Position Description
- Posted: April 16, 2025
- First review of applications: reviewed upon submittal
- 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 riparian/wetland ecologist to join 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 California communities and ecosystems to land use change and future climatic conditions climate change. We are looking for someone who can start immediately.
This part-time, hourly position will have a variable schedule as described in more detail below. It will consist 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 future climatic conditionsclimate 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:
- Leading an effort to develop watershed management strategies for protecting and enhancing riparian ecosystems under future climatic conditionsa changing climate.
- Providing riparian and wetland science support for riparian mapping and tool development.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including community-based organizations, technical advisors, and agency partners.
Qualifications
We seek highly creative and technically strong candidates with expertise in riparian science/ecology, watershed science, wetland 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, environmental or earth science, 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 project teams and complete project deliverables on time and within budget.
- 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.
Preferred Experience and Skills
- Experience in applied science, such as working with resource managers on restoration planning and implementation.
- Familiarity with California environmental policies and regulations.
- Experience in community-based planning
- Experience facilitating discussions with diverse stakeholder groups.
- Proficient in ArcGIS as well as R and/or Python.
- Experience in some of the following areas:
- Future climatic conditionsClimate change impacts on watershed processes and ecosystems
- 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, water quality, heat island effect reduction, recreation, 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 is a part-time, hourly Environmental Scientist position. The anticipated salary range is $47 - $62/hour (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.
- This position will require between 8 to 16 hours per week from May 2025 to March 2026
- This is a term position that could extend beyond March 2026 if funding allows.
About the Resilient Landscape Program