Program Assistant, (SAGE Center)

Program Assistant, SAGE Center

California Academy of Sciences

About the Opportunity

The California Academy of Sciences seeks a Program Coordinator to join the SAGE Center for Science, Ancestral knowledge, and Global Ecologies, a three-year pilot program operationalizing a braided science framework to regenerate the natural world. The SAGE Center is housed within the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS). Reporting to Dr. Shannon Tushingham, Associate Curator of Anthropology and Director of CBS, the Coordinator will be a critical member of a team dedicated to this program. This is a full-time, temporary 3-year position, with the possibility of extension, based as a hybrid role (on-site/remote) in San Francisco, California. The Coordinator will be required to be onsite at the Academy in Golden Gate Park at least 2–3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Management & Assistance
• Provide project coordination and work closely with the Director and Braided Science team to keep the program on track, organize events, and coordinate with the Native American Advisory Board, community partners, and external and internal team members.
• Support administration of research, collections, and community programs: message organizers and participants, develop resources, organize files and photos, coordinate and provide assistance during meetings.
• Support program administration by tracking grant milestones, assisting with collaborative initiatives, tracking invoices and payments, and helping with day-to-day tasks.
• Support program success by collaborating and coordinating with internal departments and divisions.
• Support the preparation of technical reports and assist in the dissemination of results through written materials and oral presentations to both scientific and public audiences.
• Partnerships and Community Engagement
• Serve as a key liaison to communicate with Indigenous partners, external and internal collaborators, and the broader community.
• Liaise and meet with existing partners and help build new partnerships that support Braided Science efforts.
• Support the establishment and sustainment of ethical, community-centered partnerships with Indigenous communities, including logistical coordination for adherence to ethical research protocols and metadata practices.
• Events, Outreach, and Communications
• Help to develop, plan, and execute community science events and programs.
• Organize, attend, and manage day-of logistics for, travel to, and hold off-site events.
• Collaborate with staff to ensure cultural and scientific accuracy as well as accessibility in public programming.
• Develop media and social media outreach for the Braided Science program; assist with the newsletter, public science content development, and dissemination.
• Keep the program web pages updated and manage the program newsletter.
• Administrative and Financial Support
• Manage financial logistics including helping with budgets, receipt tracking, purchasing, honoraria and stipend payments, and travel arrangements.
• Assist with the Indigenous Science Internship program.
• Support fieldwork, community interviews, and program events in diverse environments, adhering strictly to safety regulations, lab protocols, and collection guidelines.
• General & Operational Requirements
• Follow all Academy safety regulations.
• Work early mornings, evenings, and weekends, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience and/or Education:
• Experience in project planning and program administration.
• Experience working in research and/or formal or informal science education.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (social or natural sciences, education) is preferred, but equivalent professional experience in a highly organized administrative and planning role will be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, plus flexibility and creativity.
• Ability to work independently and keep track of program timelines, benchmarks, and communications.
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork and community engagement.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Demonstrated commitment to community-driven research and experience or willingness to learn how to collaborate with Indigenous communities and underrepresented groups.
• Knowledge of and willingness to learn more about Indigenous communities and human-nature connections, and a strong interest in the human and natural world.
• Understanding of and commitment to collaborative research and developing ethical metadata project practices.
• Committed to working on a team that is striving to be anti-racist in work, interactions, systems, and tools.
• Confident and flexible communicator, both written and verbal, to diverse audiences.
• Works well as part of multi-disciplinary teams, diverse stakeholder groups, and independently.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully collaborate with non-scientists.

Physical Environment

• The employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, use a computer, and communicate on the phone, in person, and online meetings/calls.
• The employee will spend time out-of-doors at events and programs, occasionally in hot or inclement weather.
• Must be able to transport 30 lbs.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.

Schedule

• Full-time, temporary, 40 hours per week.
• Hybrid schedule with three days onsite and two days remote.

Compensation

• The salary range for this position is $35.78 - $37.23 per hour.