Field and Facilities Reseacher

Job Opening ID: 63233
Reports To:  Desert Reserves Manager 
Working Title: Field and Facilities Reseacher
Department: UCI-Nature
Bargaining Unit: 99
FLSA: Exempt
Payroll Job Code: 005189
Job Location: UCI Campus- Irvine
Percent of Time: 60%
Work Schedule: 8-5, M-F
Employee Class: Career

 

Position Summary:
 
UCI Nature offers UC Irvine’s faculty and students opportunities to bring their research, scholarship, teaching, public service, and developing careers out into the natural environment in a wide diversity of settings characteristic of California. UC Irvine directly oversees four protected natural areas, two of which include lodging facilities and are about a three hour drive from Irvine, and two of which are within walking distance of campus. UCI-Nature also maintains partnership agreements that facilitate access to additional natural areas and facilities not directly managed by the University. Together, these field-based assets span regional gradients across environments from the ocean to the desert, as well as a diversity of societal contexts, all within a few hours of campus. This system of assets available to UC Irvine’s faculty and students is connected on yet a larger scale to the system-wide UCNRS. The UCNRS is the largest university-operated reserve system in the world, including 39 sites and 756,000 acres. It is a Trustee Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act and manages these resources in Public Trust. Each UC campus participates in the governance and management of the entire UCNRS network, in addition to system-wide staff.

 

Under the general direction of UC Irvine Desert Reserves Manager and campus UCI Nature Faculty Director and Executive Director the Facility and Field Researcher will provide scientific guidance and assistance with implementation and monitoring of field studies in the environmental, physical, or biological science disciplines. The Facility and Field Researcher is responsible for implementing general operations and facilitating researcher and educator needs for use of the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (SBABDRC) (https://anzaborrego.ucnrs.org/) and the Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve (BPRR) (https://burns.ucnrs.org). The field stations serve to advance research, education, and public stewardship in their associated natural areas, are a vehicle for UC faculty, staff, and student scholarship, and are part of a larger network of the University of California Natural Reserve System (UCNRS) (https://ucnrs.org). The SBABDRC is situated on a 78 acre University owned reserve adjacent to Anza-Borrego State Park and participates in a Cooperative Agreement with State Parks and the Anza-Borrego Foundation. The 12,400 square foot Research Center includes a classroom, laboratory, four individual researcher/instructor bedrooms, dormitories for up to 24 people, a kitchen and dining room, offices, patios and public event space. The BPRR consists of a 306 acre University owned reserve, a lodging facility with kitchen, living room, patios, dormitories for up to 17 people, and a workshop under renovation. The field stations serve approximately 4,500 registered researchers, educators, and public service users annually, on average. The position involves some travel between the desert field stations. The Facility and Field Researcher will provide guidance to users in locating and accessing appropriate field sites and facilitate communications with partner organizations. He/she/they will monitor operations and maintain research facility and field site equipment and supplies, work with campus departments to maintain and troubleshoot IT and websites, and assist the reserve director with communications and social media. He/she/they will collect data and implement operations and trainings for drones, maintain weather stations, and work with UCI Nature staff on developing GIS other reserve databases.

 

Total Compensation:

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits .

 

 
$61,100.00 – $107,100.00 (Annual Salary)

 

Department Website:
 
https://nature.uci.edu/

 

Required:

 

• 3-5 years of related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Thorough knowledge of research discipline, principles, concepts, analysis and / or operations being conducted at field / remote sites. 
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with remote research partners. 
• Proven ability to work independently and with a team, and to meet deadlines with minimal supervision. 
• Strong attention to detail and strong organizational skills. 
• Proven ability to work in ambiguous conditions and take relevant responsible action as required. 
• Strong research and analytical skills. 
• Strong communication skills with research partners and project team members.

 

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training preferred
• Thorough knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to field research responsibility. 
• Thorough knowledge of local customs and operations at field / remote sites.

 

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page – https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php
Closing Statement:

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy .
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or [email protected]