Fisheries Collaborative Program Specialist Pool
Position overview
Position title: FCP Specialists (Junior, Assistant, Associate and Specialist ranks)
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience (see section
D. Qualifications of the CAPM 602.230 Specialist Series The posted UCSC Salary Scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the scale titled, *Represented Specialist Series Fiscal Year. * A reasonable estimate for a full-time position is $55,000 - $194,800.
Percent time: Full-time (100%), but in some cases may be less than full-time based on the unit's research need and/or availability of funding.
Anticipated start: Appointments are contingent on the hiring units need and the availability of funding. This recruitment is valid for initial appointments to the Specialist title series made from
February 2026 through February 2027. Initial appointments with effective dates outside of this recruitment period will require an alternative open recruitment.
Position duration: Initial appointments are typically for a period of one year, but in some cases may be for a shorter period of time based on the unit's research need and/or availability of funding. Reappointment may be considered contingent upon the availability of work and appropriate funding.
Application Window
Open date: December 18, 2025
Most recent review date: Monday, Feb 9, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Friday, Dec 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position Description
The Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) in the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an ongoing pool of specialists who may be appointed to support research on the conservation and management of California's living marine resources in one or more of the following areas:
- Salmon ecology (including biophysical ecology, modeling, acoustic telemetry, and landscape and seascape ecology)
- Fisheries assessment (including habitat and groundfish ecology and assessment modeling)
- Molecular ecology and genetic analysis
- Ecosystem forecasting
- Salmon life history
- Climate and ecosystems
- CoastWatch / PolarWatch
- Fisheries resources (including advanced survey technologies, oceanography, and coastal pelagic and highly migratory marine species)
The FCP fosters research collaborations between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists, UCSC faculty, IMS researchers, and students. The research activities of the FCP include field studies, laboratory experiments, modeling, and computational studies involving marine and freshwater species and habitats. Comprehensive studies are being conducted on the ecology and life history of Pacific salmonids and other fishes. FCP research supports the conservation of coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of fisheries resources.
Under the direction of an assigned UCSC IMS academic supervisor and NOAA Science Advisor(s), the FCP specialists will use their expertise to contribute to various field and laboratory research projects; analyze datasets; and, contribute to presentations, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
Applicants with expertise in any of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: population modeling, analysis of animal movement, tagging and tracking of aquatic species, species interactions, habitat analysis, predator-prey relationships, impacts of climate on marine organisms, computer programming (e.g., MATLAB, R, etc.), database management, and/or statistical analysis.
The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.
Fisheries Collaborative Program: https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/
Institute of Marine Sciences: https://ims.ucsc.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at the time the application is submitted)
REQUIRED RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
- Experience contributing to field or laboratory studies in the areas of fisheries biology, natural resource management, marine science, zoology or other related field.
MINIUM DEGREE/PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
- Degree requirement for the Junior Specialist rank: Baccalaureate degree (or foreign equivalent degree) in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field.
- Degree requirement for the Assistant Specialist rank: Masters degree or a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of two years of post-baccalaureate research experience. Degree must be in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Foreign equivalent degrees will be considered.
- Degree requirement for the Associate Specialist rank: Masters degree or a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of six years of post-baccalaureate research experience relevant. Degree must be in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Foreign equivalent degrees will be considered.
- Degree requirement for the Specialist rank: Must possess a doctoral degree or baccalaureate degree and ten or more years of post-baccalaureate research experience. Degree must be in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Foreign equivalent degrees will be considered.
Your application must demonstrate (e.g., in your C.V. or cover letter) that you meet all of the basic qualifications when you submit your application. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position.
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Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02018
Help contact: [email protected]
About UC Santa Cruz
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicants previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at
[email protected] or (831) 459-4602.
Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.
UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.
The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
VISIT UC Santa Cruz
Job location
Santa Cruz, California
To apply, visit https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02018
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