Job Details

San Clemente Island Invasive Plant and Botany Project Manager

Overview

SERG is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the San Diego State University Research Foundation and is committed to restoring and preserving California's sensitive vegetation communities for the benefit of the environment and the preservation of the ecosystem services they offer.

The position is a permanent, full-time, hourly role with benefits. Compensation is $27.00 per hour plus a full benefits package. Housing is provided while working on San Clemente Island. The work schedule is 10 days on-island with 4-day weekends off-island. Transportation to and from the island is provided from the San Diego area by a twin engine 19-seater plane. Relocation benefits are not offered. Start date is November 12, 2025 (with some flexibility).

All work will be conducted on San Clemente Island, which is owned and operated by the U.S. Navy as part of the Navy's Natural Resources Program. The Project Manager will live as part of a small and remote community and must maintain a professional, positive attitude at all times.

Responsibilities and duties are as follows.

Responsibilities

The Project Manager will spend 60% of time on the Invasive Plant Mapping and Control program and 40% on other botany program tasks (e.g., mapping fire footprints and erosion monitoring).

• Project Management (55%): Create and manage an invasive plant mapping and treatment program
• Use adaptive management to prioritize project tasks
• Adhere to project schedules in annual work plans
• Coordinate between SERG and island users (military and civilian)
• Respond to data requests from the US Navy or other island users
• Ensure safety of all crew members, including Navy safety practices on an active base
• Organize, train, and oversee crew to balance project needs with biology timelines
• Assist in identifying future invasive plant treatment sites
• Train field staff in data entry and management
• Manage geodatabase and create biologically relevant maps as needed
• Write reports and prepare maps/figures for quarterly and annual reports
• Incorporate comments from senior staff and the US Navy
• Attend project kickoff meetings, site visits, SCI leads meetings, etc.
• Maintain vehicles, field equipment, greenhouse/nursery areas, computers, GPS units, and other office equipment
• Purchase and coordinate shipment of equipment and supplies

• Field Work (40%): Survey and map invasive plant occurrences; remove/control non-native species manually, mechanically, and chemically; use GPS and GIS in the field

• Other Duties and Responsibilities (5%)

Qualifications

Minimum Education

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university

Minimum Experience

• One year of experience in technical research or statistical work

Qualifications and Abilities

General

• Effective communication with co-workers, clients, and study participants
• Ability to follow posted work rules and procedures
• Strong interpersonal skills and organization; ability to meet deadlines
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive 4-wheel-drive vehicles
• Background check for military base access
• Ability to lift up to 45 lbs repeatedly and navigate rugged terrain
• Safety-minded

Field

• Experience with herbicide applications and vegetation monitoring
• Plant identification skills
• Knowledge of Southern California flora, especially coastal sage scrub, chaparral, canyon woodland, and dune ecosystems
• Experience operating and maintaining field equipment; valid Qualified Applicator Certificate or ability to obtain within 2 months

Office and Management

• Strong writing skills for scientific progress reports
• Proven organizational skills to manage multiple tasks
• Detail-oriented with database management experience
• People management experience
• ArcGIS Pro experience or ability to learn

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in botany, ecology, biology, or related field
• Experience managing invasive plants and database organization
• Experience with Microsoft Access or similar databases
• Experience maintaining and repairing small engines
• Experience in remote field sites and hiring/managing staff

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and be commutable from SDSU at time of hire
• Position requires DoD Secret security clearance
• Background check results required; offer contingent on clearance
• Equal opportunity employer; compliance with civil rights laws and nondiscrimination policies
• Employment decisions are based on merit

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Project Management and Information Technology

Industries: Higher Education

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