Director, Santa Cruz Island Reserve
 University of California - Santa Barbara | |
 United States, California, Santa Barbara | |
| 1021 Anacapa Street (Show on map) | |
 Jul 11, 2025 | |
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Position Number: 40027896 Job Open Date: 07/11/2025 Department Code (Name): NRSS (NATURAL RESERVE SYSTEM) For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application. The UC Natural Reserve System is a network of 42 protected natural areas located throughout the State that provide undisturbed environments for research, education and public outreach programs. It is the largest university-administered reserve system in the world encompassing more than 775,000 acres of diverse habitats from the ocean to the mountains to the inland deserts, and with access to more than a million acres of public lands. The Natural Reserve System contributes to the understanding and wise stewardship of the Earth. The seven UC NRS Reserves managed by UCSB are used by thousands of researchers, students and public visitors each year as they investigate and learn about the natural world. Reserve users come from throughout California, the U.S. and the world to study the Reserve's diverse natural systems and native flora and fauna. To learn more visit https://nrs.ucsb.edu Benefits of Belonging Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC Brief Summary of Job Duties: The Santa Cruz Island Reserve Director is responsible for leadership and day-to-day operations of the Santa Cruz Island Reserve (SCIR; https://santacruz.nrs.ucsb.edu/). The SCIR Director leads the SCIR toward its mission of supporting research, education, and public service to contribute to the understanding and wise stewardship of the Earth. The SCIR Director is responsible for all aspects of the leadership, management, and operations of SCIR, including research and education strategy, fundraising, administration, organization, budgeting, purchasing, personnel, health and safety, facilities management and maintenance, and interactions with reserve donors, stakeholders, and partners. SCIR operates within the UCSB Natural Reserve System (NRS; https://nrs.ucsb.edu), which is housed within the UCSB Office of Research (OR) and the UC-wide NRS (https://ucnrs.org/). The SCIR is a physical field station and organization that supports research, university education, and public service within the 7-Reserve UCSB NRS (and is part of the larger 42-Reserve UC-Wide NRS). The SCIR is located on Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands. UCSB Campus support services are provided, including directly from the UCSB NRS and various Campus departments in: planning and construction, maintenance, security, health and safety, hiring, purchasing, accounting, development, natural resources management, and transportation. The SCIR Director provides each job aspect following UCSB Campus, UC-Wide NRS, and UCSB NRS procedures and policies, The Nature Conservancy (TNC, the landowner of SCIR) policies and procedures, and in coordination with the UCSB NRS Campus Office and Campus departments, as needed. The SCIR Director is responsible for 3+ acres of grounds, the field station facilities which include 10 buildings (totaling 7,375 sq ft) including 32-bed dormitory space; private rooms for 6 to 12 individuals; 4 rooms and living space of private staff housing that is under construction (adding 2,044 sq ft); well-equipped kitchen and dining hall; bathrooms; laundry; electricity and propane; library/conference room; dry laboratory; water system and septic system; vehicle and equipment repair facilities; four-wheel-drive vehicles. Four new staff housing units at the field station are currently under construction and in the final phase of construction. In coordination with TNC, the SCIR Director is also assists with the modest overnight accommodations at Christy Ranch on the western end of the Island. The SCIR Director supervises and leads a team of staff who operate the field station and achieve the Reserve's mission, currently including three stewards, an outreach coordinator, a mechanic, as-needed part-time help, and volunteers to support all SCIR functions. The SCIR Director must administer applications for Reserve users in support of the UCSB NRS and UC-Wide NRS mission. The SCIR Director is responsible for programmatic and facilities planning, implementation, and fundraising in support of SCIR and the UCSB NRS. The SCIR Director represents SCIR by interacting with the major Channel Island partners, including but not limited to The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service (Channel Islands National Park), Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, and the U.S. Navy (who maintains small facilities on Santa Cruz Island). The SCIR Director is responsible for SCIR visibility and uses various means of internal and external communications, including the SCIR website, to assist engagement. The SCIR Director reports to the UCSB NRS Executive Director and interacts regularly with the UCSB NRS Executive Director, the SCIR Faculty Advisors, the UCSB NRS Faculty Director, the UCSB NRS Central Office Staff, and the UCSB Development Department on issues related to all aspects of SCIR management and activities, including for reporting. The responsibilities of the SCIR Director are year-round, weather-independent, and