Asst. Specialist - California Sentinel Site Network: Project Lead

Position Description

The UC Natural Reserve System (UCNRS) is the largest and most diverse network of university field stations in the world. Its 42 reserves include examples of most major ecosystems in California. These reserves provide secure sites for long-term environmental research, education, and public outreach. They enable monitoring of environmental data and provide a baseline for biodiversity, in the context of California's growing population and a changing global environment.

The California Sentinel Site Network (CA-SSN) is a partnership between the UCNRS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), with other public and private land partners joining in the coming year. The CA-SSN aims to achieve conservation goals established by California 30x30 legislation. With nearly 100 planned biodiversity monitoring locations across the state, the CA-SSN will deliver open-access standardized biodiversity and climate data that will support university, agency, and NGO research to advance conservation and resource management solutions. In the next three years, UCNRS will be establishing roughly 160 monitoring sites across the 42 reserves. These sites will become long-term monitoring sites.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Research in Specialized areas (90%)

The UCNRS at UC Davis is recruiting a Project Lead who will drive the installation and management of the CA-SSN biodiversity monitoring sites across the UCNRS. The Project Lead will supervise two field biologists and multiple student volunteers (2-10), coordinating and participating in field campaigns (50%). This will involve performing site selection analysis, organizing and managing travel to sites, equipment configuration, performing installation, equipment troubleshooting, data collection, and maintenance of the sites. Deployment will follow established protocols (see https://shorturl.at/rKNXI). This position will require 25% time traveling to field sites across California.

The Project Lead will lead data management (50%), designing workflow structures, managing QA/QC, and performing summaries and analyses of biodiversity data. The position will require becoming familiar with the sound and image repositories specified in the protocols (https://shorturl.at/mc4PZ) and developing processing workflows. It also requires assisting the Field Biologists in identification of species as part of data processing. CA-SSN seeks to design further biodiversity monitoring efforts, including novel methods drawing from remote sensing technologies and/or experimental approaches to sample herpetofauna, insects, and/or plants.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of conservation science, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to deliver impactful results. The role will require collaborating with the PI and co-PIs, as well as other faculty and agency partners (including CDFW).

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE & ACTIVITY (5%)

In collaboration with other project participants, analyze data and prepare reports, charts, and presentations. Work to disseminate key findings that advance the CA-SSN and engage in local workshops to further increase the impact of CA-SSN, including offering ideas on how to develop and leverage key metrics from data generated by CA-SSN.

UNIVERSITY & PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)

As time permits, advocate for conservation initiatives by participating in outreach, education, and advocacy efforts associated with the CA-SSN and UCNRS.

Key Responsibilities Include:

* Perform site selection: Collaborate with UCNRS field station personnel and UC Davis project leadership to select ~160 field sampling locations at ~40 UCNRS field stations. With their input, conduct feasibility studies and gap analyses for site selection using GIS-based analytics to inform aspects of site planning.

* Lead monitoring equipment deployment: set up and deploy biodiversity monitoring equipment across the UCNRS reserve following established protocols, including camera traps, acoustic recording units, and Motus towers (https://shorturl.at/rKNXI).

* Oversee data management: manually download data from sites, upload to image and sound repositories, keep track of data status, following established protocols (https://shorturl.at/mc4PZ).

* Assist the field biologists in identifying species from both image and sound files.

* Assist PIs and other collaborators in performing biodiversity and geospatial analyses.

* Coordinate with UC researchers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups, and other stakeholders to further advance CA-SSN collaborations and establish potential outlets for data, including convening workshops for partner input to develop means of translating CA-SSN data.

* Lead project teams, including field staff, researchers, and volunteers, to ensure the timely and effective completion of project deliverables.

* Oversee project budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and compliance with funding requirements.

* Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and proposals to communicate project findings and progress to funders, partners, and the public.

* Ensure all project activities comply with relevant environmental regulations and ethical standards.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

* Master's degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.

* 3 years of experience performing project management for a field-based project.

* Proven track record of leading successful research initiatives or programs.

* Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including budget management and scheduling.

* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse audiences.

* Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

* Proficiency in relevant software, such as GIS tools, project management software, and scripting (R or Python).

* Flexibility to travel and work irregular hours as required by field projects.

* Approximately 25% time will be travel. Physical ability and willingness to travel to remote locations and work in field conditions when necessary.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Ph.D. in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, or Conservation Science.

* Proficiency in the use of camera traps and/or acoustic monitoring systems.

* Background in bird song or bat call identification.

Division: https://environment.ucdavis.edu/programs/uc-davis-natural-reserves

* Master's degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.

* 3 years of experience performing project management for a field-based project.

* Proven track record of leading successful research initiatives or programs.

* Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including budget management and scheduling.

* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse audiences.

* Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

* Proficiency in relevant software, such as GIS tools, project management software, and scripting (R or Python).

* Flexibility to travel and work irregular hours as required by field projects.

* Approximately 25% time will be travel. Physical ability and willingness to travel to remote locations and work in field conditions when necessary.

* Ph.D. in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, or Conservation Science.

* Proficiency in the use of camera traps and/or acoustic monitoring systems.

* Background in bird song or bat call identification.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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