UC Cooperative Extension Specialist- Coastal Hydrology, Agriculture, and Water Resilience Located at the University of California, Santa Cruz (25-16)

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist- Coastal Hydrology, Agriculture, and Water Resilience Located at the University of California, Santa Cruz (25-16)

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Application Window

Open date: June 2, 2025

Next review date: Saturday, Aug 2, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Sunday, Nov 2, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist-
Coastal Hydrology, Agriculture, and Water Resilience
Located at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Position Overview
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Cruz, invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist (UCCE) at the Assistant rank.

The specialist will focus broadly on integrated water resources management and hydrologic processes in coastal areas, many of which are severely water-limited, including applied research for sustainable water resources management for communities, ecosystems, and high-value agriculture. The position will address unique and critical needs for coastal regions, including groundwater overdraft, saltwater intrusion, nutrient loading, land use and regional economic development, freshwater fisheries, and maritime elements of coastal agriculture. It will support efforts to meet the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The specialist will advance water education by training the next generation of leaders to understand and formulate responses to changing interactions between water supplies and societies, and collaborate and communicate with federal, state, and regional agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the public.

UCCE Specialists develop and conduct research and educational programs aimed at appropriate clientele groups in communities outside of UC campuses. UCCE Specialists have programs primarily focused on mission-oriented research or creative work that support the university's efforts to extend knowledge, including outreach and community engagement. Mission-oriented research describes the complete research continuum that extends from basic research to applications of research results. This research is generally applied in nature and has, as a goal, the solution of a problem facing society that is related to the mission of the UCCE Specialist's discipline and the UCCE mission. UCCE Specialists will publish the results of applied research in a combination of research publication types, whether peer-reviewed or not, based on the relevant audiences served by the UCCE Specialist's program.

The extension program disseminates knowledge and information to clientele groups for their use in improving their abilities to understand and address problems and opportunities facing them. The extension educational program serves the University's public service mission. Educational program activities include but are not limited to collaborations with UCCE Advisors, other UCCE Specialists, campus faculty, program teams, workgroups, or clientele groups; developing and presenting educational materials; communicating to clientele through broadcast, print, or electronic media; participating in meetings with clientele; developing and presenting in-service training courses; organizing or participating in workshops, field tours, symposia or conferences. Much of this work is conducted in partnership with UC ANR's locally based UCCE Advisors. The UCCE Specialist - Advisor and faculty partnership creates an applied research network that benefits both the University and the public at large. This position does not include formal classroom instruction at the University.

Location Headquarters. The position will be part of the University of California Santa Cruz Department of Earth and Planetary Science in Santa Cruz, CA. It will be based primarily on the UCSC main campus, with secondary office and research space at the Monterey Bay Education, Science, and Technology Center (MBEST).

Position Details

This position will work to protect and enhance California's natural and agricultural resources through innovative research and extension activities related to improved water quality, water-use efficiency, and water supply security, ultimately increasing the ecological sustainability of agriculture in California's Central Coast region.

Major duties and responsibilities include:
•   Conduct transdisciplinary applied research on a range of coastal hydrology and related agricultural management issues, potentially including topics related to :
o Climate adaptation
o Drought management
o Groundwater sustainability and governance
o Links between water supply and quality
o Hydrologic system services and processes in coastal basins
o Corporate water stewardship
o Water policy
o Water diplomacy
o The food-water-energy nexus
o Coastal hydrology issues unique to the soils and other conditions found on the Central Coast
o Soil management and limiting erosion into waterways, estuaries, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
A variety of research methods are possible, including field and controlled plot studies, comparisons between systems across the Central Coast and elsewhere in California, the use of drone and remote sensing data to assess water use and related processes, laboratory tests, and modeling of linked systems. The Specialist will be provided space at the MBEST Center and have access to the UCSC Farm, Hansen REC, and other active farms for research trials and studies.
•   Extend knowledge and serve as a resource and collaborator for UCCE Advisors, county agricultural commissioners, pest control associations, governmental scientists, and regulatory personnel. Outreach methods will include in-person and virtual meetings, educational seminars and workshops, and electronic tools such as social media, standard media outlets, and blogs. Examples of possible extension activities include:
o Supporting agencies to develop and implement document goals and requirements for water management (e.g., Groundwater Sustainability Plans, Water Use Efficiency Plans).
o Shaping water planning processes by hosting workshops with government agencies and nonprofit organizations (e.g., evaluating implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Plans).
o Informing legislators and the public via high-profile media interaction and briefings.
•   Collaborate with UC Cooperative Extension Advisors and Specialists across the Central Coast region and throughout California as well as other parts of UC ANR's extensive network. Develop strong ties with relevant UC ANR Program Teams (e.g., Water Resources) as well as the Hansen Research and Extension Center and the UC ANR California Institute for Water Resources.
•   Interact with partners at UCSC, including faculty in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, as well as Environmental Studies, Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, and the Center for Agroecology.
•   Build a network eternal to UC ANR and UCSC, including staff of government agencies (e.g., The California Department of Water, the Coastal Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, regional Resource Conservation Districts), as well as relevant non-profit organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, the Public Policy Institute of California), local foundations and land trusts, other institutions of higher education (e.g., Cal State University Monterey Bay/Channel Islands), and elected officials.
•   Publish in relevant ANR outlets and external scientific journals appropriate for their field and discipline, such as the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Water Resources Research, Water Policy, Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Management, and California Agriculture.

Counties of Responsibility: This state-wide position will serve California's coastal communities.

Reporting Relationship: The position will be located at the UC Santa Cruz campus in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. The appointment is within UC ANR, and UC ANR will oversee the merit and promotion process, consistent with other UC ANR CE Specialists, in consultation with the UCSC Department Chair. The CE specialist will also hold an additional 0% (uncompensated) CE Specialist appointment at UCSC. It is not a remote position; the candidate must be available to work onsite at the UCSC campus.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Education: A minimum of a Ph.D. (or international equivalent) in Water Resources or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment. Applicants who have not yet earned a Ph.D. must be within 12 months of completing their degree to be considered for the position.

Key Qualifications
•   A portfolio of work demonstrating experience in water resources research.
•   Experience in leading collaborative research teams.
•   Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
•   Strong publication record.
•   Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability, and property damage insurance on the vehicle used are required. Must possess a valid California Driver's License to drive a university vehicle click apply for full job details