Environmental Analyst

  • Location: Richmond, CA

  • Program: Resilient Landscapes

  • Type: Full-time

  • Experience Level: Entry Level

  • Salary: $73,000 - $80,000. See details below. 

  • Posted: 1/16/24

  • First review of applications: 1/30/24

  • Application Closing Date: Position open until filled

 

The San Francisco Estuary Institute is looking for an environmental scientist interested in historical ecology and California's historical landscapes

 

The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) provides scientific support to communities, local governments, and agencies to plan and implement multi-benefit resilience strategies throughout California. Historical ecology is a key part of our expertise – it allows us to understand how physical processes and ecosystems interact to support ecological functions and biodiversity and offers insight into how landscapes have changed over time, which in turn helps guide planning for future management and restoration strategies. Key SFEI historical ecology reports include the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Study, Hidden Nature SF, the Peninsula Watershed Historical Ecology Study, and Reconnecting Riverside with its River. 

 

SFEI seeks a talented entry-level natural scientist interested in historical research to join our team in the Resilient Landscapes Program. 

 

The position offers an opportunity to work with an outstanding multidisciplinary team of scientists on innovative projects that help improve the resiliency of communities and wildlife to land use change and various aspects of climate change. We are looking for someone who can start immediately.

Position Description 

This position will be primarily involved in historical ecology projects and also support other projects relating to advancing landscape-scale conservation planning that promotes ecosystem resilience and restoration.

 

Bay Area location preferred, but will consider remote location.

Primary position responsibilities will include:

  • Archival research (in-person and online) to uncover primary sources pertaining to landscape patterns and physical and ecological conditions and processes prior to major Euro-American modifications.

  • Compile data using various techniques to organize historical and other environmental data and information (texts, photographs, and maps).

  • Synthesize historical data using GIS and other methods to reconstruct historical landscapes.

  • Analyze and describe patterns and processes of historical landscapes and analyze landscape change to inform planning, management, and restoration strategies.

  • Summarize and visualize data (cartography, plots, graphics).

  • Write in-depth technical reports, general-audience summaries, and peer-reviewed manuscripts. Present to general and technical audiences.

 

If you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this, or one of our other roles.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

  • Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., environmental history or historical ecology, geomorphology, hydrology, ecology, geography, other environmental science, environmental planning, landscape architecture, etc.).

Required Skills:

  • Background and/or interest in historical and/or archival research

  • Ability to work collaboratively and with interdisciplinary teams 

  • Excellent research skills and attention to detail

  • Excellent GIS skills

  • Ability to creatively synthesize, analyze, and/or visualize information (e.g., Excel/R/python, GIS or other geospatial tools, and/or data visualization techniques)

  • Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to communicate findings clearly in writing and presentations and translate complex concepts for both general and technical audiences

 

Preferred Skills:

Our work bridges many topical areas. We do not require expertise in all these areas, but the successful candidate should have an interest in and knowledge of one or more of the following: 

  • Historical ecology, environmental history, and landscape change 

  • Science and management of the San Francisco Estuary and/or other California ecosystems

  • Ecology (Tidal/freshwater wetland, terrestrial, riparian, wildlife)

  • Wetland monitoring, including CRAM and vegetation monitoring

  • Landscape-scale conservation and restoration

  • Hydrology and/or fluvial geomorphology

  • Nature-based solutions

  • Ecosystem services

  • Engaging diverse communities 

Salary & Benefits Highlights

  • This position will be an Environmental Analyst. The anticipated salary range is $73,000 - $80,000 (Bay Area salary ranges are listed; note that salary ranges for other locations are 10-15% lower depending on location). Salary ranges take into account many factors for making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, education, internal equity, and organizational needs. We generally do not offer salaries at or near the top of the range. 

  • Matching contributions to retirement plan (immediate vesting) (403B)

  • Medical Insurance: health, vision, dental with employer and employee contributions

  • 12 paid holidays

  • Vacation days starting at 3 weeks

  • Hybrid workplace

About the Resilient Landscapes Program

SFEI’s Resilient Landscapes Program develops innovative ecosystem restoration and management strategies to re-establish and sustain essential ecosystem functions and services. These strategies are helping integrate natural and human infrastructure to create systems that are more adaptive to climate change and other stressors. We are an interdisciplinary program of approximately 30 scientists (geomorphologists, hydrologists, ecologists), landscape architects, and GIS specialists – we work closely together and collaborate with staff in SFEI's other programs: Clean Water and Environmental Informatics.

About SFEI

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has a 25-year track record of providing robust and innovative science to decision-makers, policy-makers, practitioners, and community members to measurably improve the health and resiliency of Bay-Delta ecosystems. As a boundary organization, SFEI operates at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Our mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities. 

 

SFEI employs an interdisciplinary staff of more than 70. Our operations and IT staff are the backbone of our organization and keep everything running smoothly. SFEI has three major programs: Clean Water, Environmental Informatics, and Resilient Landscapes. Our program staff represent numerous scientific and technological fields, including chemistry, modeling, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape planning, historical ecology, geomorphology, geospatial analysis, and web development. 

 

For more information on our mission, values, programs, and staff, visit the San Francisco Estuary Institute website.  

Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer

At SFEI, we celebrate the diversity of our staff and the places we serve, and recognize the value and strength of diversity. We are committed to growing together and creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. In 2022, SFEI developed and adopted mission and vision statements for DEIJ within and beyond our organization. We also created an action plan which is currently underway. We strongly encourage applications from women-identified people, people of color, and people with other identities commonly under-represented in environmental science. We invite you to share what you like about your professional experience as well as about yourself personally. 

 

San Francisco Estuary Institute is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, family or parental status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Accommodations Statement

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website or application portal as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact us at 510-746-7355 or admin@sfei.org.

 

Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position.

In the spirit of a fair hiring process, no phone calls or emails please.

This position has been filled.