NEON - Field Operations Manager - TX

$83,800 - $114,624/Yr

Battelle - Denton, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Denton, TX

251-500 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency. We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Program is currently seeking a Field Operations Manager. This position is located in Denton, Texas, and will require occasional travel outside the region. NEON is a continental-scale ecological observation facility sponsored by the National Science Foundation that gathers and synthesizes data on the impacts of climate change, land use change, and invasive species on natural resources and biodiversity. The observatory is designed to collect high-quality, standardized data from field sites across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The plains of Texas and Oklahoma are home to rolling grasslands, expansive croplands, and more than 10 million head of cattle. In the Southern Plains (Domain 11), agriculture reigns supreme. Understanding how land management decisions and agricultural practices impact ecosystems is key to both maintaining agricultural productivity and protecting native habitats. NEON sites in the Southern Plains Domain are managed from our Denton, TX office.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, conduct and ensure accurate execution, within NEON scientific parameters and annual budget, of all maintenance, repair and field sampling activities for 4 NEON field sites.
• Coordinate instrument maintenance for sensors, data acquisition system, power distribution system and supporting infrastructure (i.e. tower arrays, soil arrays, aquatic buoy arrays, instrument hut, boardwalks).
• Coordinate field observations and collection using approximately 30 different protocols and multiple SOP's with varying schedule requirements based on local ecosystem and current field conditions.
• Recruit, train and manage all regular and temporary personnel supporting field office, lab and field tasks.
• Encourage and actively support safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team and organization.
• Act as liaison between regional stakeholders, including educational and research organizations, local property owners and the general public and Battelle.
• Communicate NEON status and activities, local activities and partnerships, and regional issues and concerns to appropriate regional stakeholders and Battelle staff.
• Work with regional stakeholders to resolve issues or concerns.
• Plan and participate in local/regional community engagement activities (i.e. local/regional conferences or meetings, invited talks).
• Ensure compliance with Battelle safety policy and procedures.
• Ensure appropriate equipment, materials and supplies are available to support required field activities. Use Battelle business processes and tools to ensure appropriate and efficient use of funds.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of experience supervising personnel including participating in hiring, training, and evaluating performance.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and schedules.
• Experience performing related lab and field activities and/or maintaining scientific instrumentation (e.g. meteorological and aquatic sensors).
• Experience communicating with external stakeholders such as customers, funding agencies, regulatory agencies, etc.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Nice-to-haves

• Graduate study in biology, ecology, environmental science or related field.
• Experience managing scientific data collection.
• Experience leading or participating in outdoor activities in remote areas.

Benefits

• Paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan with 5 percent contribution from the company and matching contributions.
• Tuition assistance available to pursue higher education.