Love nature? Then you’re going to love The Nat.    

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) was founded by amateur naturalists in 1874 and has played a major role in the conservation of our region. The Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and completed a strategic plan focused on encouraging a love for nature, levering science and collections for conservation, and using our own voice to be here for nature.

The Research Associate & GIS Specialist will be responsible for collecting and analyzing GIS data, producing project maps and reports, conducting literature reviews, and supporting community outreach and events related to dune and canyon Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for coastal resilience. 

Your Day-to-Day Work:

Collecting and Analyzing GIS Data (25%)

• Compile, clean, and manage geospatial datasets related to coastal dunes and canyon systems to support project tracking and ensure alignment with acreage and mileage goals.
• Conduct spatial analyses to quantify and map priority restoration areas, ensuring plans meet defined habitat extent and resilience targets. 
• Pull and synthesize rare, threatened, and endangered species occurrence data to inform site-specific plans and restoration design.
• Integrate biodiversity specimen records and habitat data from the San Diego Natural History Museum with current land-use and climate risk datasets to support data-driven NbS planning and reporting.
• Support GIS data collection and spatial analysis for other conservation planning projects as needed.

Project Mapping and Reporting (30%)

• Develop high-quality maps and graphics illustrating proposed restoration areas for site-specific plans, a countywide plan, and NbS capacity building materials.
• Produce spatial summaries and visualizations for meetings and working groups, supporting decision-making and coordination among a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Create map products tailored for community workshops, trainings, and field visits that emphasize public accessibility and equity-centered engagement.
• Support preparation of grant reports, project deliverables, and public-facing materials documenting project progress and outcomes.

Conducting Literature Reviews (20%)

• Review scientific literature on coastal dunes, canyons, and climate adaptation to inform project design and recommendations.
• Organize, manage, and continuously update a centralized reference and research database (peer-reviewed and gray literature), ensuring accurate and consistent integration of citations and datasets across project materials.
• Synthesize best practices from regional and statewide natural resource management plans and prepare concise research briefs summarizing key findings.
• Conduct regulatory scans to support alignment with recent local and state policy frameworks related to conservation, restoration, and biodiversity protection. 

Assisting with Community Outreach and Events (25%)

• Support logistics and materials preparation for meetings, community-listening sessions, field visits, trainings, survey distribution, and other activities. 
• Assist in documenting feedback from community members and regional stakeholders, and integrating local knowledge into project development.
• Develop accessible maps and visuals to help community members understand flood and fire risk, habitat loss and fragmentation, and restoration opportunities.
• Coordinate with external partners and internal departments to support intentional engagement of residents from disadvantaged communities. 

Supporting Other Operational Functions as Needed:

• Assist in maintaining an organized, well-functioning shared office environment and digital file systems, including consistent folder naming, version control, and documentation.
• Support other project staff and partners with set up and break down for events.
• Provide other staff with GIS analysis and mapping support, as needed and approved by Supervisor.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong foundation in GIS, geography, environmental science, ecology, climatology, urban planning, natural resource management, or a related field (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
• Advanced proficiency with Esri software, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Spatial Analyst, and Field Maps, to manage file geodatabases and produce publication-quality mapping outputs.
• Experience conducting landscape-scale and parcel-level spatial analyses involving habitat suitability, land use, hydrology, biodiversity, or climate resilience datasets.
• Ability to synthesize and organize scientific literature and technical data into clear maps, reports, and decision-support tools for both technical and community audiences.
• Solutions-oriented mindset with a proven ability to problem-solve and manage workload independently. 
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

Education and Experience:

Required:

• At least two years of college experience
• Expertise with Esri software products 
• Knowledge of San Diego County’s unique biodiversity, socioeconomic factors, and climate risks

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in GIS, geography, environmental science, ecology, climatology, urban planning, natural resource management, or a related field
• Experience conducting fieldwork, including site assessments, ecological monitoring, data collection, and adherence to established field safety protocols 

Pay: $25/hour

Time Commitment: This is a part-time, temporary position with the expectation of working approximately 20hrs/week until June 30th, 2027. 

Employees enjoy free admission into all of Balboa Park’s museums as well as free admission to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Learn more about the Museum’s benefits here.