Kevin Browne
Univ of CA - Natural Reserve System Information Manager
CA
Department: Biology Department – Natural Reserves
Work Location: UC James Reserve – Idyllwild
Working Title: Information Systems Manager
The University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS)
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
Maintain and improve software and data management systems for NRS reserves. The NRS Information Manager will be in close contact with the individual reserves as well as the NRS system-wide office through site visits. The employee will maintain, design, prototype, and implement data management solutions for the UC NRS. Principal duties of the position will include: coordination with the NRS Information Management Committee to prioritize tasks and implement guiding principles and concepts for NRS data, developing software and database tools for internet-based data accessibility among sites, and developing specifications for the hardware infrastructure necessary for long term maintenance of these facilities. This individual will work closely with NRS reserve’s staff, and the NRS IMC to meet NRS needs, and will adopt and leverage solutions from existing ecological informatics developments occurring at NCEAS, OBFS, LTER and elsewhere when appropriate.
DUTIES
Under direction, develop and maintain a network-wide web site for UC NRS field sites, and coordinate communication and networking among sites by maintaining email list services, personnel databases, reserve application databases, a cross-site data catalog, and other useful information resources.
Under direction, design, implement, and test internet-accessible data management solutions for use by scientists in the UC NRS, utilizing existing solutions from NCEAS and LTER where appropriate.
In conjunction with NRS reserve site directors, create guidelines and concepts regarding data management policies for NRS field sites, and develop consensus from individual sites regarding these policies Develop documentation and training materials for use at NRS field sites, and train scientists and data managers at field sites in the use of data management systems.
Travel to NRS field sites to install software solutions, consult on site-specific data management problems, and assess the state of current information management solutions used at field sites. This consultation includes assisting field site managers to develop proposals and install networking hardware to support improvements in hardware and software infrastructure at NRS field sites as well as consulting with field site managers and scientists regarding effective methods for compiling, managing, and processing data for inclusion in cross-site data management facilities.