Director of Lakeshore Nature Preserve

The beauty of the UW-Madison campus is renowned world-wide. Much of what makes the university so distinctive is its relationship to Lake Mendota, which means that the Lakeshore Nature Preserve is responsible for preserving some of the most celebrated features of the campus. It is the physical connecting link from the campus to the lake.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve is seeking a Director for the 300-acre natural area. Representing one-third of the total acreage of the main UW-Madison campus, the areas includes 12 miles of hiking trails, 4.3 miles of Lake Mendota shoreline and is the ancestral home of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The Preserve serves as a living classroom laboratory for the teaching and research needs of the UW-Madison as well as a place of respite for campus and community members alike to explore nature on the UW-Madison campus.

The Director of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve serves a crucial role in leading the development and management of Preserve building and grounds, in addition to facilitating an expanding role in responding to academic needs, responding to non-University partners and generating private financial support. The Preserve Director supervises Preserve staff and reports to the Director of the Office of Sustainability.

The Preserve Director works collaboratively with members of the Preserve Committee, members of the Office of Sustainability (OS) team, as well as stakeholders from a mix of administrative and academic units across UW-Madison, as well as community, state and federal partners and community collaborators, especially with the Ho-Chunk Nation.

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve, as part of the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability, strives to facilitate environmental learning and responsibility into our thriving campus culture, our world-class educational and research enterprises, and our practice of operational excellence. The Preserve and OS team share a common desire to solve problems, address environmental issues and injustices, and seek out opportunities for success and collaboration.

Responsibilities:

Assists with the planning and direction for multiple administrative operations of a division or large business unit(s) of the institution to advance program goals and objectives.

• 15% Engages in strategic planning and policies to ensure the strategic direction supports the needs of stakeholders
• 15% Evaluates, designs, and implements operations to align with the strategic direction
• 15% Establishes goals and priorities for the annual budget for all revenues and expenditures
• 15% Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit
• 10% Ensures that policies, procedures, and standards are maintained and develops processes and procedures to improve the unit
• 10% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• 20% Facilitates and administers educational and research programming within the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

Education:

Preferred:

• Master's Degree
• Preferred focus in ecology, natural resources management, forestry, conservation biology, environmental science or related field of study.

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Preferred focus in ecology, natural resources management, forestry, conservation biology, environmental science or related field of study.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience working in natural resource management and land management and programing with increasing responsibility and supervision experience.
• Knowledge of and experience working in the field of ecological restoration and natural resources management, botany, horticulture, or related field.
• Knowledge of and experience with identification of regional native and non-native plants, weed control techniques, and cultural requirements.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds and serving the needs of diverse populations.
• Strong oral, written and listening communications skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships and to build partnerships.
• Ability to perform heavy manual tasks including lifting (~50 lb), standing, bending, stooping, twisting, squatting, kneeling, and other motions for extended periods of time.
• Must possess within 12 months of hiring Certified Arborist designation with the International Society of Arboriculture.
• Must possess basic certification as wildland fire crew member through completion of National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) courses S130, S190, I100, or be willing to obtain within 12 months of hiring.

Preferred:

• Applied experience with Midwest plants and ecosystems and restoration and land management and programing, or related fields.
• Experience within Higher Education or in institutional or governmental facilities.
• Familiarity with higher education organizational structure including Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Development, Research, Legal, and Finance and Administration.
• Experience working with shared governance groups, including faculty, staff, and student groups, student government, and student organizations.

Salary/Benefits:

The starting salary for the position is $80,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf. 

How to Apply: 

• View the full description and apply online at https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/director-of-lakeshore-nature-preserve-madison-wisconsin-united-states.
• The application deadline is April 17, 2024 at 11:55 pm central time. 

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion