Younger Lagoon Reserve Research, Education, Outreach, and Restoration Steward

$59,758 - $74,714/Yr

University of California - Santa Cruz, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Santa Cruz, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The Research, Education, Outreach, and Restoration Steward at the Younger Lagoon Reserve is responsible for conducting field stewardship, biological monitoring, and supporting educational research and outreach initiatives. This role involves managing restoration efforts, supervising student interns and volunteers, and ensuring the maintenance and protection of the reserve's natural resources. The steward will also engage in public education and outreach activities, contributing to the overall mission of the University of California Santa Cruz in promoting ecological research and conservation.

Responsibilities

• Perform on-the-ground native habitat restoration efforts including seed collection, propagation, weeding, planting, and irrigation.
• Conduct general land stewardship and maintenance activities including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and vegetation control.
• Support on-the-ground education efforts such as class visits and for-credit internships, and lead student interns, field assistants, and volunteer work crews.
• Assess and monitor policies and procedures for remote field sites, assisting in flora and fauna monitoring efforts and maintaining research plots.
• Coordinate research activities with project leaders, including procurement and operation of necessary field research equipment.
• Document study logs, reports, and contribute to manuscripts and presentations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Working knowledge of safety, legal, cultural, and regulatory requirements for conducting field research.
• Experience with native habitat restoration and/or biological monitoring.
• Ability to identify flora and fauna using dichotomous keys.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships with local stakeholders.
• Strong teamwork skills and ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Proficient biological monitoring skills, including transect/quadrat surveys and avian point counts.
• Experience with mainstream software (MS Office, Google Suite, etc.).
• Basic carpentry and land management skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Extensive experience supervising diverse groups of student interns and/or volunteer groups.
• Experience leading public tour groups.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Experience with songbird banding and using power tools.
• Experience with GPS and ArcGIS.
• Experience with web-based and social media outreach.
• Scientific collection permit for vertebrate species.
• Bird banding permit.
• First Aid/CPR Certification.
• Wilderness First Responder Certification.

Benefits

• Full benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.