Vacancy Announcement: Director/State Geologist, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY

 

DIRECTOR / STATE GEOLOGIST

 The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is seeking a new director and state geologist. The director must develop and articulate a forward-thinking vision of bureau programs in applied research and service and embrace a collegial leadership style. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is a research and service division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). Situated in Socorro, NM on the campus of New Mexico Tech, the bureau has served as the state geological survey for 85 years. With close to 60 employees, the organization has a long-standing reputation for excellence in research, service, and outreach. Our mission includes basic research on the geologic framework of the state, with an emphasis on applied geosciences and the state’s geologic resources. We are also tasked with the gathering, preservation, and dissemination of geologic information to the professional geoscience community, state and federal agencies, and the general public. The bureau embraces a strong academic role and supports the university through teaching courses, advising students, and operating world-class analytical laboratories. Also, as a division of the university, the bureau works in collaboration with the other divisions of the university. The position reports directly to the president of the university. Anticipated appointment date is July 1, 2015. Salary: Negotiable.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sustain and enhance the environment for creative research and service at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology in order to meet the mission of the bureau and the needs of the state of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, and the geoscience community in New Mexico. Provide administrative and scientific leadership in natural resource (energy, water, and minerals) and environmental issues; geosciences data collection and analysis; basic and applied research in the geosciences; and public access to, dissemination of, and archival collection of research results and natural resource data using current and innovative technologies.

• Manage the administrative, personnel, and financial affairs of the bureau. This includes direct supervision of a significant portion of the professional staff, and being proactive in seeking additional non-bureau or external funding to support both new and ongoing programs of the bureau. The director will be responsible for setting funding priorities and establishing strategies to capture current and future geoscience funding opportunities.

• Establish policies that maintain a balance between the broad goals of research and service, while working with state government and university leadership to address the diverse funding needs of the bureau. This includes interacting with staff in the development and review of programs and personnel to insure that the bureau fulfills its broad goals. Both planning and implementation must be consistent with the needs of the state of New Mexico and sensitive to the state’s public policy issues.

• Foster collaborations and positive working relationships with academic departments and divisions of the university, the state legislature, local government, state and federal agencies, the private sector, and the public. Provide leadership and advice for other government bodies regarding resource and environmental policy, and the economic development and management of natural resources.

• Promote and maintain a positive public image for the bureau in both state and national discussions regarding natural resource and earth science issues.

• Maintain an awareness of new and important developments in geosciences research and relevant technologies to anticipate the directions of geosciences research and applications, integrating this knowledge with an understanding of the specific needs of the state and incorporating it into long-term planning.

• As State Geologist, collaborate with other State Geologists in the development of national earth science policies, programs and related issues. The director or an allowed designee serves on various state advisory boards, including the New Mexico Mining Commission, the Water Quality Control Commission, and the Coal Surface Mining Commission.

• Promote dissemination of new geosciences research on New Mexico through peer-reviewed journals, bureau publications and support the growth of the bureau analytical facilities.

• Maintain avenues for outreach through programs that are targeted at a non-technical audience, including the general public and K-12 educators.

• Communicate regularly with bureau staff about budgetary, scientific, and professional issues, including their impact on strategic planning, and maintain an open communication with bureau managers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree and at least fifteen years of professional experience in the geosciences.

• A minimum of ten years of management experience, which must include budgeting, supervision, personnel evaluation, and program development.

• National recognition in a field of geosciences research or management, as demonstrated record of written communication (i.e. peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, proposals), professional service, and scientific leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to work within a university setting with a wide constituency, including division staff, academic faculty, administration, the public, government officials, and the private sector.

• A successful record of obtaining external financial support for research programs through a competitive and merit-based process.

• Ability and experience in dealing effectively with public policy issues, and knowledge of natural resources and environmental issues associated with them.

• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication to both scientific and public audiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A doctorate in geosciences.

• A notable diversity of both background and experience.