full time. The expectation is the SCIR Director will predominantly be in residence at SCIR. Flexibility for part-time residence in the Santa Barbara/Ventura/Oxnard areas can be discussed. Housing at SCIR is provided. A doctorate in a field science related to the scope of SCIR research operations (including, but not limited to, ecology, anthropology, biology, environmental science, or geology) is preferred, but not required. Incumbent will have experience working in a field setting involving research and service activities equivalent to those occurring at the research station. Travel Requirements: 10% Travel required to and from Santa Cruz Island via commercial ferry and to the field station by 4x4 truck. Travel required to the annual UCSB NRS managers meeting (occurs at a UCSB NRS Reserve or on UCSB's Campus). Travel is encouraged to the annual systemwide UC NRS managers meeting (located at a UC-Wide NRS Reserve) and to professional meetings to represent SCIR and/or engage in professional development, such as the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS). Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Work Experience: Required:
Preferred:
Special Conditions of Employment:
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: 25% Administration, Planning and Programming - Review and approve new applications to use the Reserve, using the NRS Reserve Application Management System (RAMS). Must consider TNC policies, availability of Reserve resources and relevant land use or environmental and/or wildlife permits required. Make housing, office and transportation assignments. Provide orientation for new users. Maintain records of Reserve use and prepare billing forms. Develop and maintain computerized database of Reserve use and oversee preparation of annual use reports. Maintain Reserve records, files, and library. Develop new users through promotion of the Reserve for research, education, and outreach. Assess, develop, and implement ways to increase Reserve visibility. Make expenditures as necessary and keep appropriate records. Manage University credit card purchases and low-value purchase orders. Specify all equipment and supply purchases. Provide use, financial and technical information for UCSB NRS Campus Office on a regular basis and as needed by the UC-wide NRS. Represent the Reserve in correspondence with UCSB and UC-wide NRS. Develop, maintain, and regulate a system of computers and peripherals for use by resident and visiting scientists including Local Area Network (LAN) and wireless internet access. Specify product and maintenance services purchases. Serve as network administrator, maintain network security and appropriate use of internet and computers. Write and implement short term and long-range planning for the Reserve including both programmatic and physical planning components such as infrastructure, maintenance, new construction, landscape planning, stewardship, financial resource development, and use type and magnitude taking into account constraints and opportunities according to the site. Maintain relations with TNC who owns the land upon which the SCIR is located, and meet requirements of the Cooperative Agreement with TNC. Also maintain relations with the National Park Service (landowner), and the U.S. Navy (who maintains facilities on Santa Cruz Island), the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and Santa Cruz Island Foundation. Protect integrity of on-site research by training users and staff as to safe and reasonable procedures for working and lodging on Santa Cruz Island. Perform personnel management in accordance with Campus policies and procedures and in coordination with responsible Campus Departments. Supervise employees in a wide variety of tasks, including: construction, maintenance, operation of heavy equipment, database development, environmental monitoring, and laboratory and field research techniques. Assist with organizing personnel, the recruitment of new employees, and the hiring process as needed. Conduct performance evaluations and generally maintain a supportive working environment. 25% Facilities Management and Operations - Oversee the operations, maintenance, and safety of Reserve's infrastructure and facilities. Assumes responsibility for the field station grounds, the field station facilities which includes 10 buildings (totaling 7,375 sq ft) including 32-bed dormitory space; private rooms for 6 to 12; well-equipped kitchen and dining hall; bathrooms; laundry; electricity and propane; library/conference room; wet and dry laboratory; water and septic system; garage; vehicle and equipment repair facilities; four-wheeldrive vehicles; modest overnight accommodations at Christy Ranch at west end of island. Handle routine repair and maintenance of reserve buildings, sheds, fences, and pathways on the field station footprint. Initiate, plan, design, and implement new facility and infrastructure improvements and new construction for the Reserve in consultation with UCSB Campus Design & Planning as appropriate. Work with appropriate campus departments to initiate and coordinate the design, construction and supervision of appropriate infrastructure and facility improvements and additions. Assist campus department with preparation of contract specifications, and CEQA compliance documents. Undertake rehabilitation of older buildings and facilities as needed, in accordance with campus building codes. Operate heavy equipment when necessary. Oversee the safety, compliance and appropriate use of vehicles and heavy equipment including trucks, passenger vehicles, boats, with difficult driving conditions on unpaved roads, and campus small boat handling and diving regulations. Coordinate the purchase of, and user training for, all equipment and power tools. Supervise maintenance as necessary and feasible on equipment, structures, vehicles, boats, utilities, grounds, and scientific equipment. Provide reciprocal assistance to the TNC as needed and appropriate to achieve best cooperative use of Island resources. Attend to vector and disease issues, including rodents as Hanta virus carriers, ticks, and other natural public safety threats, through information gathering, maintaining up to date best practices and educating users. Provide support facilities for a wide range of research activities from live vertebrate research to other laboratory use. Prepare, maintain, and be designated as the person of first responsibility in emergency plans. Establish regulations, train staff and users, and inspect facilities as to acceptable safety practices including backcountry travel. Maintain fire suppression tools, work with local agencies on emergency responses and respond to emergencies. 20% Academic / Research Support - Represent the University on behalf of the UC-wide NRS and the UCSB NRS campus office, concerning SCIR, more broadly the northern Channel Islands use and activities, to SCIR users and with regard to Island scholarship generally. As a University representative, maintain the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, respond to requests to advise secondary school students, and appropriately direct inquiries to the relevant Campus departments. Work closely with TNC, and all local agencies to advise regarding SCIR concerns and management needs for the field station. Keep abreast of local developments affecting Reserve integrity; act or respond accordingly. Represent the University on regional committees. When requested, represent the University in hearings, litigations, and other meetings. Review and decide on new use applications with regard to the appropriateness of the proposed research activities for SCIR, including consulting with TNC when appropriate. Advise users on scientific and research resources at the Reserve and in the surrounding areas. Provide for and ensure compliance with Campus Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Office of Research requirements for safe laboratory use and for animal care as required by the UCSB Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Coordinate the Animal Care and Use Program and work closely with the Campus veterinarian and IACUC to permit both UCSB and non-UCSB users to conduct research on, and house, vertebrate animals. Oversee preservation, conservation, and management of the SCIR's natural resources. Supervise development of SCIR databases including user data, RAMs, research data, monitoring data, publication data, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Conduct annual public outreach events such as lectures and open houses. Conduct tours for school groups, conservation groups, and University guests. Within the UC NRS, and for and at SCIR, promote a modern research agenda both locally and broadly, and by doing so attract new projects and researchers. Maintain a thorough understanding of the scientific enterprise, a vision for fully developing SCIR as a base for important research projects, and a passion for attracting and facilitating research programs that increase understanding of SCIR and its benefit to the Channel Islands and South Coast regions. Write grant proposals to solicit extramural funding for facility improvements or programmatic support. Prepare California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance documents and work as needed with Campus in submittals. As needed and appropriate, serve as a Principle Investigator to secure and manage extramural funding for research and infrastructure projects. 30% Public Relations and Development - Serve as lead for public, including alumni, relations activities to promote support for the Reserve, including interacting with government officials, community affiliates, foundation representatives, former Reserve users, and other individuals and organizations to inform them of Reserve activities and outputs. Work closely with UCSB NRS Administration and in collaboration with UCSB Development staff and Alumni Affairs staff to develop, enhance and operate a comprehensive private fundraising program for the Reserve including development plans, materials, planned giving, gifts of securities, and other fundraising activities. Cultivate, enhance, and maintain relationships with SCIR donors, including assessing and building upon past activities to promote donor engagement and support of the Reserve. Work collaboratively with UCSB Development and Alumni Affairs to identify and cultivate donors for recurring and major gifts. UC Vaccination Programs Policy: As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized Terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. For more information, please visit:
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