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Director of Extension (Academic Administrator) - California Sea Grant College

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Position description

California Sea Grant, based at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), is committed to academic excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff, and student body. The California Sea Grant College Program (CASG) (https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/ ) seeks a resourceful, innovative professional to appoint to the new, full-time position of Director of Extension. This position will be based in La Jolla, California at SIO and will be filled within UCSD’s Academic Administrator series.

CASG employs a network of eight full-time Extension Specialists distributed throughout California who work individually and as part of a team (https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/extension-and-outreach ). CASG Extension Specialists develop their own programs of integrated outreach, education and research, based on their expertise and the needs of the communities that they serve. They then apply that expertise and/or collaborate with other experts to address coastal and marine issues.

CASG is seeking to expand its extension program. We seek an Extension Director who will work at a program-wide level to develop new and maintain ongoing partnerships and collaborative opportunities for the CASG extension program within the state of California, and nationally. A key part of the Extension Director’s efforts will include securing funding agreements with collaborating partners to build the program’s visibility, impact and financial resources to ensure the long-term health of the extension program. Rather than conducting his/her own research and outreach, the Director of Extension will shepherd the growth of our extension program by forging strong links with local, state and federal partners whose needs can be met by collaboration with CASG extension.

Internally, the Director of Extension will promote cohesion within the extension program by organizing and running bi-annual meetings of all extension staff. The Director of Extension will work with individual Extension Specialists to ensure that their extension and research activities are consistent with CASG’s mission, and to advocate for and fortify the status of Specialists at their host institutions. The Extension Director will assist CASG’s Director with review of the performance of extension team members following UCSD policy.

The MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES of the position may be summarized as follows:

• Is administratively responsible to the Director, California Sea Grant Program.

• Provides vision and leadership for comprehensive extension programs that address critical marine and coastal issues for California’s diverse clientele.

• Demonstrates commitment, passion and leadership to interdisciplinary approaches and interconnectivity among academia, government and private sector groups to address critical marine and coastal issues.

• Explores opportunities to expand programs and develop new partnerships within UCSD, other California universities, federal, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations and the private sector.

• Builds and maintains effective external relationships with outside organizations, groups, and other federal, state and local agencies related to the marine and coastal needs of California.

• Collaboratively works with counterparts at the regional, national, and international level ensuring strong visibility of California Sea Grant Extension.

• Uses strategic vision to identify and facilitate both traditional and new sources of external support in the form of grants, contracts and extramural funding in collaboration with Sea Grant staff and stakeholders to further the mission of extension programs;

The Director of Extension is a full-time, professional academic administrative position at UCSD offering full benefits. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in a field relevant to marine and coastal science or social science, and/or extension administration. Desirable qualifications also include experience with Sea Grant (state program or nationally), extension efforts, organizational administration, inter-organizational networking and collaboration, and a record of securing extramural support for extension-related activities.

The successful candidate will demonstrate accomplishments or potential for accomplishments in areas contributing to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a desire to play a leadership role in advancing UC San Diego’s commitment to achieving excellence and diversity.

UCSD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence through diversity. The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with the University on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (as defined by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994).

Salary: Salary is competitive and will be based upon UCSD pay scales, commensurate with a candidate’s experience. Merit increases and promotions will follow UCSD advancement guidelines for the Academic Administrator series.

Closing Date: Review of applications will begin October 16, 2015. No new applications may be submitted after October 15, 2015.

To Apply: A complete application package will consist of:

  1. Cover letter of interest including description of background and qualifications relevant to job requirements;
  2. Resume or CV;
  3. Personal statement summarizing your demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and equality or your potential to make contributions in the field;
  4. Names and contact information for three references; and
  5. (optionally) Electronic copies of no more than three relevant publications.

Applications must be submitted through the University of California San Diego’s Academic Personnel RECRUIT System. Click here https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/apply/JPF00854 for further details about required application materials.

For additional information regarding the position, contact Jim Eckman (CASG Director) at jeckman@ucsd.edu or 858-534-4440. For additional information regarding application mechanics contact Rose Madson (Business Manager) at rmadson@ucsd.edu or 858-534-4601

AA-EOE: UCSD is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence through diversity.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter - Cover letter of interest including description of background and qualifications relevant to job requirements

  • Statement of Contributions to diversity - Applicants should summarize their past or potential contributions to diversity. See our Faculty Equity site for more information.

  • Misc / Additional - Electronic copy of a relevant publication.
    (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional - Electronic copy of a relevant publication.
    (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional - Electronic copy of a relevant publication.
    (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)