• Service on state, national, and/or international committees and professional associations.

• Knowledge of geology of New Mexico and/or the American Southwest, including an understanding of regional natural resource issues and how they relate to economic development.

• Experience interacting with state and federal agencies and funding institutions.

• Ability and experience dealing effectively with public policy issues in a way that demonstrates a balanced approach toward industry and environmental concerns.

• Experience with outreach programs that are specifically targeted at communicating technical geosciences data to the public at large.

To Apply:

Applicants should submit a resume with supporting materials (including a signed cover application and references) to: Human Resources, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 (no e-mail applications).

For full consideration, application materials must be received by March 1, 2015.

For more information about the application process, please contact JoAnn Salome in Human Resources at 575-835-5955 (JSalome@admin.nmt.edu). For more information about the position itself, please contact Warren Ostergren, Search Committee Chair, at 575-835-5363 (warreno@nmt.edu).

Marjorie Gale named Vermont State Geologist

Marjorie Gale will become the next State Geologist of Vermont beginning Dec 29, 2014. 

She has worked as a geologist at the Vermont Geological Survey since in 1996 and her primary responsibility was completion of the 2011 Bedrock Geologic Map of Vermont [right, photo by Brian Pfeiffer], a collaborative project of the Vermont Geological Survey (Agency of Natural Resources), the US Geological Survey and the University of Vermont. The work entailed field mapping of Vermont’s bedrock at various scales, compiling and editing diverse data from more than 100 scientists to create a defensible map, creating cross-sections which show the interpretation of geology at depth, and working with the USGS team to produce the final cartographic product. The bedrock map incorporates 30 years of mapping and highlights the present understanding of Vermont geology. 

Ms. Gale has also worked on statewide groundwater, energy (CO2 sequestration) and ecological studies, and has a broad perspective of geology and natural resources in Vermont.  She received a B.A. in Geology, cum laude, from the University of NH in 1974 and an M.S. in Geology (1980) from the University of Vermont. Her thesis, “Geology of the Belvidere Mountain Complex, Eden and Lowell, Vermont”, involved bedrock mapping, structure, metamorphic petrology and geochemistry.  Experience prior to joining the VGS includes SEM and XRD applied to core analyses, and education. She has been an effective collaborator with state and national partners. Her experience extends beyond science to the organizational processes and communications and over the years she has been active in providing research and information to support the myriad of services and science-based advice provided by the Vermont Geological Survey.

Oregon State Geologist Vicki McConnell appointed Executive Director of Geological Society of America

The Geological Society of America announced that Vicki S. McConnell will become its new Executive Director, effective 1 April 2015.  Former GSA President Judy Totman Parrish will serve as Interim Executive Director from 3 January through 31 March 2015.  [Photo credit, GSA]

Vicki is presently the State Geologist of Oregon and Executive Director of the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, appointments by the Governor that she has held for the past decade.  She was President of the Association of American State Geologists in 2011-2012.  Under her direction, Oregon has been a leader in earthquake-risk reduction in schools and emergency facilities, tsunami-hazard mitigations and preparedness, and acquisition of LIDAR for applications in land-use planning, ecosystem restoration, and geologic and hazard mapping.

Vicki received her Ph.D. in geology/volcanology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1995.  She has also been a Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an Adjunct Professor of Geology at Eastern Oregon University.   Her scholarly work has focused on understanding volcanic eruptive histories and their impact on magma-generated hydrothermal systems.  She applies geologic field mapping and geochemical research to volcanic hazards and renewable geothermal energy systems.

She is a GSA fellow, and was chair of the local planning committee for the 2009 GSA Annual Meeting in Portland.  She is also a member of the American Geophysical Union, Association for Women Geoscientists, National Center for Science Education, Association of American State Geologists, and American Institute of Professional Geologists.  She has served on numerous boards and councils, including the USGS Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee, and the Federal Advisory Committees for the National Cooperative Geology Map Program and the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program.

[taken in part from the GSA news announcement]