Applied Landscape Ecologist

SBCFSC seeks well-rounded candidates with in-depth experience in applied landscape ecology, research, community outreach, relationship cultivation, and volunteer coordination. The candidate will lead the planning and oversee the implementation of nature based wildfire risk reduction projects for communities and critical infrastructure, incorporate research into existing SBCFSC and partner projects to better inform wildfire mitigation tactics, and provide a strategy for landscape resilience to wildfire. Specifically the candidate will: Strategic Planning: Conduct geospatial analysis to determine environmental and land-use policy suitability of landscape risk reduction strategies: shaded fuel breaks, orchard buffer rehabilitation, targeted grazing, xeric agriculture, and riparian conservation. Prioritize communities and critical infrastructure for implementation of landscape risk reduction projects. Coordinate with Santa Barbara County to build on existing agricultural geospatial mapping to identify additional vulnerability attributes at the parcel scale (e.g., water source). Partner with Santa Barbara County Fire to conduct prescribed fire suitability/feasibility analysis at the parcel scale. Project Planning: Actively seek and coordinate with partners and SBCFSC staff to identify locations for landscape risk reduction strategies. Coordinate with landowners on a project plan. Incorporate scientific best practices and use a multi-benefit, climate resilience approach to project plans. Applied Research: Work with partners to incorporate research into their current and proposed projects. Incorporate research into existing SBCFSC projects. Seek opportunities and coordinate with partners to incorporate research into their risk mitigation projects. Assist with SBCFSC project monitoring. Publication and Conferences: While publication is not the main objective of this position, SBCFSC does support and encourage contributions to science. The candidate may write and publish scientific articles/reports and attend conferences to share results and SBCFSC projects. Funding Support: SBCFSC has limited funding for project implementation. The candidate will seek funding through grants, contracts, or fundraising to continue implementation, maintenance, monitoring of current and additional fuel buffers and other landscape based projects. GIS and Spatial Analysis: Be the lead GIS staff member for the SBCFSC. Develop a public Project Tracker that maps fuels projects that communicate to the community and stakeholders planned, in-progress, and completed mitigation projects reducing wildfire risk in the County. Conduct spatial analyses to support all SBCFSC planning and prioritization efforts. Staff and Volunteer Oversight: Provide direct oversight to staff, interns, and volunteers to assist with project tasks. SBCFSC currently has a Program Assistant who will assist with project implementation, maintenance, and monitoring. SBCFSC also occasionally has GIS interns who, depending on the project, may report to the Landscape Ecologist. The candidate will mentor and manage interns and volunteers. Relationship Cultivation: Implemented projects will continue to need monitoring and maintenance for the foreseeable future. There will be a need to expand monitoring and maintenance capacity through volunteers or partnerships with other organizations/communities. Sit on working groups and committees that align with the vision of the SBCFSC. This candidate will also engage with the public and potential donors and will be expected to represent the values of the SBCFSC and share their passion for wildfire mitigation and conservation. Field work: Implement restoration and research projects, including weed control, planting, mapping, and monitoring. Collect spatial data using Field Maps for ArcGIS, Avenza, etc. Outreach and Education: Work with SBCFSC staff to develop outreach materials, including newsletter articles, web updates, videos, press releases, and social media. Represent the Garden’s conservation program in regional and state meetings, and build a strong relationship with conservation partners. Share your passion for conservation with the public via lectures, workshops, nature walks, field trips, and other outreach events. Minimum Qualifications: This position is being offered at the principal investigator (PI) level and requires a PhD from an accredited university in Conservation, Restoration, Environmental Science, Ecology, Fire Ecology, Botany, or equivalent degree. Analyze data using modern statistical and modeling techniques Excellent proficiency at R and ArcPro for conducting spatial analyses, data analysis, mapping, and data visualization Design and implement original research projects Give public presentations and perform other outreach to promote projects and engage the public and prospective donors Quickly learn the California flora (if not already familiar) and use dichotomous keys and other resources to identify unfamiliar taxa Be physically able to conduct field work in a remote setting with rugged terrain under a variety of environmental conditions. Work may include standing/walking for extended periods of time, bending, squatting, digging, and hiking rugged trails, and safely lifting and carrying 40lbs. Experience supervising interns and/or volunteers Experience managing budgets and tracking expenses. Detailed oriented person who goes above and beyond. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Google products Excellent communication and people skills for shared leadership and coordination across teams and projects, community and stakeholder engagement, and proliferation of progressive resilience planning Valid US driver's license with functioning vehicle – selected candidate will be required to drive their own vehicle; fuel stipend will be provided for project related activities Desired skills: 2+ years as a Principle Investigator (PI) or Co-PI 2+ years experience outside of academia Familiarity with EEMS Experience with fire modeling programs such as but not limited to, FARSITE, FlamMap, Behave Experience with Python Ability to communicate factors influencing wildland fire behavior and how vegetation treatments impact fire behavior Familiarity with fundraising and donor relations Experience with the California flora Knowledge of prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, habitat restoration, and other wildfire mitigation activities Fluent in both English and Spanish Location: This is a Countywide program in Santa Barbara, California. Work is hybrid with one day in the office per week. The selected candidate will need to be within reasonable commuting distance to the project area as there are frequent in-person duties. Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found. However, for full-consideration please apply by April 22, 2025. The ideal start date is by mid June. Terms of Employment: Funding is available until April 30, 2027, however another round of grant funding for this position is highly expected but not guaranteed. Salary and Benefits: This is an exempt (40 hours/week) position. Expected salary is $104,000/year. SBCFSC provides 3 weeks PTO, 5 sick days, matching retirement plan, and health insurance reimbursement up to $6,350/year. Applications: In a single PDF applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability based on the above position description, a curriculum vitae, two writing samples (ideally one for a more general audience), and contact information for 2 references. All applications should be emailed and addressed to the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, sbfiresafecouncil@gmail.com. Please include your name and “Applied Landscape Ecologist” in the subject line.