Biogeochemistry Laboratory Manager

Biogeochemistry Laboratory Manager Department: Working Lands Conservation Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: Working Lands Conservation - Logan, UT Reporting To: Kris Hulvey Compensation: $65,000 / year Description About the Organization: Working Lands Conservation is a small, research-based non-profit located in Logan, UT. Our goal is to improve land management by bringing science to collaborative partnerships, while also supporting communities and livelihoods. Through our work, we are creating resilient Western landscapes and a resilient future for communities that utilize and value these working landscapes. We are a team of field ecologists and communicators. We draw on our extensive experience designing ecological studies, collecting data, and analyzing information to understand how land management contributes to landscape health and stakeholder stewardship objectives. We are a partner-oriented organization. We realize that trust, learning, and change happen when science is shared in conversation and as stories. We thus spend as much time building relationships as we do collecting data. We strongly believe that partnerships of diverse stakeholders lead to innovative management ideas, and that producers are the foundational stewards of working landscapes. We work closely with producers, state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and university researchers to fulfill our mission, share ideas, and inspire innovative management. Position Summary: The Laboratory Manager will contribute to Working Land Conservation’s mission by guiding the development of our new Ecosystem Services Laboratory and spearheading its operation. Over the past year, WLC opened its not-for-profit Laboratory that provides ranchers and other stakeholders with cost-effective soil, water, and plant testing so that land stewards have information to adaptively manage their landscapes. The laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment including an elemental analyzer, mid-infrared spectrometer, and plate reader. Duties will include managing laboratory logistics and budgets, supervising technicians, conducting analyses, delivering high-quality science in service of working landscapes, and working with WLC’s Executive Director and Lead Soil Scientist to create and execute a laboratory business plan. Primary Responsibilities Laboratory Development Roles Work with WLCs Executive Director and Lead Soil Scientist to develop and execute a business plan for the Ecosystems Services Laboratory, including developing analysis packages based on stakeholder demand and determining pricing; Spearhead development of NRCS partnership; Network with potential clients and maintain these relationships, ensuring WLC is responsive to client needs; Develop marketing strategy and materials for the laboratory and its services; Maintain NAPT/PAP certification for the Ecosystems Services Laboratory; Travel as needed to promote the Ecosystem Services Laboratory. Project Development Roles Develop and write grant proposals to support laboratory operations independently and with the WLC team. Scientific Roles: Receive and prepare soil samples for analysis for WLC’s research projects and external contracts; Run and maintain laboratory equipment; Meet with clients (ranchers, agency managers, etc) to understand their goals for soil analyses, and to learn how to best translate analyses into digestible information that can be used by clients for management; Develop reports to effectively share laboratory results with stakeholders; Conduct field work to collect data as needed. Management Roles: Manage WLC's Ecosystem Service Laboratory including purchasing, inventory, safety, and machine upkeep; Hire, train, and manage technicians. General Roles: Collaboratively work with the WLC team to further WLC’s mission; Dedicate time to professional development of organizational and management skills; Contribute to a healthy and inclusive culture at WLC. Other duties that are reasonable and consistent with this position. The Ideal Candidate You are a scientist who loves providing quality soil, plant, and water data to stakeholders managing diverse ecosystems in the US West. At this point in your career, you possess the skill set to communicate effectively with land stewards of all types, and have a wide network of partners. You believe that coupling relationship-building with smart ecological data interpretation is the magic sauce that can break down barriers to innovative stewardship of Western landscapes. You love working in a laboratory setting and have years of experience doing so in labs that have processed soils. This includes managing laboratory logistics such as placing orders, upkeeping lab safety requirements, and managing and training staff. You’re well versed in many types of soil tests including organic carbon analysis, nutrient analysis, and soil microbial biomass and activity. You enjoy sharing complex results in simple terms because you believe that well-explained data can empower ranchers and farmers to make informed management decisions. You are willing to share your expertise and enthusiasm with technicians you will mentor and WLC staff within various projects. You are excited about joining a small, dynamic team of scientists and communicators who are mission-driven and outcome-focused. You believe that blending academic-grade experimental design with kitchen-table relationship building grounds projects in community and leads to adaptive management with lasting impacts. You know that to thrive in a small non-profit requires nimbleness. You are flexible, are not deterred when plans change, and can draw on your problem-solving skills to move projects forward. You have superb interpersonal and communication skills through which to share your vision and excitement with all those you work with. You are also grounded, having experience with project management and business systems that facilitate organization, efficiency, and communication. You are dedicated to contributing and fostering a workplace centered on teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and mutual respect. The ideal candidate will be a person of integrity, humor, enthusiasm, and optimism. Specific Experience Requested: We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position, lending their flair to the trajectory of the Laboratory Manager role. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool, and will be looking for candidates who possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following qualifications and experience: M.S. or Ph.D. in: soil science, conservation ecology, restoration ecology, rangeland ecology or other related science-based field; Experience working in a soil biogeochemistry laboratory, carrying out relevant protocols, managing lab safety and using the following laboratory equipment: elemental analyzer, mid-infrared spectrometer, and plate reader; Experience training and managing lab technicians; Experience working with diverse stakeholders such as ranchers, agency managers, and academic scientists; Experience developing and executing business plans; Proficiency with statistical analyses of ecological data; Experience sharing results in easy-to-digest reports; Strong interpersonal skills including working with multiple, diverse, stakeholder groups; Valid driver’s license. Workplace, Compensation Working Lands Conservation has a dedicated office and laboratory in Logan, UT, which serves as a hub for team members. All team members have a dedicated workspace in the office. This position includes primarily on-site work due to the requirements of laboratory work. We also value flexibility, and team members have the option to work from home offices when practical. This position requires occasional overnight travel to undertake field research and laboratory promotion in the Western U.S. (up to 35% time). Team members are also