Southern Sierra Research Station

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Employment

Executive Director: OPEN

Pay: $95,000 plus benefits (health, dental, vision, life, retirement fund, PTO)

Duration: Permanent, beginning immediately

Location: Flexible. HQ in Weldon, CA. To be discussed during interview

Founded in 2000, the Southern Sierra Research Station (SSRS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered at our research facility in the foothills of California’s southern Sierra Nevada, an area unique for its convergence of 5 biological regions and a high diversity of mammals and birds in North America, including over 300 bird species. Our mission is to conduct, promote, facilitate, and disseminate biological research that informs conservation decisions and environmental policy, and contributes towards understanding, sustaining, and conserving natural resources and environmentally challenged species. With a focus on research in the Pacific Southwest through Latin America, in collaboration with government, academic, and conservation organizations, we increase scientific knowledge of species in support of our mission, aid in projects to protect and restore endangered species and their habitats and encourage public support and appreciation for conservation of biological diversity.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Executive Director of SSRS is a dynamic individual who will build on the strengths and successful history of SSRS by providing the scientific and organizational vision, discipline, and drive in keeping with the station’s research, development, and outreach goals. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the SSRS operations, including research initiatives, fundraising efforts, strategic planning, community engagement and partnership building. The candidate will require exceptional collaborative skills to leverage the considerable resources of the SSRS to increase its influence and identify opportunities for program development and diversified funding streams.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

· Ensures the overall success of SSRS.

· Provides visionary leadership to advance SSRS’s mission and strategic objectives. Develop SSRS’s long-range strategic and annual work plans with measurable and achievable goals. Design the research vision for the station from its overarching scientific roadmap into 5-yearly executable plans.

· Leads and supervises a motivated, high-quality staff and team in support of yearly and long-range plans, including coaching and mentoring. Maintain a work climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a strong staff, and talented contractors.

· Oversees and implements SSRS’s research program and its research projects. Lead, manage and direct the station’s scientific research efforts, including supervision of the Research Director, and (directly or indirectly) the technical staff. Coordinate and collaborate with the Research Director to develop long-range and annual research workplans and ensure project scientific integrity and successful outcomes.

· Fosters and promotes an increase in SSRS’s research efforts and its impact across state and international lines. Create awareness about the research station and network among peers and potential donors and

grantors to increase grants, contracts, and donations. Identify and pursue opportunities to build a broader constituency in support of species conservation and scientific research. Obtain and secure funding for all scientific research/study and research programs through government/private grants, private donors, and/or other means. Minimum expectation is $1 million per year.

· Ensures the short and long-term financial sustainability of SSRS. Manage the SSRS budget and financial resources effectively. As mentioned above, lead in securing research grants. Coordinate with the Board of Directors and develop and implement fundraising strategies to secure financial support from donors, grants, and other funding sources.

· Represents and expands the network of SSRS’s external relations and partnerships. Represent the lab in professional conferences, workshops, and other networking events to promote our work and foster collaborations. Communicate research findings and conservation recommendations through publications, presentations, and outreach activities to diverse audiences. Supervise and empower Research Director and other SSRS staff to continue to cultivate and build positive external partnerships and opportunities for collaboration.

· Ensures SSRS meets its legal and human resource obligations promptly and with the highest integrity. Oversee SSRS accounting and ensure SSRS financial accounting is in accordance with federal, state, and non-profit organization 501 (c)(3) requirements. Lead the planning and management of yearly budgets and allocations, including project specific and overhead. Develop, update, and ensure implementation of by-laws, personnel policies, and other policies approved by the Board, in conjunction with the Board of Directors. Ensure organizational compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.

· Reports regularly and is accountable, responsive, and timely in responding to the Board of Directors and appropriate committees on the status of internal and external operations and issues and/or any Board of Director requests.

· Ensures the research station is properly maintained through building improvements and/or ordering new equipment.

· Ensures SSRS has all the proper insurance, including, but not limited to, insurance for the Research Station and all of SSRS’ operations.

· In coordination with the Research Director, ensures the safety of the research station from fire and other accidents.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

· Demonstrated leadership, effective staff and program management skills, including ability to retain, motivate and attract strong and creative staff; strong strategic organizational and financial skills.

· Demonstrated ability to create organizational visions, develop strategies, produce and execute detailed implementation plans.

· Demonstrated ability to secure funding from government/private research grants and from private donors.

· Ability to work independently, excellent organizational and team building skills, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including proven ability to innovate and implement successful communication strategies.

