Everglades Wading Bird Program Manager

The Weecology lab group run by Ethan White and Morgan Ernest at the University of Florida is seeking a Project Manager to conduct and manage a long-term field study of breeding wading bird colonies in the Florida Everglades. Using a combination of aircraft-based monitoring, ground surveys, and drones, the Everglades Wading Bird project has been monitoring the breeding effort of large wading birds (for example, Wood Storks, White Ibis, Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills) across a nearly 1800 sq km expanse of the Everglades. Data from this project is used to develop AI approaches for monitoring wildlife, provide information to monitor Everglades restoration progress to state and federal agencies, and study the challenges of conducting ecological forecasting across scales. All members of this collaborative group are considered equal partners in the scientific process and this position will be actively involved in collaborations.  Find more details on the Weecology lab and the UF Wading Bird Project here: https://weecology.org/, https://everglades.weecology.org/, https://github.com/weecology/EvergladesWadingBird .

The project manager is a critical component of the success of the Everglades Wading Bird Project and is a year-round position. During the breeding season (January-July) the project manager is housed at a field house in Homestead, FL to train and lead the field crew (3 – 5 members)  in conducting aerial surveys (using both fixed-wing aircraft and drones) and boat-accessed ground surveys to monitor small colonies and nesting success. During the off-season the field manager is responsible for data management and drafting reports for various agencies. There is some flexibility in off-season work location, though the project manager will need to be able to travel regularly to Gainesville, FL to manage the fleet of trucks, airboats, drones that the project relies on. 

The Everglades are an amazing but challenging environment. The ideal candidate is someone who loves field work, is good at problem-solving under field conditions, enjoys working as part of a team, has experience with managing and leading field crews, is comfortable with boats, and is strongly motivated by a safety-first attitude. This position may be particularly interesting/rewarding for someone who loves wetlands and their fauna, who has an interest in drones, imagery, or GIS, and enjoys playing a central role in a research team. 

Position will begin as soon as possible in 2024. The first year will be spent training with the current field manager in an OPS position (https://hr.ufl.edu/working-at-uf/current-employees/temporary-employment-ops/). Full field manager duties will begin in the second year. The length of the position is dependent on employee interest and availability of funding. Starting salary is $45000/yr + benefits while in training, with a raise to $53,000 and a move to a TEAMS position and benefits (https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/my-benefits/explore/eligibility/teams-usps/) when the candidate assumes full responsibility of managing the field project. 

At Weecology, we are committed to supporting and training a diverse scientific workforce. Current and former group members encompass a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds from the U.S. and other countries, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, military veterans, people with disabilities, and students who are the first generation in their family to go to college. We support and encourage lab members interested in a variety of career paths. Former weecologists work at NGOs, teaching-focused colleges, research universities, and in the tech industry. We work hard to create a supportive and inclusive lab environment and expect all members of Weecology to abide by the lab code of conduct (https://www.weecology.org/lab-wiki/code-of-conduct/).

Interested applicants should contact Dr. Morgan Ernest (skmorgane@ufl.edu) by October 27th, 2023. In your email, please include:

a short summary of your current research interests and why you are interested in this position (400 words or less) 

a description of prior work and/or research experience and the responsibilities, skills, and duties involved in those positions

a CV and contact information for three references