the facilities, coordinating shipping and receiving of materials to the Reserve, assisting in monitoring research programs, and implementing research from various scientific disciplines. Stewardship duties include maintaining, repairing, and generally improving SCIR facilities including buildings, decks, utilities, fences, roads, signs, and yards. The Research Manager assists the Reserve Director and Reserve Steward in responding to facility or equipment failures or other emergency situations. The Research Manager is responsible for supporting field research projects, including monitoring and maintaining field research equipment, facilitating research projects, and helping research users to achieve their research goals using Reserve resources. The Research Manager will attend meetings, symposia, and conferences on behalf of the Reserve as needed.
The desired candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in environmental science of related field, and have experience with field research. The Research Manager should be self-sufficient, have a high level of initiative and excellent problem solving skills, outstanding written and oral communication skills, the ability to engage productively with diverse user groups and stakeholders, excellent organizational skills, a willingness to assume responsibility readily, and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision. Preferred qualifications: Experience maintaining scientific equipment including weather stations and webcams, maintaining photovoltaic installations, experience with vehicle repair, experience in land stewardship or management or natural resource management, familiarity with the UC Natural Reserve System, experience with operations at a remote field site.
Working with the Reserve Director, the Research Manager must be prepared to utilize university provided facilities on Santa Cruz Island as needed to support Reserve activities and have a highly altered work schedule, which includes being on call outside of normal business hours. Travel is required to locations including to and from Santa Cruz Island via commercial boat, and outside of UCSB campus and Santa Cruz Island for meetings and conferences. Employee must be physically fit to perform Reserve management tasks.
Compensation offered for this position is $24.09/hr with full UC Benefits.
Proposed Start Date: December 1, 2019.
Director
Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland
Position code: SOR9277A
Apply online at UC Merced Recruit
Review of applications will begin 11/12/19 and continue until the position has been filled
Salary: $63,000–$72,000
Location: Merced
Description
The University of California, Merced is seeking a Reserve Director for the Merced Vernal Pools and Grasslands Reserve (MVPGR). The MVPGR is one of 41 sites that comprise the UC Natural Reserve System (NRS), a network of protected natural areas encompassing more than 756,000 acres throughout California. Founded in 1965 to provide undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service, the NRS contributes to understanding and wise stewardship of the Earth. The MVPGR consists of approximately 6500 acres of vernal pools and grasslands at the base of the Sierra Nevada adjacent to the UC Merced campus. Established in 2014, it is the first natural reserve in the San Joaquin Valley and home to numerous endangered species. The land set aside for the reserve is part of the mitigation for the campus and is integral to the growth of the campus. With the reserve contiguous to campus, there are many opportunities to integrate the reserve programs into campus research, activities and curricula. The Reserve Director will have a key role in developing reserve practices and traditions. The Reserve Director may also have responsibility for overseeing operations at a new reserve at the Circle J Ranch, in collaboration with SCICON in Springville, CA.
The Reserve Director reports to the UCM NRS Faculty Director and is responsible for operations, programs, administration, and further development of the Reserve.
Essential duties
- Provides daily management and general oversight of the reserve
- Designs and implements programs, policies, procedures, and budget for the reserve
- Facilitates research and education by university faculty and students
- Monitors and oversees environmental conditions and sensitive habitats in the reserve and implements adaptive management strategies (e.g., invasive plant removal, grazing monitoring, rare and threatened plant and animal species surveys) in coordination with the Office of Physical and Environmental Planning
- Supervises Reserve staff, university interns, and student volunteers
- Operates and manages the reserve in accord with the mission, purposes, and policies of the UC Natural Reserve System
- Develops educational outreach programs for the reserve, including instructional activities, community science events, and promotional activities
- Coordinates operations, maintenance, and monitoring activities with Facilities Management and the Office of Physical and Environmental Planning
- Enhances research, facilities, and programs through extramural proposals and developmental activities, in coordination with the Faculty Director and others, including leading the development of a new field station
- Collaborates and engages, as appropriate, with external partners and stakeholders in support of the reserve
- Prepares annual reports, business plans, and strategic management plans
- Demonstrates a willingness to assume responsibility readily and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in related area and 5 years of related experience or 9 years equivalent experience / training.
- Master’s degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training preferred.
- In-depth knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to field research responsibility.
- Advanced knowledge of research discipline, principles, concepts, analysis and/or operations being conducted at field/remote sites.
- In-depth knowledge of local customs and operations at field/remote sites.
- Advanced ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with remote research partners.
- Advanced ability to lead research activities and project team independently, and to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Advanced attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
- Advanced ability to work in ambiguous conditions and lead team to take relevant responsible action as required.
- Advanced research and analytical skills.
- Advanced communication skills with broad range of research partners and project team members.
Director
Yosemite Field Station and Sequoia Field Station
Position code: SOR9276A
Apply online at UC Merced Recruit
Review of applications will begin 11/12/19 and continue until the position has been filled
Salary: $63,000 – $72,000
Location: Wawona, CA
Description
The Yosemite & Sequoia Reserve Director will be responsible for the leadership, operations, programs, and administration of the Sierra Nevada Research Station (SNRS). SNRS is located at Wawona in Yosemite National Park (often referred to as the Yosemite Field Station) and it is the hub of the Research Station. The Reserve Director will also have responsibility for the Sequoia Field Station (SFS), located at Wolverton in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, and potentially also for the Circle J Ranch, in collaboration with SCICON in Springville, CA. These latter two partnerships are under development and not yet official NRS reserves.
The Reserve Director will provide daily management of the Yosemite Field Station, and general oversight of SNRS operations: managing and implementing requests for facilities use, serving as the primary liaison between the field station users, UC Merced, the community, the Park(s), and additional partners.
The Reserve Director will also use advanced concepts in environmental research and facilities management to effectively assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of operational policies for a field station(s). This includes staying current on and implementing best practices and opportunities for running a research station; ensuring that budget targets are met; and keeping use records and preparing annual reports.
The Reserve Director will provide expertise related to field station responsibility, such as wildlife biology, forestry, agriculture, ecosystems research, cultivation, meteorology, oceanography, etc., or technical concepts related to the area of research being conducted at the field stations. They will maintain and enhance research, education, and outreach partnerships and programs, and enhance Research Station facilities and programs through extramural proposals and development activities.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in related area and 5 years of related experience or 9 years equivalent experience / training.
• Master’s degree in related area is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to field research responsibility.
• Advanced knowledge of research discipline, principles, concepts, analysis and / or operations being conducted at field / remote sites.
• In-depth knowledge of local customs and operations at field/ remote sites.
• Advanced ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with remote research partners.
• Advanced ability to lead research activities and project team independently, and to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Advanced attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Advanced ability to work in ambiguous conditions and lead team to take relevant responsible action as required.
• Advanced research and analytical skills.
• Advanced communication skills with broad range of research partners and project team members.