We are searching for an organized, people-oriented professional excited for a dynamic role as Conservation Programs Coordinator leading the Center to Advance Mentored, Inquiry-based Opportunities (CAMINO), and providing essential support for the UCSC Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP).

The person in this role will have the opportunity to serve incredible undergraduate students at UCSC and across the country. The programs are linked in their vision for a more inclusive, socially just, and effective conservation movement, training effective leaders to meet the challenges ahead.  Our programs focus on impactful mentorship, field, and inquiry-based learning.

• The DDCSP program trains, nurtures, and builds community among promising future conservation leaders through a two-year fellowship, which includes an immersive field experience and a professional internship.  Get to know the scholars.
• The CAMINO program delivers hands-on internships, scholarships for field-based courses and a professional network at UCSC.  Get to know the interns.

Please share this message widely within your networks, and if interested, take a look at our programs and students via the program websites and review the full job advertisement.  This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who shares our excitement for delivering life-changing programs to extraordinary students with a diverse range of perspectives in conservation.  If you are the person we are looking for, or you know that person, please contact me!  Santa Cruz is an idyllic place to live; both programs are based out of our coastal campus, and the Conservation Science and Solutions Lab of Dr. Erika Zavaleta on the shores of Monterey Bay.  Our coastal campus has a welcoming, collegial community of UCSC staff, faculty, agency research scientists, and graduate students.  I am happy to answer any questions about the position, the university, Santa Cruz, UCSC’s programs, or just chat about how we can help passionate early-career students to find their paths in conservation.  Applications are due April 19th, with an expected start date in June.

Relevant information from the full job advertisement, https://recruit.ucsc.edu/apply/JPF01001

Summary:

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the position of Conservation Programs Coordinator. Under the direction of Professor Erika Zavaleta, the coordinator will manage all aspects of the Center to Advance Mentored, Inquiry-based Opportunities (CAMINO) in Ecology and Conservation; and support the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) through lead coordination of the DDCSP Internship Summer Program and other contributions. CAMINO aims to increase inclusive field-based and research opportunities for students from a diversity of backgrounds. CAMINO supports these goals with mentoring, field course scholarships, funded summer internships, and professional development and community events beyond the classroom. DDCSP supports diverse cohorts of students from a national pool through a two-year program of science and professional support aimed at diversifying conservation’s leadership. The position will require the incumbent to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills, exercise wise judgment in decision-making, identify problems and develop and implement effective solutions, be well-organized and have ability to calmly juggle and manage competing responsibilities, discern sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality, and employ political acumen to cooperate well with many parties within and beyond UCSC. CAMINO and DDCSP are dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion, and strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich that mission. We are looking for a dynamic, engaged leader to manage and grow the CAMINO program, and to support DDCSP, which shares our strong values around effective and equitable conservation. The Coordinator will work with an advisory board of diverse conservation leaders in academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropy, community groups, tribes and government and a national network of internship sponsors and partners.

Responsibilities:

• Leading the overall growth of the CAMINO community and program, through planning and implementation of summer internships; events and professional development workshops; semi-annual research symposia; and pursuit of funding opportunities.
• Maintaining and building a network of CAMINO campus and off-campus partners and/or sponsors, including contributing UCSC-based mentors, guests, and other organizations and funders that contribute to the program.
• Leading implementation of the DDCSP second-summer internship program, and working closely with the DDCSP Program Director and faculty lead to deliver an overall, complex two-year fellowship for 20 students per year that includes an 8-week annual summer conservation research and leadership field course; annual winter retreats; and group internship placements with NGOs, foundations, agencies, private firms and cross-sector partnerships in conservation.
• For both CAMINO & DDCSP managing program finances, evaluation and collaborating on annual reporting. Program finances include administering student scholarships, stipends and reimbursements, honoraria, course expenses, event expenses, internship housing deposits, travel costs, and associated annual reporting.
• Applying intercultural skills to mentor current and past CAMINO and DDCSP participants and sustain strong community and communications among them. Helping current and past participants through personal, major, and professional planning; navigation of professional relationships before, during and after courses and professional experiences; and general advice and support.
• Sustain a strong culture of health, safety, inclusion, equity, and excellence across all CAMINO & DDCSP programming.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity and experience with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, CAMINO, or other undergraduate experiential education programs serving students from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience leading and/or designing experiential education in conservation and/or science, including field-based science and/or conservation.
• Demonstrated commitment to the goal of increasing ecology and/or conservation’s reach and effectiveness, particularly through an increase in the diversity of its leaders and practitioners.
• Excellent collaborative, communication, networking, organizational and mentoring skills.
• Skills in critical thinking and flexible, adaptive, and wise judgment in decision-making and problem solving.
• Ability to identify problems and to develop and implement effective solutions.
• Well organized and ability to calmly juggle and achieve multiple responsibilities.
• Political acumen to cooperate well with many parties within and beyond UCSC and to discern sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher (or an equivalent foreign degree in conservation-related field (such as conservation science, policy, law or biology) or relevant field; or a bachelor’s degree plus at least two years of professional experience in the aforementioned fields. Degree requirements must be met at the time of application.
• Experience working with undergraduate students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds as a teacher, mentor, and/or supervisor.
• Experience managing budgets and writing reports, grants, and/or articles for publication.
• Supervisory experience.

Title and Salary:

Academic Coordinator I, $53,304- $66,608, commensurate with qualifications and experience.