Montana Mesonet Field Manager, Montana Climate Office

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

The Montana Climate Office within the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation and at the University of Montana is seeking applications for an Applied Meteorologist/Mesonet Field Manager position. The Mesonet Field Manager (MFM) will oversee the installation and maintenance of climate monitoring stations (Montana Mesonet) across the state. The MFM will lead three Mesonet field crews: three full-time technicians and six seasonal employees in the construction and maintenance of the Montana Mesonet and ensure high-quality performance and operation of all stations. The Montana Mesonet is being developed through a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) award to the Montana Climate Office. For more details of the USACE project, please view the Upper Missouri River Basin Factsheet .

The Mesonet Field Manager fulfills the following roles and responsibilities to assure effective development of the MT Mesonet:

• Work with the Mesonet Developer to develop and implement plans and budgets for procurement of equipment and supplies for each year’s work
• Lead three field crews (three full time Mesonet Technicians and six seasonal employees) in the construction and maintenance of the Montana Mesonet:
  • Receive, inventory, test, configure, and organize electronic and hardware components for all stations
  • Install stations at sites designated by each year’s task order from the USACE
  • Perform annual maintenance and inspection at each station following best practices of Mesonet systems
  • Respond year-round as warranted—on-site and/or remotely—to stabilize and/or repair stations that require unscheduled maintenance
  • Maintain all records of installation, operations, and maintenance required and necessary to assure long-term performance and continuity of the MT Mesonet System
• Assist with the development of station reports identifying make, model, serial numbers of sensors installed at each location and verification of data transmission and station “up-time”
• Advise the Mesonet team on potential improvements to installation, operation, and maintenance practices
• Meet all administrative and reporting requirements of the University of Montana necessary to fulfill roles and responsibilities for this position
• Serve as public representative for the Mesonet within the broader mission of the MCO
• Conceive of, plan, and implement extension activities, collaborating with the MCO Director of Climate Extension and MCO partners, to educate Mesonet partners and the public in applications of climate data

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details

• Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• Salary for this position is $65,000 - $75,000 per year, commensurate with experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Master’s of Science degree in a related environmental science discipline and three (3) years of experience with, and advanced knowledge of, climate monitoring technology, deployment, and operations, or similar electrical monitoring systems or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Demonstrated success in logistical coordination of multiple field and/or construction crews.
• Skills in troubleshooting and maintenance to correct and/or repair instrument malfunctions in remote field conditions
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills – the ability to “lead by example”.
• Written and verbal skills required to effectively document, explain, and describe the operation of the Mesonet, the general application of hydro-meteorological data, and the mission of the MCO in lay and technical terms
• Demonstrate strong organization and interpersonal skills, and ability to self-manage while maintaining regular communication with supervisors and supervisees

• Demonstrated competencies in configuring, deploying, operating, and maintaining climate monitoring systems including Campbell Scientific environmental monitoring technology, or similar electrical monitoring systems

• Ability to perform field work at Mesonet sites (e.g., replacing broken sensors, lifting heavy objects and digging soils pits).
• Capacity and willingness to perform field work year-round under extreme environmental conditions.

• Ability to work collaboratively within MCO’s team-oriented environment and foster a positive, supportive and fun work environment with all team members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of prior experience in the installation, operation, and maintenance of climate monitoring systems or similar electrical monitoring systems in remote environments.
• Familiarity with environmental database management.

About UM and the Montana Climate Office

The University of Montana is flagship, research-intensive R1 institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

The Montana Climate Office is an independent state-designated body that provides Montanans with high-quality, timely, relevant, and scientifically based climate information and services. The newly established Montana Climate Office sits at the nexus of two of America’s great river basins, the Columbia and the Missouri, which encompass almost one-third of the land mass of the conterminous United States. No other provider of climate information has within their mission the goal of assimilating, organizing, and disseminating climate information across providers for the benefit of a large and diverse stakeholder community in Montana. The Montana Climate Office led an effort that resulted in the State of Montana recently recognizing the Montana Climate Office as the official steward of climate information for Montana and Montana is the first state in the nation to officially recognize climate information as having statewide significance to a broad variety of users within Montana and the Nation.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment. In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference. Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. E mployment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).Must be eligible to work in the United State upon hire.

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, March 12, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration.

To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials. Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

A complete application Includes:

1. A letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the job, anticipated contributions, and your experience working in diverse teams or groups (2 page maximum).
2. Your curriculum vitae.
3. Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references.

*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.

**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular