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

$59,758 - $74,714/Yr

University of California - Santa Cruz, CA

Part-time - Entry Level

Santa Cruz, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The University of California Santa Cruz is seeking a Research, Education, Outreach, and Restoration Steward for the Younger Lagoon Reserve. This position is pivotal in supporting the stewardship of the reserve, which is ecologically diverse and located on the beautiful central coast of California. The incumbent will work under the direction of the Younger Lagoon Reserve Director and will be responsible for a variety of tasks including field stewardship, biological monitoring, educational outreach, and habitat restoration. The role involves conducting hands-on restoration efforts, such as seed collection, propagation, weeding, and planting, as well as performing general land stewardship activities like trail maintenance and invasive species removal. In addition to restoration and stewardship, the steward will support educational initiatives by leading student interns, field assistants, and volunteer work crews. This includes organizing educational walks and public tours, as well as assisting with the recruitment, supervision, and training of student interns and volunteers. The steward will also be responsible for assessing the physical needs of the reserve, documenting issues such as invasive species and erosion, and enforcing reserve rules and policies as necessary. Data collection and management are key components of this role, including maintaining databases and logbooks of land conditions and preparing summaries for annual reports. The position requires a proactive approach to monitoring and maintaining the reserve's ecological integrity while also enhancing public access and educational opportunities. The steward will work closely with project leaders to coordinate research activities and ensure compliance with policies and procedures related to field research. This role is essential for the ongoing success of the Younger Lagoon Reserve and its mission to support research, education, and public service.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field stewardship and biological monitoring activities.
• Support educational research and outreach initiatives.
• Assist with habitat restoration efforts including seed collection and planting.
• Recruit, supervise, and train student interns and volunteers.
• Assess and document the physical needs of the reserve, addressing issues like invasive species and erosion.
• Maintain reserve work-logs and collect field data from monitoring surveys.
• Manage digital photos and social media accounts for the reserve.
• Prepare and summarize data for annual reports.
• Coordinate research activities and procurement of necessary field research commodities.
• Document study logs and contribute to manuscripts and presentations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalent experience/training.
• Working knowledge of safety, legal, cultural, and regulatory requirements for field research.
• Experience with native habitat restoration and biological monitoring.
• Ability to identify flora and fauna using dichotomous keys.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with local stakeholders.
• Strong teamwork and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Proficient in biological monitoring techniques such as transect surveys and avian point counts.
• Experience with MS Office and Google Suite.
• Basic carpentry and land management skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills for interaction with diverse groups.

Nice-to-haves

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

Benefits

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