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Director of Conservation and Research Red Butte Garden
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Description
Compensation Type: Annual salaryJob Type:
Full Time
Pay Range: $80,000 - $95,000
Organization's Mission: To connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes.
https://redbuttegarden.org/about-us/
Position Summary: Red Butte Garden at the University of Utah is seeking an experienced Director of Conservation and Research to join our executive team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, managing, and implementing the Conservation and Research department and programs for Red Butte Garden, emphasizing the conservation of native plants and ecosystems in Utah and the Intermountain West, and outreach to citizen scientists, Indigenous people, and underserved communities. This position will be responsible for pursuing funding, managing departmental and grant budgets, developing a strategic plan, vision, and mission for the future work of the team, and producing outreach and publishable scientific research.
The Director of Conservation and Research will supervise department staff and volunteers, and provide training and leadership for volunteers, students, and citizen scientists assisting with or conducting research at/for Red Butte Garden. This position will bring conservation messages into the Garden and engage a diverse public in conversations about plant diversity and the role it plays in human well-being.
Primary Responsibilities: 1. Provide strategic direction for RBG’s Conservation and Research department, by setting and implementing short and long-term research goals. Proactively seek new opportunities to grow and expand the Garden’s strategic research objectives, estimate budgetary requirements for staff and resources, and implement research program(s).
2. Develop and submit proposals to potential funding agencies.
3. Design, develop, and conduct original scientific research, often overseeing multiple initiatives including:
- Plant conservation (broadly defined), using a diversity of approaches and methods and emphasizing in-field (in situ) components. - Emphasize research on rare plants, useful native plants, and improving wildland management.
- Utilize the Garden and Cottam’s Grove for research activities, consistent with the mission and goals of Red Butte Garden.
- Collaborate with the horticulture department on water-wise and native plant trial evaluations.
4. Serve as the primary contact for third-party research activities occurring at Red Butte Garden. Review requests for potential projects, collaborate with various Garden departments to confirm support for recommended proposals, coordinate access requirements for approved requests, and follow up with researcher(s) as necessary. Maintain database of approved research projects, including results and final reports.
5. Interview, hire, train, establish goals, and evaluate the performance of department staff. Provide training, leadership, and mentoring for volunteers, students, and citizen scientists assisting with or conducting research at/for Red Butte Garden.
6. Maintain records and data archiving on all research and associated results, produce publishable scientific research reports, and submit final reports to appropriate journals and other suitable outlets for publication. Provide reports on conservation and research at the Garden to increase the visibility and impact of research with external funding sources.
7. Provide expertise to government agencies, land managers, and conservation organizations engaged in plant conservation, and participate in outreach and public engagement to disseminate plant conservation information.
8. Maintain significant living collections and associated records, such as seed banking, and opportunities to display select specimens of threatened, rare, and endangered plant taxa.
9. Engage with the Garden’s Advisory Board as needed, and provide reports for the board and funding agencies. Attend professional meetings, speak with media outlets, give lectures, write newsletters, etc.
Coordination, Supervision, & Budgetary Responsibility:
- Hire, train, and supervise department staff; provide training, leadership, and mentoring for volunteers, students, and citizen scientists.
- Develop and manage annual budgets utilizing available Garden resources and awarded grant funding.
- Confirm approval of proposed third-party research requests, and coordinate garden access as required to conduct approved research.
- Follow University of Utah policies and procedures and ensure that programs and expenses meet established expectations, such as coordination with the Office of Sponsored Projects, and University procurement protocols.
Desired Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration or related area, or equivalency; eight years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communications skills required.
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration or related area preferred.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
Preferences
- Ph.D. in plant biology, plant ecology, restoration ecology, conservation biology, genetics, systematics, or related disciplines.
- Prior experience in publishing scientific papers, writing grant proposals, and technical reports.
- Demonstrated success in seeking and obtaining external funding.
- Familiarity with seed banking, herbarium techniques, and data archiving.
- Understanding the development and management of program and project budgets.
- Experience in conducting fieldwork in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, including the care needed to bring along staff and volunteers.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to speak to people possessing diverse opinions regarding conservation and public lands issues.
- Possess necessary computer skills for writing, and data analysis. Literature search and communication – GIS experience a plus.
- Possess a level of physical fitness required to conduct fieldwork under demanding and often extreme environmental conditions.
- Familiarity with safety procedures, especially emergency medical and rescue responses, to minimize risks in the lab and field.
- Possess a positive attitude, strives for collaboration, builds trust, and shows kindness.
Benefits / Why Work With Us: At the University of Utah, we ask a lot of our employees, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, medical/dental/vision/life plan, and 14.2% contribution to your retirement plan, we have the following perks, including:
- Office Culture: we have a highly collaborative office and a relaxed business/casual dress code.
- Wellness in action: take advantage of our many health and wellness programs on-campus, at the Garden, and virtually. This includes mental health and resiliency support, discounts on outdoor recreation rentals and Eccles Student Life Center, nutrition services, and more.
- Community: Discounted and sometimes free admission to arts, cultural attractions, museums, lectures, concerts and select sporting events on campus.
- Learning: In addition to the many free educational opportunities on campus, the University offers 50% tuition reduction for eligible employees and their families. We also offer many professional development opportunities and an annual budget to develop your skills.
How to Apply: https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/144810
Location: Salt Lake City
Information
Job Post Link: Visit additional job posting information.Organization Website: Visit website
Contact: Danielle Moreno
Email: danielle.moreno@redbutte.utah.edu
Phone: 801-587-5889