Younger Lagoon Reserve Research, Education, Outreach, and Restoration Senior Steward

HOW TO APPLY

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

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The IRD for this job is: 01-12-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Ecologically diverse and physically spectacular, the University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS) is a unique assemblage of 42 protected wild land sites throughout California. The reserves encompass nearly all of the state's major ecosystems, preserved in as undisturbed a condition as possible to support University level research, teaching, and public service and outreach programs. The NRS is a Trustee Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, and UC manages the NRS resources in the Public Trust.

The seven Natural Reserve sites that form the UC Santa Cruz unit are spread along 60 miles of the central coast: Ano Nuevo Island Reserve (25 acres), Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve (4,200 acres), Fort Ord Natural Reserve (606 acres), Younger Lagoon Reserve (72 acres), Strathern Ranch Reserve (2,400 acres), Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve and the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve (400 acres). Each reserve has unique research and teaching opportunities, physical conditions and constraints, regional and local political considerations, and funding and administration issues.

The Younger Lagoon Reserve is located on the open coast near Monterey Bay at the western edge of the City of Santa Cruz, California. It is adjacent to the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab. Younger Lagoon Reserve was established in 1986 because of its unique flora, fauna and coastal lagoon. Since the establishment of Younger Lagoon Reserve, UCSC has acquired properties to the north and east of the lagoon and has developed a world class Coastal Science Campus on the site. As a condition for approval of UCSC's Coastal Long Range Development Plan (CLRDP), the California Coastal Commission (CCC) required that UC Santa Cruz set aside for permanent protection approximately 47 acres of the 100 acre site. These lands are to be permanently protected, enhanced, restored, and maintained as high quality natural areas and open space.

UC Santa Cruz Campus Administration and the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves met the CCC's requirements by incorporating these lands into the original 25-acre Younger Lagoon Reserve in 2009. The expanded Younger Lagoon Reserve (72 acres) includes the coastal lagoon, beach, coastal bluffs, coastal terrace grassland and scrub, and delineated wetlands. The expanded Younger Lagoon Reserve is managed by the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves in accordance with the CLRDP. In addition to its resource protection and restoration mandates, the CLRDP requires enhanced public access/education opportunities on the site, and includes extensive monitoring and reporting requirements.

More information can be found at:

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Younger Lagoon Reserve Director, the Senior Steward leads research, education, outreach, restoration, and stewardship activities at the UC Santa Cruz Younger Lagoon Reserve. The role coordinates and implements native habitat restoration required by UCSC's Coastal Long Range Development Plan; conducts biological and environmental monitoring; and supports research and field-based learning on the reserve. Core duties include planning and executing habitat restoration (site selection, preparation, planting, weeding, irrigation, seed collection and propagation, and compliance monitoring); maintaining reserve infrastructure (roads, trails, signage, boundaries); controlling invasive species; and documenting land conditions using GIS and other tools. The Senior Steward regularly assesses reserve needs, enforces reserve rules, and works closely with greenhouse staff, contractors, and partner entities. The position recruits, trains, and supervises student interns, field assistants, and volunteers; leads volunteer workdays; and manages field data, work logs, and monitoring records. Monitoring responsibilities include operating the reserve's bird-banding station and coordinating surveys of vegetation, wildlife, macroinvertebrates, and human use, sometimes during early morning or evening hours. The Senior Steward also supports researchers, classes, and public outreach by helping set up study sites, orienting users, assisting with field courses, developing interpretive materials, and leading tours. Additional duties include assisting with user applications, website and social media updates, and preparing data for annual reports. The incumbent must be available for emergencies and follow established safety procedures. Daily tasks vary based on priorities set by the Natural Reserve System Administrative Director and the Reserve Director.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $70,000 - $85,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri, with an occasional evening or weekend
• Shift Includes: Day, Evening, Weekend

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Off-Campus - Long Marine Lab

Union Representation: 99 - Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 005189 (FIELD RESEARCHER 3) - Grade 20

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

25% - Native Habitat Restoration Program Support

• Leads, coordinates and performs on-the-ground native habitat restoration efforts including seed collection, propagation, weeding, planting, and irrigation.
• Documents activities and follows up in accordance with relevant policies and regulations.
• Drives University vehicle to pick up and deliver plants and supplies.

20% - Stewardship, Land Management, and General Maintenance

• Leads, coordinates and performs general land stewardship and maintenance activities including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and vegetation control.
• Documents activities and follows up in accordance with relevant policies and regulations.

20% - Research, Teaching, and Outreach Support

• Supports on-the-ground research, education, and outreach efforts such as class visits and for-credit internships.
• Leads and coordinates student interns, field assistants, volunteer work crews, and outreach tours.
• Drives University vehicle to transport students to and from field sites.

20% - Biological and Environmental Monitoring Support

• Ensures instrumentation, infrastructure and required field research commodities and other materials support research goals.
• Leads, coordinates, and performs flora and fauna monitoring efforts.
• Procures, deploys, troubleshoots, and maintains sensors and equipment including trail counters, passive acoustic recorders, and camera traps.
• Assists with weather station maintenance.
• Identifies and obtains required approvals for wildlife monitoring efforts.
• Contacts regulatory agencies and maintains required permits (USFWS, CDFW, USGS, etc.).

10% - Data Management and Writing Support

• Responsible for study documentation, logs, field data, and GIS database.
• Conducts background research for briefs and presentations.
• Provides research and writing support to grant proposals, meeting summaries and reports.

5% - Operational Support

• Assists with assessing and monitoring policies and procedures for remote field sites and / or research studies.
• Evaluates and investigates opportunities for improvement.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in biological or environmental sciences with experience in conducting flora and fauna surveys and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Thorough knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to field research responsibility and the ability to train others.
• Extensive experience working in field-based projects that include habitat management, restoration, invasive species removal, seed collection, plant propagation, planting, etc.
• Extensive biological and environmental monitoring skills (transect/quadrat surveys, avian point counts, small mammal trapping, weather stations, passive acoustic recording, camera traps, etc.).
• Experience with basic carpentry tasks and land management tools/activities (hammer, saw, screwdriver, power saw, shovel, rake, pulaski, mower, string trimmer, chainsaw, etc.).
• Proficient with computers and mainstream business software and office equipment (Google suite, MSOffice, email, copiers etc.).
• Experience with GPS and ArcGIS.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, agency personnel, and the public to represent the reserves accurately at campus and public meetings and to provide clear and concise scientific, technical, and general information in a variety of settings.
• Proven ability to work independently and with a team, and exercise good judgment and discretion when acting on behalf of the University.
• Ability to exercise flexibility, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Ability to direct contract workers, field assistants, and volunteers. Demonstrated experience leading/mentoring students (or groups) from diverse cultural