Current Openings

Executive Director, UC Natural Reserve System, UC Office of the President

Scheduling Coordinator, White Mountain Research Center, UC Los Angeles

Station Manager, Sagehen Creek Field Station, UC Berkeley

Reserve Steward, McLaughlin Natural Reserve, UC Davis

Reserve Steward, Quail Ridge Reserve, UC Davis

Reserve Steward, Santa Cruz Island Reserve, UC Santa Barbara

Executive Director

UC Natural Reserve System, UC Office of the President

Job ID: 16566

Learn more and apply at Careers/Job Search, University of California

The first review date for this job is June 1, 2021. The position will be open until filled.

The University of California, Office of the President has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search for an Executive Director of the University of California Natural Reserve System. David Bellshaw is leading this search with Emily Chiswick-Patterson. For additional information, please visit: https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/S7-903.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The University of California, Office of the President (UCOP) seeks a strong and innovative leader for the systemwide office of the Natural Reserve System of the University of California. The mission of the UC Natural Reserve System (NRS) is to contribute to the understanding and wise stewardship of the earth and its natural systems by supporting university-level teaching, research, and public service at protected natural areas throughout California. Established by the Regents in 1965, the NRS is a unique assemblage of protected wildland sites throughout California. Its 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. With 41 reserves, field stations, and research centers and responsibility for more than 750,000 acres, as well as providing research access to several million acres of protected public lands, the NRS is the largest university-operated system of natural reserves in the world.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President, Research & Innovation (R&I), the Executive Director, NRS has overall responsibility for strategic leadership, oversight, administration, systemwide programming, and development of the Natural Reserve System.  S/he provides this leadership in consultation with and as an ex-officio member of the President’s Universitywide NRS Advisory Committee. The Executive Director supervises the systemwide NRS staff and supports the efforts of numerous faculty and staff through the multi-campus, 41-reserve system. S/he provides representation, oversight, and accountability for the system to NRS stakeholders, both internal and external to the University, and to the public. The Executive Director interacts with and forms cooperative agreements and partnerships with state and federal agencies (including California State Parks and National Park Service), land trusts, NGOs, and other natural resource-oriented agencies and organizations at state, national, and international levels that manage natural areas or otherwise share NRS objectives. This position is part of the Vice President’s cabinet.

Responsibilities

Required Qualifications 

• Working knowledge of policy, business management and the ability to connect and collaborate with funding agencies, government organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
• Significant knowledge and current understanding of emerging issues and trends in natural resource management, ecosystem science, and environmental laws and policies.
• Demonstrated organizational leadership and people management experience.
• Outstanding leadership qualities, including a high degree of integrity, long-term vision, and commitment to the NRS mission, in upholding the University’s role as a guardian of the public trust with respect to the Natural Reserve System.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in close collaboration with a team of professionals, fostering a positive, supportive, respectful, and collegial work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with constituents from a variety of backgrounds and training (including faculty, administrators, state and federal governmental agencies, NGOs, land trusts, conservation organizations, foundations, private donors, external advisory board and the public).
• Excellent oral and written communication, negotiation, and presentation skills to represent the NRS effectively to a wide variety of audiences, convey complex information, influence outcomes, and tactfully work with complex situations and ideas.
• Experience with fundraising and other university development activities, including relevant foundations, working with oversight boards, University campus development offices and officers, state government funding opportunities, and a demonstrable record of accomplishment in fund development.
• Demonstrated engagement and achievements with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience as a faculty member of a research university.

Education 

• Ph.D. in the environmental, physical, biological or related sciences, with advanced knowledge of and experience in performing and managing field sciences and field research, or an equivalent level of education and relevant management experience.

Scheduling Coordinator

White Mountain Research Center, UC Los Angeles

Job ID: 33448

Salary: $21.51 – $30.53 hourly  

Learn more and apply at UC Los Angeles

Job summary

White Mountain Research Center (WMRC) is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS), a network of protected lands managed for university-level research, teaching, and public service. WMRC includes four separate field station facilities in Bishop CA and in the adjacent White Mountains.

The scheduling coordinator organizes and processes the high volume of requests to use the WMRC facilities (for approximately 10,000 user nights annually) and schedules people, programs, and events. The scheduling coordinator, working under the general direction of the Operations Manager and Faculty Director, coordinates and tracks station users as they move to and from these facilities, from the application and reservation process, through the duration of the stay, to departure, billing, and payment.

The scheduling coordinator works at the Bishop office and is the primary point of contact for the WMRC, fielding a wide range of inquiries from faculty, students, researchers, administrators, and the general public.

