ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Working Lands Conservation is a small, rapidly growing, research-based non-profit located in Logan, UT. Our goal is to bring science to collaborative partnerships working to improve land management, while supporting communities and livelihoods. We strongly believe that partnerships of diverse stakeholders lead to innovative management ideas, and that producers are the foundational stewards of working landscapes. We work closely with producers, state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and university researchers to fulfill our mission, share ideas, and inspire innovative management.  We expect to expand our full-time research staff rapidly in the coming years and are looking for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment. We currently have projects across the West including in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and the Navajo Nation examining the effects of livestock grazing, riparian restoration, and other land management practices on soil health, plant production, wildlife habitat, and water quality among other ecosystem services. We are looking for a team member who will take charge of the laboratory work, and at times join sampling trips, associated with these various projects.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are looking for a B.S. or M.S. level Laboratory Manager to bring their skills to our growing team. The Laboratory Manager will mostly work with Working Lands Conservation’s Soil Science Program Director – Dr. Megan Nasto – to set up our new state-of-the-art ecosystem service laboratory, and primarily carry out the physical and chemical processing of soil samples as well as their analysis on various instruments. There will also be opportunities for the Lab Manager to accompany staff on soil collection trips across the West.  Other responsibilities will include working with Working Lands Conservation’s Postdoctoral Research Associate – Dr. Kendall Beals – and Project Manager – Elana Feldman – on soil-focused projects, plus processing and analysis of plant biomass and water samples. As such, the Laboratory Manager will work with the broader Working Lands Conservation team and gain laboratory experience that transcends any one subfield of ecology.  
Applications will be accepted and interviews will be scheduled until the position is filled. First review of applications will occur February 1st, 2025.

Primary Responsibilities

• Help set up our ecosystem service laboratory;
• Coordinate and execute the physical and chemical processing of soil samples for bulk density, total, labile, and size-fractioned soil organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen and net nitrogen availability, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and other metrics of soil health;
• Run and maintain laboratory instruments including but not limited to an elemental analyzer, mid-infrared reflectance spectrometer, and a microplate reader;
• Work within a laboratory safely abiding by all protocols regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the handling of hazardous materials;
• Keep detailed laboratory notes, neat and orderly laboratory data sheets, and up-to-date inventories;
• Keep the laboratory clean and organized on a daily basis;
• Travel as needed for field sampling campaigns;
• Other duties that are reasonable and consistent with this position.

The Ideal Candidate

You have superb interpersonal and communication skills, and are excited to be part of a small, growing team of scientists and scientific communicators. You are flexible, and can employ your problem solving skills so that the challenges of a young organization (e.g., new projects) are exciting to you. You find joy in analyzing all types of ecological field samples (soil, plant, water), and are willing to share your expertise and enthusiasm with the technicians you will be working with on various projects. You possess the ability to organize a laboratory that will be processing samples from multiple ongoing projects. You are dedicated to contributing and fostering a workplace that centers on teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and mutual respect. The ideal candidate will be a person of high energy, integrity, organization, humor, enthusiasm, and optimism.

Specific Experience Requested:
We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position, lending your flair to the trajectory of the Laboratory Manager role. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool, and will be looking for candidates who possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following qualifications and experience:

• Education and / or training in the fields of soil science, biogeochemistry, and / or ecology;
• Laboratory-based wet chemistry;
• Laboratory-based instrumentation;
• Field-based soil sampling;
• Field-based ecological sampling that includes away-from-home travel for 1 – 3 weeks at a time.

Compensation

Working Lands Conservation and Multiplier provides a comprehensive compensation package, including competitive salary ($52,500), excellent medical and dental benefits, retirement savings, and generous vacation and sick leave policy.

About Multiplier

Multiplier accelerates impact for innovative projects focused on protecting and fostering a healthy, sustainable, resilient and equitable world. At Multiplier, program teams can turn game-changing ideas into planet-saving impact, and they can do it faster and better than they otherwise could.

Multiplier celebrates diversity and is committed to building teams and partnerships that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Multiplier is also committed to providing an environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. Multiplier prohibits discrimination in its governance, programs, and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from public assistance, or for any other factor that is not based on merit.