Ocean Internship: SFEI Riparian Ecologist
Listed on 2026-03-11
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Science
Environmental Science, Environmental Compliance
Ocean Internship: SFEI Riparian Ecologist
- 21 April 2025
The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) provides scientific support to communities, local government, and agencies to plan and implement resilient, ecologically-functional watersheds and shorelines. We make scientific information accessible for decision-makers by bringing watershed science, ecology, geomorphology, and landscape design to local and regional management and planning challenges. We develop influential regional documents that inform stakeholders, such as the Adaptation Atlas, Sediment for Survival, and Delta Landscapes.
We partner with local governments, community organizations, resource agencies, flood control districts, NGOs, wastewater districts, transportation agencies, land trusts, and others to identify restoration and enhancement opportunities and develop strategies for nature-based adaptation with multiple benefits.
SFEI seeks a talented riparian/wetland ecologist to join the Resilient Landscapes Program. The position offers an opportunity to work with an outstanding multidisciplinary team of scientists on innovative projects that help improve the resiliency of California communities and ecosystems to land use change and future climatic conditions climate change. We are looking for someone who can start immediately.
This part-time, hourly position will have a variable schedule as described in more detail below. It will consist of working on applied science projects in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region and beyond focused on helping develop multi-benefit watershed management approaches that support long-term resilience to land use change and future climatic conditions climate change. This position will work closely with multiple project partners and stakeholders to arrive at management solutions that support both people and wildlife.
Bay Area location preferred but will consider remote location.
Primary position responsibilities will include:- Leading an effort to develop watershed management strategies for protecting and enhancing riparian ecosystems under future climatic conditions a changing climate.
- Providing riparian and wetland science support for riparian mapping and tool development.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including community-based organizations, technical advisors, and agency partners.
We seek highly creative and technically strong candidates with expertise in riparian science/ecology, watershed science, wetland ecology, hydrology, and/or geomorphology (or related fields) and knowledge of the San Francisco Bay-Delta region.
Required Experience- Ph.D. degree with 0-2 years of experience, M.S. degree with at least 7 years of experience, or B.S. degree with at least 9 years’ experience.
- Degree(s) should be in ecology, environmental or earth science, hydrology, geography, geology, or a related field.
- Strong scientific/technical background and quantitative skills in the areas of riparian ecology, watershed hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and restoration science.
- Ability to lead project teams and complete project deliverables on time and within budget.
- Excellent communication skills: demonstrated ability to communicate findings clearly in writing and presentations and synthesize scientific information for general and technical audiences.
- Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with diverse groups of external partners and stakeholders.
- Experience in applied science, such as working with resource managers on restoration planning and implementation.
- Familiarity with California environmental policies and regulations.
- Experience in community-based planning
- Experience facilitating discussions with diverse stakeholder groups.
- Proficient in ArcGIS as well as R and/or Python.
- Experience in some of the following areas:
- Future climatic conditions
- Climate change impacts on watershed processes and ecosystems
- Relationships between hydrogeomorphic and ecological dynamics in riverine ecosystems
- Groundwater processes
- Geospatial or geostatistical analyses
- Landscape ecology
- Historical ecology
- Ecosystem services (e.g., flood protection, water quality, heat…
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