Program Specialist II - San Diego State University Research Foundation

The salary range for this position is $5,546.67 per month and is non-negotiable. 

SDSU is working in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish an Innovation Landscape in the southern California (SoCal) region to advance climate-informed conservation science in service of implementing climate adaptation through partnership-driven land stewardship and natural resource management programs and projects. The SoCal Innovation Landscape is part of integrated regional (the Southwest Innovation Network, or SWILN) and national initiative that seeks to co-develop, implement, and test nature-based adaptation solutions.The broader Innovation Landscapes Network (ILN) is a collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD), the USGS, and other partner research and land management agencies that collectively seeks to increase the pace and scale of innovation in conservation management, leverage existing projects and capacities, reduce duplicative efforts, and transfer new technologies across representative federal landscapes.The goal of the SoCalInnovation Landscape is to advance our development and facilitation of critical science-management partnerships by fostering coordination and collaboration across federal, state, local, and Tribal governments as well as non-profit organizations within southern California to accelerate community-supported, landscape-level climate adaptation and resilience. 

The objectives of the Southern California Innovation Landscape are to:

1. Strengthen and expand place-based science-management partnerships for knowledge exchange and to accelerate climate adaptive management;
2. Advance analytical frameworks, data availability, and technology transfer to support climate-adapted conservation decision making;
3. Foster an inclusive community of practice to accelerate development and adoption of science-based management and adaptation strategies; and
4. Leverage the resources of the university environment across multiple programs, projects and departments, advancing robust collaborations among federal agencies, including USGS and DoD, and San Diego State University.

The SoCal Innovation Landscapes Coordinator will lead and oversee the day to day program operations and logistics of coordinating the partnership and act as a key bridge between USGS and other federal partners as well as university scientists and natural resource science and conservation community partners throughout California. The coordinator’s primary function will be to facilitate engagement activities with scientists, stakeholders, rightsholders, and partners, with particular focus on southern California. The candidate will direct a wide range of initiatives in a fast-paced environment, with attention to detail, accuracy and effective timeline management. The incumbent will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing events such as workshops, team-building activities and organization-wide meetings. This position will also play an important role in managing administrative tasks for the project. 

This work will be accomplished by collaborating with and convening diverse partners across the region to identify common ground in our priority goals and projects for the region. We will leverage several existing projects and partnerships, particularly the montane forest conservation strategy, and work to build capacity and relationships, while ensuring science-management partnerships are central to our efforts, guiding start-to-finish collaborations.

Under general supervision, incumbents independently perform professional duties which may include planning and carrying out a phase of the program/project. Incumbents are responsible for support of a large and complex program/project by participation in and the development, alteration and implementation of operating policies/procedures; make difficult studies and investigations of the process; evaluate, document, and recommend proper courses of action; and perform related duties as required.

Core Responsibilities 

The SoCal Innovation Landscapes Coordinator will play a major role in supporting the PI and USGS Program leads in advancing the partnership. The Coordinator will lead project coordination and logistics. Pending experience and interests, program managers may also get involved in identifying existing resources/materials, brainstorming, coordinating content conversations and content development.

Position Specific Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be responsible for coordinating and providing support for research collaborators, working with partners, and managing project reporting, timelines, and budgets. Analytical, content or program development opportunities will be determined based on the experience and expertise of the selected candidate.

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in appropriate field related to program/project, or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
  
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in technical or administrative assignments, two years of which would be at the Program Specialist I level.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live in a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Brackground Check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets/Title IX Employer.