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Job Opportunity – Water Training Coordinator

Academic Coordinator II - Water Training Coordinator

POSITION OVERVIEW

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $84,246 -$164,103
“Off-scale salaries”, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: October 17, 2025

Next review date: Monday, Nov 3, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Apply here: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07362 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

NATURE AND PURPOSE

Academic Coordinators are appointees who administer academic programs that provide service closely related to the teaching or research mission of the University. This service may be provided to academic departments, to organized research units, to students, or to the general public. Determination of the appropriate level for an appointment for an Academic Coordinator shall take into consideration such factors as program scope and complexity. The duties of an Academic Coordinator are primarily administrative. Individuals in an Academic Coordinator title who are assigned research or instructional duties are required to hold a dual title.

The duties of an appointee may include the independent coordination of a program with a moderately-sized staff or, in a small organization, a scope that encompasses several departments, schools, or colleges of the campus, or a series of affiliated academic, governmental, or private institutions. The Academic Coordinator is expected to manage the program with a great amount of independence and may receive general guidance from a faculty member, a department chair, an assistant/associate dean, or equivalent positions. Duties may include moderate involvement in the generation and/or coordination of funds from different sources.

The Center for Watershed Sciences (CWS), a unit of the Institute of the Environment (IE), is a leader in the interdisciplinary study of critical water issues. The Academic Coordinator will work as a liaison between federal partners and trainees for a training project funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 
 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
 

I. COORDINATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (85%):
Academic Coordinators have primary responsibility for the administration and coordination of one or more programs and may have responsibility for directing the activities of other academic appointees or staff. The Academic Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of the training program. In addition, the Academic Coordinator will evaluate the academic program activities and functions, develop proposals for extramural funding of campus programs and identify support resources, be liaison representation with other agencies and institutions in the public and private sectors, supervise and provide leadership of other academic appointees or staff and other duties as appropriate. The Academic Coordinator will serve as the primary point of contact for the project, for both trainees and the Bureau of Reclamation. 
At the outset of the study, the Academic Coordinator and major advisor will work with each trainee to identify and begin interacting with a primary Bureau of Reclamation mentor. Each trainee will engage in monthly cohort meetings led by the Academic Coordinator. Collaborators from the Bureau of Reclamation will also be invited to these sessions.
The Academic Coordinator will coordinate all meetings and summer internships, will draft/submit reports, and participate as a full member of the Executive Committee. 
The Academic Coordinator will organize and facilitate two all-hands working group sessions each year hosted by the Center for Watershed Science with the trainees, PIs, and engage the Bureau of Reclamation collaborators. These working group sessions will include break-out groups for each individual project, and report back presentations on team projects to the whole group. The academic coordinator will organize and facilitate the all-hands meetings as well as note take and distribute the notes to the individuals after the meetings. The Academic Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of the training program and will work with each trainee to onboard with HR staff at Reclamation to ensure they are supported over the course of the summer during the internship experience. The Academic Coordinator will support the agreement by providing an accessible and competent point-of-contact for the trainees and the Bureau of Reclamation collaborators. The Academic Coordinator will draft and submit all annual reports.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10%) 
The candidate will provide intellectual leadership to their programs. The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to their specific field. The candidate may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups, at seminars, meetings or educational functions. 
The Academic Coordinator will encourage each trainee to publish 1-2 California Waterblogs on their project over the course of their training experience. The Academic Coordinator will also be responsible for publishing a blog on the program and training experience as well.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%) 
The candidate will participate in the administration of their units and the University through appropriate roles in governance and policy formulation. In addition, they may represent the University in their special capacity as scholars during the discharge of their responsibilities. The candidate may engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service. Teaching classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.
When recruiting trainees, the Academic Coordinator will post the opportunity on relevant job boards (e.g., ASCE Career Connections, AGU Career Center, American Fisheries Society Job Board, Texas A&M Job Board) and promote the opportunity through the Center for Watershed Sciences and other relevant social media channels. The Academic Coordinator will expend effort to reach under-represented groups using such strategies as: contacting women's or ethnic minority caucuses of professional disciplinary associations to assist in identifying candidates; advertising in text-based and online journals and venues with a wide professional audience.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master's degree in environmental sciences, natural sciences, water resources engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience managing complex organizations in an academic setting or comparative equivalent experience in an organization that has research and outreach missions.
  • Experience obtaining funds for organizational/programmatic needs, including extramural funding from private sources, state or federal agencies.
  • Experience developing media products, including authorship and editing of blogs, articles, interviews, advertisements and/or multimedia projects.
  • Experience in developing, supporting, and implementing programs that foster diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice.
  • Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
  • Familiarity with sampling, collecting, and monitoring techniques in natural systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD or equivalent combination of education and experience in environmental sciences, natural sciences, water resources engineering or related field.
  • Knowledge of financial oversight and management including monitoring of core organizational/programmatic budgets in the public section or non-profit sectors.
  • Experience in organizational operations and/or facilities management.
  • Ability to present scientific information to a variety of groups, including campus administrators, faculty, students, stakeholders, and the general public.
  • Engagement with scientific or professional communities through societies or networks.
  • Experience cultivating productive relationships with lawmakers or agency representatives.
  • Experience working for/with non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
  • Experience in academic program development, skill in scientific and public communications.

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