Research Associate Program Coordinator (Botany & Seeds Focus)

The Great Basin Institute (GBI), based in Reno, NV, is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West. The Institute advances ecological literacy, professional development, and natural/cultural/recreation resource management through educational outreach and direct service programs. GBI’s Research Associate (RA) Program seeks a Coordinator to support program logistics, operations, and management of RAs in Nevada and other western states. GBI RAs work with federal, state and local land management agencies on a wide variety of field-based projects including wildlife monitoring, invasive plant inventories, recreation use surveys, resource mapping and monitoring, restoration, wilderness monitoring and inventories, travel management inventories, as well as other resource management initiatives. The RA Program Coordinator works with GBI staff to recruit, place and manage Research Associates, coordinate project logistics and scheduling, perform payroll, expense-report and other administrative duties, as well as to ensure compliance with grant and agency rules and regulations. This office-based position operates in a dynamic, team-based setting.

The RA Program Coordinator will encounter a variety of opportunities for professional development, including gaining insight to the operational policies and procedures of a mid-sized environmental non-profit organization, exposure to a spectrum of environmental resource management positions and approaches for supporting them, strengthening interactive skills through communication with diverse professional staff, and ability to effectively support the success of a mission-driven enterprise.
 
Duties:

• Under the guidance of the program director and manager, support in developing Seeds for Success and Botany focused programming opportunities. 
• Coordinate recruitment and logistical planning for new and existing RA projects/positions by understanding scopes of work, reviewing applications, conducting interviews, procuring equipment, and supporting orientation/training; 
• Ensure on-boarding process runs smoothly for all new arrival groups; organize orientation materials and new member documentation; follow up on on-boarding items to make sure they’re completed on time; coordinate arrival details with incoming members;
• Communicate regularly with Research Associates and agency partners via phone and written correspondence regarding position status, performance, work satisfaction, and administration;
• Including building and maintaining close and mutually beneficial relationships among federal and state agency partners, local government, tribal partners, nonprofit organizations, and GBI to implement effective community-based conservation partnerships.)
• Maintain databases for tracking program members, project deliverables, and performance measures;
• Gather, manage and process data needed to satisfy quarterly and annual reporting requirements;
• Develop, adapt and apply systems that enhance the success and satisfaction of RAs in the program;
• Collect, review and process GBI administrative forms, including timesheets, expense reports, and time-off requests;
• Collaborate extensively and assist program staff with program operations, maintenance and expansion;
• Collaborate with and assist other GBI programs as required;
• Follow and enforce policies detailed in the GBI Personnel Handbook; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Contract Timeline:

• This is a Full Time position.
• Ideal start date is by early January 2024 but we are willing to be flexible for the right person.
• 40 hours per week; available to occasionally work a varied schedule as needed, including some weekends, evenings and/or holidays.

Location:
Based at GBI offices in Reno, NV. The “Biggest Little City in the World”, Reno has an estimated population size of nearly 250,000; the greater Reno-Sparks metropolitan area has a population of just over 435,000. The city sits in a high desert at ca. 4,500 feet in elevation, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, along the Truckee River as it flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. Weather is mild, with four distinct seasons. Reno offers easy access to world-class outdoor recreation, with a 3- to 5-hour drive to Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks, the Pacific Ocean, and California redwood forests. Closer to home, Nevada boasts more natural hot springs than any other state in the country, over 150 named mountain ranges, and 30 mountain peaks over 11,000 feet. In Reno, recreation and entertainment includes eight major ski resorts within 2 hours of the Reno-Tahoe airport; fishing and boating on Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and Pyramid Lake; minor league baseball with the Reno Aces (the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks); cultural festivals during the summer along the banks of the Truckee River; and a small but growing collection of craft microbreweries and micro-distilleries. For more, visit http://www.movoto.com/reno-nv/moving-to-reno/ 

Compensation and Benefits:
Total Compensation Package: $46,306 – $49,955

• Salary: $40,000 – $43,000 annually DOE
• Paid Vacation; 4hrs accrued per 80hr pay period; starting first day of employment.
• Paid Sick Leave; 4hrs accumulated per 80hr pay period; 40/hr annual maximum accrual and use; accumulation starting first day of employment.
• Paid Holidays.
• Full Health, Dental, Vision Insurance (premiums of employee fully paid for by GBI); eligible to enroll on the first day of month following the first day of employment.
• 401K Matching Contribution of 4% after 90 day waiting period; 100% vested on first day of enrollment.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany or Wildlife Biology, or related discipline, or a combination of relevant education and field experience; 
• Enthusiasm and interest in and knowledge of threatened, endangered, and sensitive status species; 
• Familiarity with native and rare flora and fauna of the state of Nevada and Great Basin Region;
• Experience (at least 1 year) with project coordination or comparable duties, such as; scheduling, logistics, personnel management, recruitment and retention, and/or training and mentorship; 
• Background in natural resources, land management and policy, or conservation/fieldwork industry.
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and familiarity with safe-driving practices, preferred; 
• Ability to pass an FBI criminal background and National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) check;
• Values in promoting a healthy, positive, and welcoming work culture that ultimately supports the goals and mission of the RA Program and the wellbeing of our staff; 
• Proficiency in both Microsoft Office and Google Suites to manage, present and track program information;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, with diverse audiences;
• Strongly developed organizational skills and ability to multi-task and self-motivate;
• Ability to learn new database systems and project management software to follow processes and project tracking (e.g., payroll, reporting);
• Attention to detail, and ability to audit and track project systems; 
• Familiarity and alignment with mission-driven nonprofit organizations strongly preferred;
• Willingness to travel occasionally to conduct site visits at RA service locations in NV/CA and possibly other western states; 
• Ability to manage multiple moving priorities while maintaining consistent and high performance standards, strong work ethic, and team ethic.