Project and Policy Analyst 3 RP

Position Number: 41277088

Payroll Title: PROJECT POLICY ANL 3 RP (005257)

Job Code: 005257

Job Open Date: 10/27/26

Application Review Begins: 11/12/26

Department Code (Name): ERTH (EARTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

Percentage of Time: 100

Union Code (Name): RP-Research and Public Service Professionals

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: STEPS

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $75,180 to $115,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $75,180 to $133,770/year.

Work Location: Bren Hall, UC Santa Barbara main campus - assigned office/workstation within the Groundwater Research Hub

Working Days and Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend hours required to support Hub events, symposia, visiting experts, and student field trips.

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid (Both UC & Non-UC locations)

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

The Earth Research Institute is an organized research unit whose mission is to support research and education in the sciences of our solid, fluid and living Earth. ERI fosters new multidisciplinary collaborations studying how Earth processes affect mankind and how mankind perturbs the Earth. Professor Tobias Fischer is the Director of the unit. Seventy-three independent research groups and three centers conduct and administer their research using the facilities and resources of the Institute.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under the general direction of the Co-Directors of the Groundwater Research Hub, the Hub Coordinator serves as the dedicated staff lead for the operations, growth, and external profile of a new interdisciplinary research center focused on groundwater science, management, and policy. The Coordinator is responsible for building and sustaining the Hub's network of academic, agency, NGO, media, and international partners; planning and executing Hub programs and events (symposia, the Experts-in-Residence program, the Research Incubator Fund, undergraduate field trips and research experiences); and mobilizing Hub research into forms that reach decisionmakers and the public, including policy briefs, public-facing summaries, the Hub website, and interactive data portals. The Coordinator translates the Co-Directors' broad goals into workable procedures, timelines, and deliverables, and independently determines the methods used to achieve them. The Hub Coordinator supervises the Hub's Data Scientists and a team of undergraduate student assistants, and coordinates day-to-day administration of the Hub's extramural award in partnership with the Bren School business and research administration offices - including budget monitoring, recruitment and onboarding of Hub personnel, travel and event logistics, and preparation of annual sponsor reports. The Coordinator represents the Hub in interactions with external partners and is expected to exercise judgment, discretion, and strong written and oral communication skills.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, hydrology, earth or environmental studies, geography, public policy, communication, or a closely related field - or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4-6 years Progressively responsible experience coordinating or managing research programs, centers, institutes, or comparable multi-stakeholder projects in a university, government agency, or non-profit setting, including responsibility for planning, budgets, and reporting.
• 1-3 years Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with external organizations - government agencies, NGOs, international bodies, foundations, or media - on behalf of an organization or program.
• 1-3 years Experience producing written communications that translate technical or scientific material for nonspecialist audiences (e.g., policy briefs, reports, web content, newsletters, press materials).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in environmental science and management, hydrology or water resources, environmental or public policy, science communication, or a related field.
• 1-3 years Experience supervising, training, or providing lead work.
• 1-3 years Experience in water resources, groundwater, or environmental policy or management, and/or experience administering extramurally funded awards in a University of California setting.
• Advanced written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate technical scientific content into clear, accurate, persuasive material for policymakers, partner organizations, journalists, and the public.
• Advanced interpersonal and oral communication skills, with the ability to represent a research organization credibly to senior academic, agency, NGO, and international partners, and to build durable working relationships across sectors and cultures.
• Strong project and program management skills: ability to plan and run multiple concurrent projects, events, and deadlines independently, to develop workable procedures where none exist, and to keep faculty, staff, and student contributors on schedule.
• Working knowledge of groundwater and water resources science, management, and policy sufficient to summarize research findings accurately, to identify relevant policy audiences, and to engage substantively with partners.
• Knowledge of university research administration, including extramural award budgeting and monitoring, purchasing and travel policy, staff and student recruitment and hiring processes, and reporting requirements for private and federal sponsors. Working knowledge of UC policies and procedures preferred.
• Supervisory skills sufficient to assign and review the work of professional staff and student employees, set expectations, evaluate performance, and support professional development in an inclusive team environment.
• Skill in analytical problem solving and sound independent judgment; ability to anticipate issues, weigh alternatives, and resolve complex and novel problems with limited direction while knowing when to consult the Co-Directors.
• Proficiency with standard office, collaboration, and communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, project management and reference management software, website content management systems, email marketing and survey platforms); familiarity with data visualization or data portal platforms (e.g., HydroShare, ArcGIS Online)
• Valid driver's license, satisfactory DMV record, and enrollment in the DMV Pull-Notice Program - required only if the incumbent operates University vehicles for student field trips and site visits upon hire.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 25% Hub Operations and Program Management - Serves as operational lead for the Groundwater Research Hub. Translates leadership goals into work plans, timelines, and tracking systems. Develops, documents, and implements operational procedures and policies (e.g., onboarding, authorship, data-sharing practices, event protocols). Coordinates recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of personnel in partnership with Bren School HR/AP. Monitors progress against stated program metrics and prepares annual progress reports and sponsor deliverables.
• 20% Partnership Development and External Engagement - Builds and sustains the Hub's external network across regional, national, and international spheres. Serves as the primary staff point of contact for partner organizations, including state and federal agencies (e.g., California Department of Water Resources), NGOs (e.g., The Nature Conservancy / Point Conception Institute, Environmental Defense Fund), international bodies (e.g., UNESCO-supported IGRAC), and peer research centers. Identifies and cultivates new collaborations and funding opportunities; drafts memoranda, briefing materials, and correspondence for the Co-Directors; arranges and staffs meetings, site visits, and policymaker briefings; and represents the Hub at conferences, workshops, and partner convenings.
• 20% Research Communication and Knowledge Mobilization - Leads the translation of Hub research into products that reach nonspecialist audiences. Drafts and edits policy briefs, plain-language summaries, op-eds, newsletters, and web content accompanying major publications. Manages the Hub website and social media presence, and coordinates with data scientists, designers, and scientific visualization specialists on interactive maps, data portals, and infographics. Works with campus and journal communications offices and with journalists on media coverage; tracks media, policy, and legislative uptake of Hub research and maintains the record of Hub impact.
• 15% Research Incubator Fund, Events, and Experts-in- Residence - Administers the Hub's Research Incubator Fund: drafts and disseminates program guidelines, manages the call for proposals and review process, tracks funded projects, and reports on outcomes. Plans and executes Hub events, including the annual research symposium, seminar series, and workshops - venue, catering, travel, registration, agendas, and follow-up. Coordinates the Experts-in-Residence program end to end: identifying and inviting candidates, arranging visits, appointments, and logistics, and documenting outcomes of each residency.
• 10% Supervision, Mentoring, and Student Program Coordination - Supervises the Hub's Data Scientists and a team of undergraduate student assistants: assigns and prioritizes work, sets performance expectations, conducts performance reviews, approves time, and supports professional development. Coordinates undergraduate research experiences and the Hub's partnership with the student HydroClub, including recruitment of student researchers, orientation and training, and planning of field trips (e.g., to the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve and California's San Joaquin Valley), ensuring compliance with campus travel, safety, and risk-management requirements.
• 10% Budget, Reporting, and Research Administration Support - Monitors the Hub's operating and extramural budgets in coordination with the Bren School business office: tracks expenditures against plan, reconciles ledgers, prepares projections, and flags variances to the Co- Directors. Initiates and approves routine purchases, travel, entertainment, and reimbursement transactions within delegated authority. Assists the Co-Directors and Research Administration with proposal preparation (budgets, budget justifications, biosketches, current and pending support) and with post-award compliance, progress reports, and close-out.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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