Specific duties include scheduling researchers, faculty, students, classes, and other groups and events, planning and coordinating use of the WMRC facilities, (including overnight accommodations, meals, classrooms, laboratories, special events, workshops and symposia), creating, updating, and sharing scheduling calendars with WMRC staff and communicating schedule changes as they occur, answering and assisting with telephone, email, and walk-in inquiries, maintaining files, providing a wide range of administrative support (word processing, compiling statistics, mailing, copying, filing, maintaining supplies and running errands) and working on a wide range of communications efforts including the webpage, social media, newsletter and other communications tools.  

Required skills

Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone and in writing with a wide variety of people including students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the general public. Ability to maintain professional manner through changing circumstances and fluctuating demands.

Strong organizational skills, with the ability to set priorities, handle heavy workloads, and establish and meet deadlines.

Ability to work independently, effectively, and accurately on multiple concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions.

Strong reading and comprehension skills to understand and interpret issues of importance to the function of the Assoc. Director as addressed in coorespondences, reports, etc.

Ability to follow-up to ensure timely completion of projects.

Demonstrated work experience using databases, spreadsheets, word processing and email. Excellent word processing and spreadsheet skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office software.

Experience in setting up and maintaining office systems and in following standard operating procedures. Ability to use standard office equipment.

Decision making skills, including analyzing problems, investigating alternatives, negotiating, conferring with colleagues, and arriving at a decision/conclusion.

Ability to use website management software and social media. Skill in searching for and evaluating information on the internet.

Ability to write correspondence, press releases, flyers, announcements, website and social media content, newsletters, policies, procedures, summary reports and other documents using appropriate English grammar and spelling.

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in the English language to convey and obtain information and to give and follow instructions.

Demonstrated work experience in providing a wide range of administrative support.

Demonstrated work experience in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships; ability to work as part of a team.

Ability to schedule, coordinate and follow up on a high volume of site stays which have varying levels of accommodations and provide excellent customer service.

Familiarity with bookkeeping procedures.

Arithmetic and money computation skills to create accurate invoices, collect payments, make change, and keep accurate records.

Preferred skills

Familiarity with the White Mountain Research Center, the Owens Valley, White Mountains, and the Eastern Sierra.

Station Manager

Sagehen Creek Field Station, UC Berkeley

Job ID: 13562

We will begin reviewing applications on March 1, 2021. The targeted job start date is June 1, 2021.

Learn more and apply at UC Berkeley

Sagehen Creek Field Station is an off-campus research and education facility of the University of California, Berkeley. The facility is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 12 miles north of Truckee, CA and 20 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe. The facility encompasses 22 buildings, concentrated in a stream-side footprint within the larger 9,000-acre Sagehen Creek Experimental Forest. Sagehen Creek Field Station operates year-round, with most use occurring during the summer/fall field season between mid-May to mid-October. The facility is snowed in approximately 6 months a year, requiring over-snow access without recourse to wheeled vehicles. Use during the peak season is very high, with numerous ongoing research and education initiatives. The automated data collection network serves researchers at universities and governmental agencies. Sagehen also serves as the hub for two additional Central Sierra Field Research Stations located southwest of the station: the Chickering American River Reserve and the North Fork of the American River Reserve. 

Job Summary

The Station Manager is responsible for the overall coordination, supervision and implementation of administrative, management and research activities of Sagehen Creek Field Station, its 450-acre permit area, and the surrounding 9,000-acre Sagehen Creek Experimental Forest, as well as coordination of activities at two additional Central Sierra Field Research Stations (CSFRS): the Chickering American River Reserve and the North Fork of the American River Reserve.  The field station manager operates under the general direction of the Faculty Director of the Central Sierra Field Research Stations (CSFRS) and oversees field station staff and seasonal employees in designing and implementing research, education, and outreach programs, as well as maintenance and upgrades of facilities and infrastructure. The manager is responsible for developing and managing budget and resources to meet overall field station goals, for planning and fund-raising for future facilities and programs, and for ensuring regulatory compliance and adherence to university policy.  The manager may represent the Campus in developing partnerships between the CSFRS and the local community, other UC Campuses, non-governmental organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies (e.g., California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, California Sierra Nevada Conservancy).

The purpose of the position is aligned to UC Berkeley’s core mission of facilitating and encouraging research, education and community service.  The position involves a broad spectrum of highly varied activities necessary to the maintenance of the facilities in a functional, usable state; the encouragement of new and continuing research and education; the protection of large parcels of wild lands for future research use; and interfacing with the community, non-governmental organizations, and various agencies to develop and implement creative partnerships and collaborations.  Thus the position involves the on-site administrative, research, facilities management and/or cultivation functions involved in establishing and maintaining environmental field research.

