Call for Nominations & Applications: Faculty Director, UC San Diego Natural Reserve System

The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) invites nominations and applications for the position of Faculty Director of the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System (NRS). UC San Diego Academic Senate members are eligible to serve in this role, with preference for Associate and Full Professors.

About the Role
The Faculty Director serves as the primary faculty leader with oversight of UC San Diego's four Natural Reserves:

Scripps Coastal Reserve
Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve
Elliott Chaparral Reserve
Dawson-Los Monos Canyon Reserve

The faculty director partners with UC San Diego’s NRS Executive Director to promote the research, teaching, and stewardship of the reserves. The faculty director will act as the university's principal advocate for field-based research and education, and serve as UC San Diego's official representative to the UC Nature University-wide Advisory Committee.

Key Responsibilities

Setting the strategic vision for UC San Diego's reserves in collaboration with NRS staff and campus stakeholders
Representing the NRS with regional partners, including the City, County, Military, State Agencies, Tribal governments, public interest groups, and donors
Supporting financial sustainability through fundraising and partnerships
Supervising the Executive Director of the UC San Diego NRS
Serving as an ex officio member of the NRS Community Advisory Committees
Attending three UC Nature Advisory Committee meetings annually (two in-person, one virtual)

This position reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, and works closely with the Executive Director and NRS staff, as well as faculty directors for each of the four UC San Diego Natural Reserves.

Terms & Compensation

Appointment: 3-year term, renewable, beginning September 1, 2026
Stipend: $10,000 annual administrative stipend provided by ORI

Qualifications

Must be a UC San Diego Academic Senate faculty member
Demonstrated experience utilizing the UC San Diego NRS for research or instruction is preferred
Strong record of field-based scholarship in environmental management, science, arts, or policy

Nominations are due by June 22, 2026 via email to vcresearch@ucsd.edu.

Full applications are due July 17, 2026.

The following application materials must be submitted to vcresearch@ucsd.edu:

A current CV
A cover letter outlining your vision for the UC San Diego NRS and your relevant leadership experience
The Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation will select the successful candidate in consultation with a search committee comprised of NRS stakeholders.

For questions, please contact the Office of Research and Innovation at vcresearch@ucsd.edu.

Corinne Peek-Asa
Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093