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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 establish roughly 160 monitoring sites across the 42 reserves. These sites will become long-term monitoring sites.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE
RESEARCH (60%)
The ideal candidate will work with the Project PI to plan site visits and deploy biodiversity monitoring equipment at ~40 field sampling locations at field stations within the UCNRS.

The Field Coordinator will need to determine how to preconfigure and set up biodiversity equipment and other hardware for monitoring following established protocols, such as malaise traps and pitfall traps.

The Field Coordinator will need to collect environmental data and organismal samples (insects, fungi, and bacteria) using new field sampling techniques at each of these sites. This will require learning how to perform aquatic and terrestrial habitat sampling for eDNA and aquatic macroinvertebrates using established protocols.

The Field Coordinator will also work alongside multiple student volunteers (2-10) and help coordinate their involvement with sampling events and data collection.

The Field Coordinator must document findings through detailed notes, photographs, and emails, keeping track of all field data, and organizing it as it is collected using predetermined databases and repositories. to collect and manage datasets, including QA/QC and performing summaries and analyses of CA-SSN biodiversity data.

The Field Coordinator will assist the PI with preparing data for analyses, summarizing data, and drafting documents to present the work.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE & ACTIVITY (20%)
Review current literature or reports that advance work related to the project. In collaboration with other project participants (undergraduate students, NGO, academics, government) work to disseminate key findings that advance the project (posters or oral presentations at conferences). To further increase the impact of the project, engage in local workshops and seminars. If time permits, assess new sampling methods and technologies that align with the goals of the project.

UNIVERSITY & PUBLIC SERVICE (20%)

The Field Coordinator will participate in NRS outreach opportunities and work
with the PI to engage campus and government partners, as allowed by the funding source.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Experience in field research or biological surveying.
• Familiarity with invertebrates and associated sampling methods.
• Proficiency in data collection, QC, and summary statistics.
• Strong observational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions.
• Flexibility to travel and work irregular hours as required by field projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Proficiency in the use of biodiversity monitoring methods and/or systems.
• Background in eDNA or invertebrate sampling identification.

In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master’s or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist

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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