Wildlife Biodiversity Program Lead

The Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS) is seeking a creative and self-motivated person to collect and manage conservation data on rare and sensitive species in Alaska. This is a full-time, externally funded position at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

As a Wildlife Biodiversity Lead you will collect and maintain data on rare and sensitive wildlife, including birds, mammals, and amphibians. You will be responsible for managing conservation data, building relationships with agency partners, writing grants, and sharing information with members of the public.

This position will continue to build relationships with agency partners, write grants, technical reports and peer-reviewed papers, present information to partners and the public, and manage core conservation data. Core datasets include species range maps, occurrence records, conservation status ranks, and taxonomic checklists. The taxonomic focus will be on Alaskan animals of conservation concern, including rare and endemic species. Secondary duties will involve fieldwork across Alaska, often in remote areas.

You will work closely with other staff members and will collaborate with agencies and organizations including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, NatureServe, and other Natural Heritage Programs.

The Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS) is a center for research, education, and scholarship at the University of Alaska Anchorage. ACCS is committed to providing the public, industry, and agency partners with information to facilitate effective biological conservation and management of the state’s natural resources. Its faculty and staff conduct basic and applied research, serve a wide range of data to agencies and the public, offer professional services, and provide educational opportunities. Research at ACCS includes aquatic ecology, botany and vegetation ecology, wildlife ecology, landscape ecology, and invasive species.

The Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP) is integrated within the Alaska Center for Conservation Science. AKNHP collects, synthesizes, and validates information on Alaska’s animal and plant species of conservation concern and their habitats, ecosystems of conservation concern, and invasive species. It is one of more than 75 independent heritage programs in the Natural Heritage Network, which includes Heritage Programs in all 50 U.S. states and Conservation Data Centres in most Canadian provinces and many Latin American countries. We use a shared NatureServe protocol to track and rank rare species and habitats.

You should be comfortable working in a soft-money funded environment where funding levels can vary from year to year. You should also be comfortable living in northern environments that experience long, dark winters and that have fewer conveniences than comparably sized cities in the contiguous U.S.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Master’s degree and two years research experience at the postgraduate level in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of training and experience is required.

You should have experience with developing and leading projects in conservation science. Experience managing conservation datasets, including using databases and a GIS to manipulate vector data. Experience securing extramural funds and managing grants from a variety of sources.

Position Details:

This position is located on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in Anchorage Alaska. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 80, based on education and experience.

Your application should include a cover letter, CV/Resume, and contact information for three references.

Applications will be accepted for review on 12/8/2024, to ensure consideration, please apply by 11:55 PM, Alaska Standard Time on 12/7/2024.

This position is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Matthew Carlson, ACCS Director, at mlcarlson@alaska.edu.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.