· Basic understanding of 501 (c)(3) managed organizations, and demonstrated ability to work with the Board of Directors

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in Biology, Environmental science or management, and/or in a scientific research related field or a degree in Business Management, in particular Non-Profit Management.

· Prior non-profit leadership/management experience and/or research station scientific and organizational management experience.

· Prior fundraising experience.

· Prior experience preparing and presenting financial analysis and reports. Proficient in financial tools and accounting practices.

· Understanding of federal and state research grants and/or contracts, and associated Cost Accounting Standards.

· Proficiency in data management and associated Information Technology platforms, such as MS Office 365 or similar platforms.

· Advocacy experience and effective working knowledge of policies to protect endangered species.

· Proven ability to strategically network and collaborate with other organizations, agency staff and the private sector, as needed, to advance the mission of the SSRS.

LOCATION: Headquarters: California’s southern Sierra Nevada – Weldon, California, and virtual extensions growing into New Mexico and Arizona.

TO APPLY: Please send cover letter (please include date of earliest availability) and resume to Ernie Flores (Flores@NP-ExecSupport.org, 661 803-9300). Review of applications will begin on April 30th and continue until the position is filled.

2024 Avian Field Technicians: ALL POSITIONS FILLED

Location: Weldon, California

Dates of Employment: mid-May to mid/late August, with some possibility of extension into the fall

Number of Openings: 5-6, depending on funding

Compensation:

$620-720/week DOE for general avian technicians (1-7 positions)

$680-800/week DOE for point count technician (1 position)

40hr work weeks, with overtime pay according to California State law

All positions include housing, 1hour/week of sick time, and paid federal holidays.

Application due: Application review will begin immediately and offers will be made as qualified candidates are identified.

Job Description

The Southern Sierra Research Station (SSRS) is looking for 2-8 seasonal, full-time avian field technicians to assist with multiple avian research and conservation projects based out of our headquarters in Weldon, CA. Working at our station, technicians will have the opportunity to be a part of a small research community and to gain training and experience in a variety of field research techniques, such as endangered species surveys, target-netting and bird-banding, point count surveys, radio telemetry and attaching Motus tags to birds, vegetation surveys, use of automated recording devices and Motus tower construction/data retrieval. The main projects are described below, however, depending on qualifications and interest, technicians may also have opportunities to work on other projects. Technicians are expected to help where needed as priorities shift through the field season and will be expected to take on some responsibilities that are not directly related to these main research projects. 

  • Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (SWFL) population monitoring and conservation in the Kern River Valley. Technicians will conduct SWFL broadcast surveys, assist with brown-headed cowbird control by target-netting and trapping, and work as a team to conduct vegetation sampling. 
  • Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (YBCU) population monitoring in the Kern River Valley. Technicians will conduct YBCU broadcast surveys and color band resighting on the South Fork Kern River, as well as assist with YBCU target-netting. There may be opportunities to track tagged YBCU with handheld radio telemetry.
  • Long-term avian monitoring in the Kern River Valley. Technicians with point count and/or strong visual + aural bird identification skills will participate in point count surveys for our long-term study monitoring avian populations on the South Fork Kern River. Point counters will participate in up to 2 weeks of point count surveys.
  • MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) bird banding station at the Kern River Preserve. All technicians will have the chance to assist at our MAPS station and will receive training in handling, banding and processing songbirds equivalent to a beginning bird banding workshop (~4-5 days over the course of the season).
  • Least Bell’s Vireo nest monitoring for our small population in the Kern River Valley. Technicians will locate Least Bell’s Vireos opportunistically, determine breeding status and assist with nest monitoring.
  • Automated Recording Unit (ARU) monitoring. Technicians will set up and/or retrieve data from ARUs.
  • Motus station construction, maintenance, and data retrieval. Motus is a rapidly growing research tool for wildlife tracking (www.motus.org). We have several Motus projects here at SSRS, including both tagging birds and installing Motus towers (stationary radio receivers) across California. Technicians will assist with Motus station duties as needed, no previous experience required.

All projects require thorough data management skills and organization. Data entry and proofing will be a daily duty. Position is full time (typically 40hrs/wk). Shared field housing is provided in Weldon, CA, 5-10 minutes from most field sites. Field vehicles are provided in most cases, a personal car is recommended for weekends but not required. We pay mileage for any use of personal vehicles for work and per diem for overnight stays away from the station. Rubber boots and waders are provided.

