Western Wildfire Resilience Index
You can't manage what you can't measure
Wildfires are major ecological and social hazards across the North American West. Communities are working hard to be resilient to this growing threat, but how do we know when management is working? Built on the success of the NCEAS’ Ocean Health Index, the Western Wildfire Resilience Index will provide policymakers and the public with clear, actionable metrics to improve management decisions. See more about the Moore Foundation funded project and position openings on our one pager summary document.
Job Opportunities on the WWRI Team
We are hiring two data analysts for this project, with an expected salary of $60-65k. Applications can be submitted here by June 16, 2023. UCSB is an AA/EOE employer, including disability/vets.
Position Description:
As a successful Data Analyst you will use your analytical skills and knowledge to support the development of a suite of indicators and a comprehensive indicator framework to quantitatively measure wildfire resilience at scales applicable to management. This position will give you significant opportunities to hone and apply a diverse analytical skillset and work at the critical interface of ecological synthesis science and applied management solutions. Guided by an expert working group and in partnership with two postdoctoral fellows and a project manager, as a Data Analyst (Assistant Specialist) you will participate in all stages of the Index development and synthesis process. You will contribute to the development of data pipelines and reproducible analytical workflows to integrate heterogeneous sources of data (tabular, geographic, remote sensing, etc.) for the project team. You will also gather, organize, and document code and data processes involved in calculating the WWRI and work with the WWRI Web Developer to create interactive data visualizations and compelling infographics.
We are hiring two postdocs for this project, with an expected salary of $70k. Applications can be submitted here by June 15, 2023. UCSB is an AA/EOE employer, including disability/vets.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead analysis and synthesis of social-ecological information to develop and implement a framework for data-driven metrics to populate a Western Wildfire Resilience Index that can be applied at any scale;
- Help guide team of two data analysts in needed data and coding tasks to support project development;
- Engage with wildfire experts, policymakers stakeholders, scientific advisory committees;
- Lead writing and publication of scientific developments in peer review journals, and attend scientific conferences.
We are hiring one project manager for this project, with an expected salary of $65-75k. Applications can be submitted here by June 6, 2023. UCSB is an AA/EOE employer, including disability/vets.
Position Description
As a successful Project Manager you will work with the broader Western Wildfire Resilience Index Team to ensure this large research endeavor is executed effectively and efficiently. Your responsibilities will include 1) planning and leading regular (at least weekly) meetings with the internal project team to discuss research activities and larger workshops with external wildfire experts, 2) working closely with the communications and policy officer to support engagement with agency and academic communities, 3) developing and adapting a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress on research activities and deliverables to ensure our approach is responsive to key project learnings and executed in a timely manner, and 4) ensuring that the project team maintains a positive, inclusive, and productive working environment for all involved.
We are hiring one expert in science communication and policy for this project, with an expected salary of $65-75k. Applications can be submitted here by June 6, 2023. UCSB is an AA/EOE employer, including disability/vets.
Position Description
We seek an experienced science communicator to join the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), working with our Executive Director and Deputy Director to lead communication around our portfolio of programs with a special focus on our new Western Wildfire Resilience Index project. This position will be split 50% time leading NCEAS external communication across our diverse environmental science and ecology projects and 50% time specifically focused on managing and guiding the development of strategic communications and policy outreach for NCEAS’ new Western Wildfire Resilience Index project.
We expect to hire one web developer/data visualization expert for the WWRI. More information coming soon.