Location: Petaluma, California (Hybrid)
Deadline to Apply: Position is open until filled, with review starting June 17, 2024
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt, 3 years (ideal start date 8/15/2024)
Compensation and Benefits: Salary is based on qualifications and internal equity. Estimated salary range for this position is $77,978-$94,687 annually. Point Blue provides a comprehensive benefit package including employer paid medical and dental for staff and 75% for dependents. Other benefits include life insurance, long-term care, long- and short-term disability, flexible spending accounts, and retirement plans as well as time off benefits.
About Point Blue:
Point Blue Conservation Science (www.pointblue.org) is a growing and internationally renowned non-profit with over 160 staff and scientists based in Petaluma, California. Founded in 1965 as Point Reyes Bird Observatory, our mission and programs have evolved over time to include a broad range of conservation activity, from restoration to environmental education to innovative work in the field of regenerative agriculture. We have a proven track record of scientific excellence.
We recognize that increasing racial, gender, cultural, and other diversity, equity, and inclusion factors at Point Blue and in our partnerships is essential for the success of our mission, vision, and strategy. We are actively engaging in a process to create lasting organizational change. We seek applicants from all backgrounds to join our teams. We strongly encourage applications from people with backgrounds that are under-represented in the conservation community.
Job Summary:
The Point Blue Soils Program seeks a scientist with a strong background in soil biogeochemistry, soil microbiology, or pedology and expertise in process-based ecosystem models, data analytics, geospatial analysis, and/or machine learning. The Senior Soil Scientist will initially spend a majority of time facilitating the development and expansion of our Agricultural Carbon Monitoring Program database, interfacing with the Open Technology Ecosystem for Agricultural Management (OpenTEAM) within a partnership funded through a USDA Climate Smart Commodities Grant (the “ACTION” project). Collaborating closely with the Point Blue EcoInformatics Group, the Senior Soil Scientist will explore new data partnerships and work toward soil carbon database harmonization across California and US working landscapes. Beyond managing and basic analysis of agricultural ecosystem carbon data, the Senior Soil Scientist will explore options for data use in global biogeochemical models and new opportunities as they arise.
Although the initial work effort falls within the scope of our USDA ACTION project, the Senior Soil Scientist will contribute tangentially to multiple projects across the Soils Program portfolio. Projects include topics such as: climate-smart grassland restoration, microbial inoculation in conservation, rangeland conservation practice impact on carbon, soil health research and various other projects. The Senior Soil Scientist is expected to pursue new research opportunities, including potential funding of additional projects to advance Point Blue’s strategic plan. The Senior Soil Scientist is expected to have the skills to independently design scientific projects, collect and analyze data, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals as first and/or co-author and to communicate findings at scientific conferences and via non-scientific writing, outreach and workshops to a diverse broader community.
The position is based out of Point Blue headquarters in Petaluma, CA, with approximately four in-person meetings per month with the Soils Team and other colleagues. Otherwise remote work is optional.