Responsibilities

Day to Day Operations:

• Ensures the coordination, supervision and performance of all activities necessary to the operational, educational, and research-related planning of Sagehen Creek Field Station, Chickering American River Reserve and the North Fork Association Lands.
• Plans, directs and manages all daily operations and activities. Reviews, approves and facilitates proposals for research and develops programs for cooperative applied field research (e.g., RAMS).
• Coordinates or conducts necessary maintenance of facilities and equipment.
• Works with relevant Campus offices as needed to manage on-site University facilities. During the non-peak season (November-April), provides at least 20 days of operational support to the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.
• During the non-peak season (November-April), provides at least 20 days of operational support to the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.

Budget and resource planning:

• Under general direction of the Faculty Director, develops and monitors budget, human resources and space planning.
• Coordinates activities with responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods, and employees.
• Facilitates the collaboration among a diverse group of professional staff and user groups to develop and implement long term property management plans and, as needed, identify funding for them.
• Assists in raising revenue through participation in proposal writing, acquisition of proposition funds, and fundraising efforts.
• Manages any existing grants for underburning, pile burning and prep-for burning within and around the Sagehen Experimental Forest

Liaison to External Partners and Government Agencies:

• Represents the Campus as long-term cooperative use agreement holder with US Forest Service.
• Works with Federal, State and private agencies and non-profits to identify a wide variety of research projects to help answer critical forest and landscape management questions.
• Develops and oversees permitting processes as needed, such as water quality discharge waivers and permits, County business plans and site health and safety plans.
• Ensures all operations are in compliance with regulatory procedures and reporting requirements such as safety, emergency preparedness and environmental protection.

Community Relations.

• Develops and maintains positive relations with community organizations interested in the University’s field station operations in the Central Sierra.
• Represents the Campus in developing partnerships with the local community, nongovernmental organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Leads and coordinates the Sagehen Reserve Program Planning Advisory Group (SRPPAG), a joint university/agency/community initiative that brings together individuals from universities, government agencies (federal, state, and local), and nonprofit organizations and community groups to help guide the station’s future.
• Works with public, private, and non-governmental agencies to identify lands that are important for research and education purposes and to develop strategies for their preservation.

Outreach.

• Supports development of school field trips, k-12 programs, and public education programs related to field station research or other topics that serve a broad audience.
• Manages science-art outreach (e.g., the Sagehen Artist in Residence Program, the Nevada Museum of Art Center for Art + Environment, the Nevada County Arts Council, and the Future Forests Art effort, and the Sagehen Art Collection.)

Website and social media:

• Coordinator of Sagehen website and social media accounts.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with administration and budget management, staff supervision, facilities and equipment operations and maintenance, land stewardship and resource monitoring.
• Knowledge of ecosystem science and management, including ecologically sensitive practices and safety and regulatory compliance.
• Analytical and report preparation skills to support proposal writing and to meet regulatory and budgetary reporting requirements.
• Ability to raise funds and manage budgets.
• Ability to facilitate and collaborate with a diverse group of constituencies on long- and short-term property operations planning and fundraising.
• Knowledge of facility planning, building construction, project management and contract management.
• Ability to problem solve both personal and technical issues at field stations.
• Skills in leadership, motivation of staff, public speaking, team-building, and understanding of diversity and equity issues.
• Must reside at or near the Reserve when on duty. Near daily presence required from May to October, except for brief intervals on UC business, or on authorized days off and vacation periods.
• Maintains high level of physical fitness, with ability to lift heavy objects.
• Ability to deal with heavy snow conditions during winter, including extensive snow shoveling, snow removal from roofs, and operation of heavy equipment, such as snowcats and snow blowers.
• Ability to support Central Sierra Snow Lab work during Sagehen’s non-peak season.
• Ability to drive a truck, 4 wheeler, and tractor.
• Ability to operate power tools, preferably including construction tools, chain saws, etc.
• Ability to climb tall towers.
• Ability to acquire and maintain skills required for prescribed fire (Red Carding) and knowledge of wildland fire operations.

Education/Training:

• Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• First aid and CPR.

Preferred Qualifications

• “Red” card training, avalanche, winter backcountry guiding.

Driving Required

A valid driver’s license and DMV check for driving record is required.

