Lab Assistant Jobs

Position Number: 40070244/TBD

Payroll Title: LAB AST 2 (009603)

Job Code: 009603

Job Open Date: 7/31/26

Application Review Begins: 8/17/26

Department Code (Name): CBER (CTR BIO&ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION)

Percentage of Time: 100

Union Code (Name): TX-Technical Professionals

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: STEPS

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $27.10 to $28.29/hour. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University.

Work Location: Harder Stadium - 578

Working Days and Hours: M-F, 8:30AM - 5PM; occasional weekends

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: N/A

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:
The Vernon and Mary Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration is a center under the Office of Research. The Cheadle Center fulfills the University's mission of education, research, and outreach through its stewardship and restoration of campus lands, and preservation and management of natural history collections.

The Cheadle Center promotes teaching diverse undergraduate courses in EEMB, Environmental Studies, and Geology. It supports faculty, staff, and student research interests by providing field and lab-based resources. In addition, the Cheadle Center houses regionally focused collections of terrestrial plants, algae, and vertebrates, as well as an extensive plant anatomy collection. The Center satisfies the University's obligation to provide stewardship of campus lands, rich in biodiversity. Through the ecological restoration program, the Center encourages land restoration on and near campus. The Kids in Nature outreach program fulfills K-12 educational goals, while staff and faculty curators provide scientific information and advise to private entities.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under supervision by the Staff Research Associate II (Project Manager), and LAIII (Restoration Coordinator), the Restoration Ecology Assistant will implement the routine aspects for the implementation of the North Campus Open Space Project, and other CCBER natural areas as needed. Responsibilities include training student workers, interns and volunteers, assisting with plant propagation at the restoration nursery and greenhouse, participation in site preparation, exotic weed control, planting, and other duties related to monitoring and education/outreach. All tasks are regularly reviewed for quality and completeness.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 1-3 years of similar work experience
• Ability to identify native and non-native plants, lead student workers, interns and volunteers, assist with plant propagation at the restoration nursery and greenhouse, conduct preparation, exotic weed control, planting, and other duties related to monitoring and education/outreach.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-3 years Work Experience

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 70% Site Duties - Implement routine duties associated with the restoration and maintenance of the project site(s) including but not limited to weed eradication, planting, irrigation, and erosion control under the general supervision of senior staff.
• 15% Greenhouse Duties - Assists with native plant propagation efforts at the restoration nursery and greenhouse including seed collection, seedling germination, transplanting, organization, and general greenhouse maintenance under the supervision of senior staff.
• 10% Monitoring - Assists with aspects of the monitoring program for the restoration site including routine data collection, and data entry under supervision of senior staff. May implement rare plant or small project monitoring under general supervision.
• 5% Education/O utreach - Participates in educational responsibilities, and supports CCBER's mission of environmental outreach aimed at the campus community, and the general public.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.