RESEARCH SPECIALIST I - Baskett Forest

Central Missouri Research, Extension, and Education Center

This position will be based at the Baskett Forest, one of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources' farms within the Central Missouri Research, Extension, and Education Center of the Agriculture Experiment Station. The successful applicant will oversee general operations at Baskett Forest and will be responsible for maintenance of the property, supporting on-going and new research, facilitating site use by faculty for teaching, and contributing to development and implementation of outreach programs. The individual will supervise temporary student workers during the summer months.

Property maintenance and general operations: the successful applicant will be responsible for maintaining the roads, trails, open areas, research sites, buildings, and facilities at the property. These duties will require the use and maintenance of equipment including tractors, riding and push lawn mowers, and chainsaws. Additional duties include forest inventory, timber marking or timber stand improvement activities, maintenance of firebreaks, and possible prescribed burning.

Research support: the successful applicant will support several on-going research projects, including the upkeep of research infrastructure, data collection, and data organization. There will be opportunities for implementing new studies in collaboration with faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. This individual may also provide collaborative support for research activities at the Missouri Ozarks AmeriFlux (MOFLUX) site, including data collection and technical assistance for the lead investigator.

Teaching support: the successful applicant will be a point of contact for faculty members using Baskett Forest for teaching objectives. Each year, 10-15 courses use the property for labs or field trips, requiring access to areas of the property, assistance with establishing lab activities, and support in the event of anything unexpected.

Outreach programs: the successful applicant will provide support for outreach programs and events, including leading operations for the annual maple syrup production project. Duties may include assistance in developing content for outreach programs as well as leading in the delivery of programs, in collaboration with faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. Additional duties may include the development of outreach materials through web-based platforms.

As with all positions, involvement with other duties and responsibilities may be expected in order to support the mission and purpose of the University of Missouri.

Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm with occasional weekend shifts for special events or projects.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience and at least 1 year of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Master of Science degree in natural resources related field (e.g., forestry, wildlife, environmental science, etc.). Experience with forest management and outreach programming.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $17.05 -$29.69 hourly.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: GGS-007
University Title: RESEARCH SPECIALIST I

Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR. To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page.

MU Application, Cover Letter, CV/Resume, and contact information for references will be required for hire.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.