Steward

McLaughlin Natural Reserve, UC Davis

Job ID: 13903

Apply by Feb. 10, 2021

Salary range: $25.41—$40.88/hour

Apply online at UC Davis; current UC employees should apply here.

Description

The Donald and Sylvia McLaughlin Natural Reserve is one of 41 sites with the University of California Natural Reserve System, which was founded to protect representative ecosystems of California for teaching and research. The reserve encompasses 7,000 acres of wildland at the intersection of Lake, Napa, and Yolo counties, 15 miles east of the town of Lower Lake. The reserve provides research and instructional facilities for faculty, researchers, and students from local, regional, national and international academic and research institutions. Primary research emphases are ecology, evolutionary biology, biogeochemistry, and conservation and other disciplines including humanities. Reserve facilities include a 6,000 sq. ft. field station/dormitory, a 20,000 sq. ft. shop/warehouse, small residence, and several utility buildings. Infrastructure includes paved and unpaved roads, property boundary fencing and signage, electronic sensors and radio links, photovoltaic power to remote infrastructures, and irrigation systems associated with research projects.

Job Summary

Under supervision, carry out resource management activities needed to maintain the McLaughlin Reserve as a viable research and teaching area including the maintenance of and improvements to Reserve infrastructure, facilities, equipment, roads, and grounds. Assist with vegetation management in coordination with Stewardship Director and to support research and teaching activities. Responsible for the diagnostics and maintenance of Reserve vehicles and equipment, including trucks, tractors, ATVs, forklift, and a variety of farm equipment. Lead to volunteers and co-workers

The primary location for this position is in Lower Lake, California at the McLaughlin Reserve. An option for on-site residency may be available. As needed may temporarily be reassigned to other NRS reserves at UC Davis.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Wear Personal Protective Equipment as necessary.
• Safely work outdoors in various temperatures; heat, cold, rain, and wind, including seasonal fire and floods.
• Be in good shape to hike to remote locations in uneven and difficult terrain.
• Lift and carry materials weighing over 50 lbs with or without accommodations.
• May work occasional flexible schedule based on weather, job needs, and employee and supervisor preferences, as mutually agreed upon.
• Coordinate work schedule with co-workers to ensure regular presence of staff on site, including possibly remaining on site for up to 10 nights/year.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Exposure to conditions and hazards working in wildland, including extreme weather conditions, injurious plants, rattlesnakes, cougars, bears, rodents, ticks and associated diseases.
• Work with residential and industrial-scale facilities.
• Responsible to follow all safety protocols at all time.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Safely operate 4-wheel drive vehicle on rough roads/off-road.
• Participate in the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Pull Notice System. Valid Driver’s License and copy of DMV records required.
• Occasionally travel to attend meetings on campus and/or outside agencies, potentially including overnight up to three nights/year.
• UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Experience with building and mechanical trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, masonry, and auto repairs.
• Experience to safely and effectively perform all aspects of facility and infrastructure maintenance on site, and general diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
• Knowledge of computer programs for data management and administration.
• Skills to organize facilities, tools, equipment, materials, and supplies for safe and easy access by co-workers, instructors, and researchers.
• Experience operating tractors and other heavy equipment.
• Familiarity with California flora, fauna and wild-land weeds.
• Skills to learn local natural history including geology, soils, plans, and animals.

Preferred: 

• Proficiency in building and mechanical trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, masonry, and auto repairs.
• Familiarity with academic institutions to negotiate daily activities within the research and teaching mission of academia.
• Knowledge of general principles of ecology, such as, invasive species biology, fire ecology, and restoration techniques.
• Ability to obtain Qualified Application Certificate, Firing Boss Qualifications and Weekly Fire Pump/Concern Licenses.
• Skills to identify plants and animals on site.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Background Check

This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.

Steward

Quail Ridge Reserve, UC Davis

Job ID: 14396

Apply by Jan. 26, 2021

Apply online at UC Davis; current UC employees should apply here.

Description

This position has responsibility for stewardship of the Quail Ridge Reserve in coordination with the Quail Ridge Reserve Director, which includes: support of teaching and field research; weed and resource management; maintenance of facilities, infrastructure, and equipment; leading volunteers, interns, or hired work crews; and facility repairs and remodels.

Under supervision, carry out resource management activities needed to maintain the a viable research and teaching area, including the maintenance of and improvements to. Reserve infrastructure, facilities, equipment, roads, and grounds. Assist with vegetation management in coordination to support research and teaching activities. Responsible for the diagnostics and maintenance of vehicles and equipment, including trucks, tractors, ATVs, forklift, and a variety of farm equipment.

UC Davis has six reserves: Quail Ridge Reserve, Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, McLaughlin Reserve, Jepson Prairie Reserve, Bodega Marine reserve, and Lassen Field Station, encompassing over 11,000 acres and part of the UC Natural Reserve System. These field stations provide research and instructional facilities for resident and campus-based faculty, researchers and students. Primary location of this position is at Quail Ridge Reserve, and may be reassigned to other reserve locations temporarily as needed.

Salary range

$25.41 – $40.88/hour  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Wear Personal Protective Equipment as necessary.
• Requires lifting up to 50 lbs with or without accommodations.
• Safely work outdoors in various temperatures, heat/cold/rain/wind including hiking in extreme topography.
• Work in confined spaces while bending, stooping and/or kneeling.
• Be in good physical shape to pound fence posts, mix concrete, and dig.
• Regular exposure to conditions/hazards associated with working in wild¬lands, including unstable terrain/injurious plants including poison oak/potential exposure to wildlife such as rattlesnakes/mountain lions/bears/ rodents/ticks and their associated diseases.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Normal workweek schedule is M-F 8 am ? 5 pm. Actual work hours may vary as a function of weather, job needs, and employee and supervisor preferences, as mutually agreed upon.
• Coordinate work schedule with co-workers to ensure regular presence of staff on site.
• Exposure to conditions and hazards working in wildland, including extreme weather conditions, injurious plants, rattlesnakes, cougars, bears, rodents, ticks and associated diseases.
• Work with residential- and industrial-scale facilities.
• Responsible to follow all safety protocols at all time.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment as required.
• Safely operate 4-wheel drive vehicle on rough roads/ off-road.
• Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Experience with building and mechanical trades, such as, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, masonry and auto repairs using a variety of tools.
• Experience to safely and effectively perform all aspects of facility and infrastructure maintenance on site, and general diagnosis, repair and maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
• Skills to organize facilities, tools and materials to ensure convenient access, usefulness, and timeliness for instructors and researchers.
• Experience using various field research equipment and techniques.
• Skills to operate tractors, backhoes and other miscellaneous heavy equipment.
• Experience overseeing, organizing, recruiting and training volunteer groups and/or student interns to perform duties in a safe and effective manner.
• Knowledge of general fire ecology, plant identification and restoration techniques.

Preferred: 

• Knowledge of local natural history including geology, soils, plants, and animals.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and other computer software programs or platforms used for data management and administration.
• Experience with GPS and ARCGIS.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Background Check

This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.

Steward

Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Job #20200099  

Apply online at UC Santa Barbara

Primary consideration date: March 15, 2020. Thereafter open until filled.

Job duties

Under supervision of the Reserve Director and Reserve Steward (Skilled Trades Mechanic), employee maintains and repairs infrastructure, equipment, and grounds of the Santa Cruz Island Reserve Field Station. Employee also assists in logical support of projects, programs and visitors using the Reserve.  

Under supervision, maintains, repairs and generally improves facilities including buildings, decks, utilities, fences, roads and signs. Assists Reserve Director in responding to facility or equipment failures or other emergency situation. Requires working at a semi-skilled level on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, welding, and electrical projects. Sometimes requires following verbal instructions, making basic computations, and estimating material needs for projects. Operates hand, power and larger shop tools as needed. Maintains hand, power and shop tools for use by reserve maintenance staff and research users. Assists staff and users with routine custodial work including cleaning bathroom and kitchen facilities if needed.

Under supervision, performs general yard work tasks including weeding and clearing grass and brush for fire prevention. Removes debris from trees near the buildings and roads. Maintains landscaping at the Field Station site. Operates power equipment and vehicles for grounds work including chain saws, chippers, trimmers and farm-type tractor.

Assists in transport of supplies, equipment and people between the Field Station and the dock and/or landing strip. Operates station jeeps and trucks on dirt roads. Assists the Reserve Director with administrative tasks including visitor orientation, minor purchases, and keeping accurate records of reserve use and expenditures. Must be available to work outside normal working hours when needed.

Minimum requirements

Must be able to maintain and repair infrastructure, and equipment. Requires working at a semi-skilled level on
carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, welding, and electrical projects.  

Desirable requirements

Experience maintaining facilities, vehicles, and landscaping. Experience with remote field settings; superior inter-personal skills; experience with operating four-wheel drive vehicles, off-road vehicle operation and field safety; problem solving and creativity.  

Other special conditions of employment

Must be available to work outside normal working hours. Must be able to perform duties in outdoor working conditions on Santa Cruz Island. Requires travel by ocean vessel across the Santa Barbara Channel.