Assistant Director for Operations (ADO) – Kino Bay

The Prescott College Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies seeks a hands-on, versatile manager for the position of Assistant Director for Operations (ADO). Located in Bahia Kino, Sonora, Mexico, the Center is a field station and Mexican NGO supporting academic, research and community-based research, education and conservation in the central Gulf of California. The ADO lives on site and oversees the site maintenance, logistics, and safety of the operation. If you are passionate about hands-on work to support conservation and education in a dynamic and engaging environment, please consider applying.

Prescott College is a private liberal arts institution of higher learning in Arizona offering B.A., B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. The Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies is Prescott College’s field station and Mexican NGO on the central shores of the Gulf of California in Sonora, Mexico. The Center’s mission is to protect priority species and habitats through the integrated application of science, education, information exchange, and community participation. The Center promotes and models collaborations between people from different cultures and institutions to co-create solutions to complex conservation challenges.

The ADO is responsible for the daily operation of the field station, which has a staff of ~15 and receives 1500+ visitors a year (college and high-school students, researchers, community members, and others). The ADO resides on-site and works with the administrative team to support the work of our bilingual and multicultural staff and visitors through the promotion of a positive and effective living and working environment by providing leadership, safety, and facilities management duties. This position offers great opportunities to explore a beautiful and complex desert and marine environment and contribute directly to important conservation, education, and research projects in the region.

The ADO is expected to be available to fulfill the following responsibilities during approximately six regularly scheduled days each week during the academic year (~Sept – July). It must be recognized and accepted however that some days/weeks/months will be busier than others and the ADO will have to adapt his/her schedule to meet the needs of the station during any given time period. Conversely, the ADO should take advantage of down times to recuperate from high use times by taking additional time off. The position reports to the ED. Candidates must be able to be legally employed in the United States or Mexico, possess a valid passport, and be willing to semi-regularly travel between the US and Mexico.

Responsibilities include

Leadership

• Provide leadership toward the cultivation of a positive living, learning working atmosphere at the field station
• Support all on-site research, conservation, education, and community outreach activities conducted through the field station
• Oversee Maintenance Coordinator, Visiting Groups Coordinator, and Boating and Vehicle Coordinator, and provide support for all other on-site staff.
• Act as a role model and representative of the Center to community members and visitors; participate broadly in Center activities

Safety

• Coordinate and oversee safety procedures and emergency response at the field station in consultation with the Prescott College Risk Management Office
• Develop and implement safety protocols
• Planning safety trainings and workshops
• Be willing to respond to and make decisions in complex emergent situations
• Maintain awareness of local security issues

Logistics and Planning

• Schedule use of field station resources and facilities by residents and visitor groups
• Provide visiting groups with local knowledge and information
• Collaborate with direction team to maintain station calendar
• Coordinate all field activities conducted through the field station

Facilities

• Coordinate and oversee all maintenance activities conducted by the Maintenance team
• Coordinate and oversee equipment warehouse management conducted by Boating and Vehicle Coordinator
• Correspond with ED about equipment acquisition priorities and coordinate purchasing
• Work with the Boating and Vehicle Coordinator to oversee use and maintenance of station boats, trailers, and vehicles, and to certify drivers and boat captains
• Work with the ED to plan and carry out capital improvement and larger maintenance/building projects
• Maintain current and adequate inventories for all Center equipment and assets
• Work with the Prescott College IT Department to maintain functional hardware, network, and software systems

Administrator

• Maintain current and adequate insurance policies in conjunction with the Prescott College insurance broker and Prescott College business office.
• Maintain accurate and complete incident reporting in accordance with Prescott College guidelines
• Develop, update, and implement protocols and systems for use, organization and care of station resources
• Keep maintenance records
• Write trimestral reports summarizing visitor use, maintenance activities and safety

Qualifications

• Personnel management and leadership experience relevant to managing a bilingual team of multicultural employees
• Conversational fluency in spoken and written Spanish and English
• Excellent group facilitation and interpersonal, conflict resolution, and intercultural communication skills
• Experience overseeing and undertaking construction and maintenance activities
• Ability to troubleshoot and fix plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and other facilities issues
• Considerable experience in coordinating complicated logistics and managing risk in a field setting, specifically in marine and desert environments
• WFR certification or higher (or willingness to attain WFR quickly upon hire) and risk management experience
• Valid driver’s license and experience driving in remote settings (boating experience is a plus)
• Ability to live on site at the field station and be available for irregular working hours
• Ability to be self-directed/motivated as well as work as a team member
• Willingness to pitch in as needed to create a functional and positive field station atmosphere
• Alignment with mission of field station and ability to represent the Center in a wide variety of cultural and institutional contexts
• Curiosity to explore and enjoy the Gulf of California, the Sonoran desert, its communities, and cultures.
• Ability to be legally employed in the United States or Mexico.

Compensation includes housing, salary, benefits (according to Mexican or U.S. standards depending on citizenship) and some travel expenses. Please direct inquiries and applications to Gregory Smart (gsmart@prescott.edu) and Lorayne Meltzer (lmeltzer@prescott.edu) with the subject “ADO applicant”. To apply please send a resume, contact information for 3 references, and a cover letter addressing your interest in the position and your relevant experience and skills. Applications received before July 31st, 2022 will be given priority. Zoom interviews will be conducted in August and finalists will be invited for a site visit in September 2022.