The Kern River Valley is located in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills at the junction of 3 of North America’s 10 floristic provinces. As a result, the landscape is incredibly diverse with an array of distinct habitats boasting many interesting endemics and rare species. This makes it a fantastic playground for naturalists, birders, and outdoor enthusiasts. Within a 30-mile radius of the station you can find extensive Great Valley Cottonwood Forest along the South Fork Kern River, towering Giant Sequoias in their southernmost groves, red fir forests at 9000ft elevation on the Kern Plateau, pinyon-juniper woodlands lining the valley slopes and enormous patches of Joshua Trees spilling over from the Mojave desert. The Kern River Valley and vicinity is a major stopover site for birds during spring migration, as well as a breeding site for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, Vermillion Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, White-headed Woodpecker, Flammulated & Spotted Owls, Kern Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Black-chinned Sparrow, Black Swift, and LeConte’s Thrasher, to name just a few. Additionally, there are excellent opportunities nearby for river sports/whitewater, mountain biking, climbing, fishing, hiking/backpacking, etc.

Required Qualifications:

  • Must be in strong physical condition, able to hike at least 5 miles through wet overgrown areas, dense vegetation, and downed wood. Depending on spring runoff, this may include the use of waders.
  • Must have an avid interest in wildlife biology, avian research/conservation and being outdoors. Must be patient, reliable, and able to persevere through difficult tasks.
  • Ability to conduct work independently in the field, start work before dawn and hike to survey points before daylight.
  • Must be willing to have atypical weekends (not Sat-Sun)
  • Must have a positive attitude and the ability to live and work well with coworkers. This includes being respectful to fellow staff and keeping shared spaces clean. Technicians are expected to share in household duties.
  • Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, possess a valid U.S. work visa, or be able to apply for a CUSMA (formerly NAFTA) work permit (for Canadian and Mexican Citizens). Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to apply for work visas for residents outside of Canada and Mexico who do not already have a work visa.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Environmental Science, or a related field (or in progress).
  • The ability to identify western songbirds by sight and sound. Training for all survey protocols will be provided, but prior bird identification skills are required. Non-work experience in bird ID is applicable! Applicants with prior experience performing avian point count surveys will be given preference.
  • Prior experience conducting avian research in the field
  • Prior experience conducting endangered species surveys
  • Mist-netting experience, please list your estimated number of birds extracted if applicable
  • Willingness to travel for short multi-day trips to various field sites across southern California, as well as work pre-scheduled irregular hours on occasion
  • Ability to communicate clearly with coworkers and supervisors
  • Ability to navigate using GPS/map/aerial imagery and compass, previous experience using ArcGIS Field Maps
  • Willingness to assist with occasional Motus tower construction (no previous experience required)

Enthusiasm for fieldwork, persistence, a great work ethic, and ability to deal with hard field conditions are more important than past experience or specific knowledge. We are planning to hire one person that has the interest and enthusiasm for field work but lacks experience.

How to apply

Please email a single file (word or pdf) which includes:

  1. A cover letter to describe your interest in this position, highlight your relevant skills/experience, and give your dates of availability for the 2024 field season.
  2. A resume
  3. Names and contact information (email and phone) of 3 references

to Annie Meyer at the following email address: jobs.ssrs@gmail.com.

Include your name and the job you are applying for in the file name of your attachment (e.g. Darwin_C_avian_field_technician_application.doc) and in your email subject line. The Southern Sierra Research Station (www.southernsierraresearch.org) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, citizenship status, sexual orientation, or disability status of an otherwise qualified individual.

Feel free to reach out to the listed email address with questions!

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Wondering what a technician position with SSRS would be like? Here are some quotes from our 2023 techs:

“I have unending amounts of wonderful things to say about this position! … I love how every week is different; very few days feel the same throughout the entirety of the season. The work is so much fun, I feel like I was always having a good time because I was always doing something interesting…. The whole community at the station is absolutely delightful and it’s been such a privilege to work with everybody. I genuinely enjoy each person who works here…and I felt that everyone clearly prioritizes the wellbeing and health of the techs.”

“Yes, I would work here again. The work environment is amazing, surround by devoted, caring, and hardworking people is a hard thing to beat. “

“lots of educational opportunities with everyone working at the station – a great sense of community – working on a diversity of projects, getting to travel, and learn a wide variety of skills – felt like my boss was really looking out for each tech and making sure we all got enough time on each project“

“The impressive variation in surveys, tasks, and jobs meant the job never got stale, and kept me fully engaged. As a result of this variation, I learned a huge amount, much of it I know will be useful for future jobs.”

“I would absolutely love to work for SSRS again! It would be such an honor to return.“