Position Title: Program Mgr,Sr

Employee Classification: Program Manager,Sr

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317250-JORNADA EXPER RANGE HEADQUARTERS

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  59,965.78

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The Jornada Experimental Range is seeking applicants for a Program Manager, Sr to manage field research activities for the Jornada Basin long-term ecological research program (JRN-LTER).

Classification Summary:
Under indirect supervision, oversees a large, integrated program consisting of a set of interconnected activities, and a group of associated, separately funded programs. Implements workscope, establishes funding, provides program planning, budgeting, and administration, and develops related operational policies and procedures. The programs/projects administered are usually focused on an associated set of complementary objectives within an overall mission; may be scientific, research, services, and/or education oriented.

Classification Standard Duties:
Programs are usually self-funded and/or grant-funded from a major funding source or series of funding sources. Plans, develops, implements, and coordinates a university project(s) or program(s). Designs and implements systems to collect, maintain, and analyze data; generates interim progress reports, final reports, and other information related to project(s) or program(s). Establishes and implements short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates operational effectiveness and effects changes required for improvement. Directs, manages, and oversees the daily administrative components of program(s)/project(s). Designs, establishes, and maintains staffing and an organizational structure to effectively accomplish the program/project function;Oversees the supervision of personnel which includes: work allocation, training, promotion and enforcement of internal procedures and controls and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions;motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance. Develops and implements systems and processes to establish and maintain records for the operating unit. Performs community liaison and outreach activities for programs. May engage in contract negotiations and perform research; may produce and market project(s) and product(s). Develops and manages annual budgets for the organization and performs periodic cost and productivity analyses. Plans and develops strategies for generating resources and revenues for the project; may prepare contract and grant proposals. Recommends, participates in the development of, and establishes policies and procedures; may serve on department/division/university planning and policy-making committees. May represent the university to various institutional divisions as well as externally entities. Provides expertise in a specialized field and often participates in local or statewide task forces. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Five (5) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of contracts and grants preparation and management. Knowledge of management principles and practices. Knowledge of financial/business analysis techniques.; SKILLS:Skill in the use of computers, preferably in a PC, Windows-based operating environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management. Program planning and implementation skills. Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.; ABILITIES:Ability to develop and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures. Ability to serve on task forces and/or committees. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports. Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals. Ability to design and implement systems necessary to collect, maintain, and analyze data. Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments. Ability to identify and secure alternative funding/revenue sources.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
***THIS POSITION IS A ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT, CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING***

The position will provide strategic leadership and supervision for a fulltime three-person field crew engaged in year-round measurements in dryland communities of the Jornada Basin as part of the on-going and multi-disciplinary Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program on desertification in the Chihuahuan Desert. The incumbent will be based in Las Cruces, New Mexico and participate in supervision and planning of JRN-LTER field experiments and long-term observations, ensure data integrity and quality assurance, and collaborate with researchers and students from NMSU and partner institutions. They will provide guidance to the JRN PI team on new research initiatives, based on feasibility and compatibility with existing research. Field, office, and laboratory responsibilities in this role include ensuring fidelity of long-term data collection protocols, data quality assurance and data archiving according to meta-data standards, sample processing, preparing equipment, and maintaining appropriate documentation. Specific field responsibilities include plant measurements and identification; soil moisture measurements using a neutron probe; collection of aeolian dust and hydrology samples; handling and identification of small mammals (~20 species); and maintenance of field instruments, weather station, and infrastructure. The position will entail manual labor, including carrying of moderately heavy instruments in the field for extended periods and work related to infrastructure maintenance. General responsibilities include collecting and recording data in both field and laboratory environments in accordance with established protocols; data entry; maintaining organizational and historical data for each study; aiding principle investigators with data collection; design, testing, and/or modification of experimental equipment and procedures and the installation of experimental apparatus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience (> 5 years) with field data collection in the Desert southwest, particularly in Chihuahuan desert ecosystems.
• Ability and experience identifying plant species of the Chihuahuan Desert (>200 species), and handling and identifying small mammals (>20 species).
• Ability to plan and program electronic data acquisition systems, including wireless data acquisition and data management systems.
• Experience of successful collaboration with field personnel, ranch managers, students, and faculty investigators.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with peers and supervisors
• Well developed organizational and record-keeping skills
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.

Successful applicants should be highly motivated and creative. They should be willing to work independently and as a part of a diverse and multi-disciplinary team.

Special Requirements of the Position
Ability to work long days in the field in often hot, dry, and windy conditions.

Department Contact:  Samantha Lish, 575-646-1726, slish@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon funding

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.

Physical Effort: Moderate physical activity.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.