.Director – Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz, CaliforniaSummary of Position The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the next Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center (SMDC). SMDC, whose mission is to educate "people about the role scientific research plays in the understanding and conservation of the world's oceans," serves as the public outreach arm of UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) and a bridge between UCSC and the surrounding community.SMDC is experiencing a moment of renewal after a period of internal analysis. As part of that analysis, SMDC underwent an in-depth organizational assessment that identified SMDC's strengths and central challenges; the resulting recommendations position SMDC for future growth and change.The next SMDC Director will build upon the organization's significant strengths while providing a new vision for the future that will grow and deepen visitor engagement, strengthen ties to UCSC administration and students, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.About SMDC SMDC serves as the outreach and public education component of IMS at UCSC. SMDC is charged with educating people of all ages about marine science research and ocean conservation. Its overarching goal is to instill in its visitors a deep and lasting appreciation of the role research plays in understanding and protecting the world's oceans and coasts.SMDC consists of a 17,500-square-foot facility with additional outdoor features on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean located on the UCSC Coastal Campus. Its exhibits focus on research conducted by scientists at UCSC. In FY19, the Seymour Center had approximately 65,000 visitors, including nearly 9,000 students, teachers, and adult chaperones from transitional kindergarten through community college participating in educational programs grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards. In FY19, the center's operating budget was $1.4 million with a staff of almost 20 FTEs and 250 active volunteers.About Santa Cruz and UCSC UCSC is located in Santa Cruz County at the north end of Monterey Bay on the Central California Coast, approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco, 32 miles east of San Jose, and 35 miles north of Monterey. Santa Cruz County has a population of more than 260,000 and is known for its moderate climate and natural environment, including its coastline with 29 miles of beaches, surrounding mountains, and redwood forests.UCSC is committed to serving a student body and hiring faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of the State of California; responding to the needsof a diverse society; and to maintaining principles of equity and inclusion. UCSC has earned national distinction as a university with high-impact research and a commitment to teaching and public service. The campus has world-class facilities and one of the most visually spectacular settings in higher education
