Academic Coordinator III

The Academic Coordinator III provides collaborative leadership, consultation, strategic planning, facilitation, and high-level project management to advance VISTA's institute-scale priorities as it relates to the Farms-Food-Future (F3) Initiative and to implement a digital strategy for UC Merced facilities and activities that support the F3 mission and that connects F3 aligned research activities with data systems and software-enabled workflows supporting research and education-aligned use of facilities such as the Experimental Smart Farm. The position will facilitate the development of a strategic plan and associated succession planning, aligned with broader UC Merced expansion and the long-term pathway toward establishing a future academic school focused on agriculture, sustainability, and management. The incumbent will help position UC Merced as an international leader in agrifood technology

Key responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

I. COORDINATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (85%)

The Academic Coordinator III has primary responsibility for the administration and coordination of the digital strategy, working directly with leadership, faculty, coordinators, specialists, and VISTA F3 staff to develop and implement a multi-year roadmap that strengthens the digital operating environment in support of research and education-aligned facility use.

Key responsibilities include:

* Needs assessment and portfolio evaluation; assess current services, programs, and stakeholder needs using formal and informal evaluation techniques; synthesize findings into actionable recommendations.

* Strategic plan facilitation and drafting support; design and facilitate planning processes (workshops, working groups, governance/committee engagements) that produce a clear plan with priorities, implementation sequencing, and performance expectations.

* Roadmap development and implementation coordination; create and maintain a multi-year digital strategy roadmap with milestones, dependencies, and implementation sequencing across assets such as the AES Greenhouse and Experimental Smart Farm.

* Stakeholder consultation and requirements definition; conduct structured consultation to define practical requirements for facility workflows, sensing/telemetry, data capture, documentation, access, and reporting; ensure

planning and implementation account for the perspectives and potential impacts on key partners (including F3-related partners where applicable), and that stakeholder input is meaningfully incorporated into decisions and execution.

* Growth planning aligned to UC Merced expansion; develop scenario-informed growth pathways that position the agtech ecosystem to scale in alignment with campus expansion and to support the long-term pathway toward a future school focused on agriculture, sustainability, and management.

* Integration and "bridging" strategy; coordinate the design and adoption of bridging approaches that connect facility systems and data flows to workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) used by faculty, students, and partners (e.g., standards, interfaces, governance, and implementation plans), consistent with campus policies and resources.

* Succession and continuity planning: Develop succession plans that strengthen continuity of critical functions (roles, capabilities, SOP maturity, partnership stewardship, and operational coverage), with attention to sustainability through personnel transitions.

* Pilot portfolio and prioritization; establish prioritization process for digital improvements and pilots; coordinate implementation planning, tracking, and post-implementation evaluation.

* Operational standards and documentation; support development and continuous improvement of SOPs relevant to digital operations (e.g., asset inventories, calibration/QA practices, continuity planning, change control documentation).

* Reporting and accountability; provide periodic status reporting to VISTA F3 & AES leadership (progress, risks, decisions needed, and recommended actions).

II. CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAM LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION (15%)

The ACIII has responsibility to engage the broader implementation team.

Key responsibilities include:

* Provides collaborative leadership and consultation and develops solutions with senior leadership and/or their staff to address issues and implement improvements aligned with strategic goals.

* Serves as an advocate for strategic partnerships internally and externally.

* Participates in consultative engagement with the Faculty Director, Senior Program Manager, and staff responsible for implementation, not limited to technology resources, personnel, and finance as warranted.

* Assesses program effectiveness and recommends updates to content, policies, and procedures to ensure funded activities remain aligned with strategic direction; participates in SOP development, dissemination, and continuous improvement.

* Performs other duties as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

* Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in program administration, research enterprise support, strategic planning, complex partnership environments, and/or comparable program leadership roles demonstrating increasing scope and autonomy.

* Evidence of academic scholarship, such as peer-reviewed publications, authored proceedings, presented papers at professional or academic venues, or comparable documented scholarly contributions.

* Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate complex, multi-stakeholder planning and implementation efforts with diplomacy, clarity, and accountability.

* Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects (scope, timeline, risk/issue management, documentation, and executive-ready reporting).

* Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to tailor communication to campus, regional, and international constituencies.

* Experience supporting or administering research infrastructure, facilities operations enablement, sensing/data systems governance, and/or digital strategy in an applied research environment.

* Experience with resource/agricultural economics, technology commercialization/translation environments, and/or policy engagement relevant to agriculture and sustainability.

* Demonstrated experience building and sustaining strategic partnerships with industry, agencies, community organizations, and/or inter-institutional networks.

* Experience developing SOPs, evaluation frameworks, and performance metrics for complex programs; comfort operating in matrixed organizations.

• 3 required (contact information only)

Please list three names of potential references and contact information.

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 applicant's 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.

Required Authorization of Information Release may be found here. Please complete, sign, and upload the required Authorization of Information Release to your application.

Candidates must possess valid authorization to work in the United States. UC Merced is not currently able to sponsor individuals residing outside the United States who would require a new H-1B visa for employment. Applicants who do not hold valid U.S. work authorization are presently ineligible for this position.

Additional links: UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy, the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy, and APM 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses. Ranked as one of the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and recently designated as an R1 institution by Carnegie, UC Merced is committed to innovation and excellence in research. With over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students (https://cie.ucmerced.edu/analytics-hub/student-statistics), UC Merced provides outstanding, inclusive educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the heart of California, the nation, and abroad. The campus has special connections to nearby Yosemite National Park; is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design; and supports the economic development of Central California.

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 status under state or federal law.

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. This includes the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs.