Watershed Scientist/Riparian Ecologist

(Environmental Scientist)

  • Location: Richmond, CA

  • Program: Resilient Landscapes

  • Type: Full-time

  • Experience Level: Mid/Senior Level

  • Salary: $90,500-$103,000 See details below. 

  • Posted: 02/20/2024

  • First review of applications: 03/15/2024

  • Application Closing Date: Position open until filled

 

The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) provides scientific support to communities, local government, and agencies to plan and implement resilient, ecologically-functional watersheds and shorelines. We make scientific information accessible for decision-makers by bringing watershed science, ecology, geomorphology, and landscape design to local and regional management and planning challenges. We develop influential regional documents that inform stakeholders, such as the Adaptation Atlas, Sediment for Survival, and Delta Landscapes. We partner with local governments, community organizations, resource agencies, flood control districts, NGOs, wastewater districts, transportation agencies, land trusts, and others to identify restoration and enhancement opportunities and develop strategies for nature-based adaptation with multiple benefits.

 

SFEI seeks a talented watershed scientist/riparian ecologist 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

The position consists of working on applied science projects in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region and beyond focused on helping develop multi-benefit watershed management approaches that support long-term resilience to land use change and climate change. This position will work closely with multiple project partners and stakeholders to arrive at management solutions that support both people and wildlife. 

 

Bay Area location preferred, but will consider remote location.

 

Primary position responsibilities will include:

  • Investigating historical, contemporary, and future watershed physical and ecological processes and functions.

  • Advancing landscape-scale conservation, restoration, and adaptation planning using a quantitative approach.

  • Collaborating to synthesize information from interdisciplinary teams, including community-based organizations, technical advisors, and agency partners.

  • Managing and leading complex projects that include an array of SFEI scientists, planners, and technologists.

 

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 

 

We seek highly creative and technically-strong candidates with expertise in the watershed science, ecology, hydrology, and/or geomorphology (or related fields) and knowledge of the San Francisco Bay-Delta region. 

Required Experience:

  • PhD degree with 0-2 years of experience, MS degree with at least 7 years of experience, or BS degree with at least 9 years experience.

  • Degree(s) should be in ecology, hydrology, geography, geology, or a related field.

Required Skills:

  • Strong scientific/technical background and quantitative skills in the areas of riparian ecology, watershed hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and restoration science.

  • Ability to lead projects, including collaborating with scientific partners, and overseeing staff, budgets, schedules, and deliverables.

  • Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to communicate findings clearly in writing and presentations and synthesize scientific information for general and technical audiences.

  • Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with diverse groups of external partners and stakeholders.

  • Experience presenting at professional or academic conferences and to stakeholder groups.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in community-based planning and facilitating discussions with diverse stakeholder groups.

 

In addition, the candidate should have expertise or experience in some of the following areas:

  • Climate change impacts on watershed processes

  • Relationships between hydrogeomorphic and ecological dynamics in riverine ecosystems

  • Groundwater processes

  • Geospatial or geostatistical analyses

  • Landscape ecology 

  • Historical ecology 

  • Ecosystem services (e.g., flood protection, heat island effect reduction, or human health benefits)

  • Landscape-scale conservation and restoration

  • Graphic design using Adobe tools or similar desktop publishing software

  • Data visualization using Adobe tools (Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop), AutoCAD, Rhino, or similar software

Salary & Benefits Highlights

  • This will be an Environmental Scientist position. The anticipated salary range is $90,500-$103,000 (Bay Area salary range is 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 starting 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.