Eric O'Brien Email & Phone Number

Cedar Falls, Ia, Us

Davis, California, United States

Serve as a leader in the UC Systemwide Sustainability Committee, Campus Advisory Committee on Sustainability (CACS) and similar university-wide committees at the Davis and Sacramento campuses. Lead UC Davis on all matters related to Sustainable Practices Policy. Monitor and analyze government issues, current and emerging regulatory and practice trends, and issues related to sustainability and resiliency that impact UC Davis in order to protect the interests of the campus and provide policy and political advice and strategies to senior campus leaders and the UC Office of the President. Responsible for Climate Action and Resiliency Plans. Strategize, provide vision for, and manage sustainability policy requirements and sustainable systems planning for all UC Davis facilities and sustainability initiatives like Zero Waste. Develop and recommend standards, policies, and ideas to promote sustainability efforts in coordination with senior management; identify desirable sustainability initiatives and assess their cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance within the University community; analyze and report the effectiveness and results of sustainability projects. Identify and pursue grant funding, rebate programs, or other revenue generating and savings programs. Strategize and coordinate with relevant campus units and staff on pertinent policy and regulatory compliance. Direct staff and consultants on projects in Davis, Sacramento, and outlying facilities. Prepare greenhouse gas inventories and other the sections related to sustainability for the UC Davis Long Range Development Plans, Environmental Impact Reports, and the Physical Design Frameworks.

Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States

Provide expert guidance to colleges and universities in developing, implementing, and enhancing sustainability programs and initiatives. Key responsibilities include conducting sustainability assessments, developing strategic plans, and recommending policies to foster environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States

Serve as organizational chief sustainability officer. Additional roles in this position include serving as a center director for the Recycling, Reuse, Technology Transfer Center. This position is responsible for serving as the key facilitator and organizational strategist to lead UNI in setting campus wide directions, facilitating dialogue and advancing the campus culture of sustainability.Key duties in this role include:• Coordinate university Environmental, Social, Governance reporting • Prepared business plans for sustainability initiatives, relating them to intuitional values and strategic plan• Direct unit sustainability strategic plan creation and implementation• Serve in coordinating role for university environmental compliance reporting• Work alongside trades staff to identify opportunities for improved operational efficiency• Public presentations ranging from local to national audiences• Oversee implementation of operational and process improvements• Re-envision, propose, and implement reorganization strategy for sustainability governance• Build collaborative, diverse, and focused implementation teams• Collaborate with other units to meet organizational goals • Report on key performance metrics to university community and State of Iowa, Board of Regents• Advise student government sustainability committee and serve as student green fund steward• Organize public events• Direct outreach center focused on environmental education and business consulting• Responsible for building culture of partnership toward sustainability within assorted departments • Organize efforts on community and business greenhouse gas inventory and climate action planning projects

Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Supervised as the primary point of contact and decision maker for all state organized water quality efforts for the state of Iowa. These efforts included ambient surface and groundwater, as well as stormwater monitoring initiatives. Key duties in this role include:• Supervisory responsibilities over a diverse staff represented by multiple bargaining units• Fiscal responsibility for multi-million dollar budgets comprised of state, federal, and grant funds• Building a professional and collaborative team spirit within a statewide staff• Serve as member of DNR process improvement team• Advise senior administrators on policy decisions• Responsibility for federal, state and private grants • Organize annual statewide conference• Responsible for turning a multi-million dollar budget shortfall into a surplus through creative partnerships and solutions• Serve as invited speaker at state/local, national, and international conferences and seminars

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Served as senior environmental professional, specializing in water quality and lead scientist for the statewide ambient surface and groundwater monitoring networks for the state of Iowa. This included efforts ranging from targeted research on water quality to mentoring of staff and competing fiscal priorities.Key duties in this role include:• Fiscal responsibility for state, federal, and grant funds• Building a professional and collaborative team spirit within a statewide staff• Coaching and mentoring of junior staff• Experience in distilling complex information into easy to understand formats• Participation as topical expert on weekly statewide radio and media interviews• Participate in annual statewide conference• Proposed creation of certified water quality laboratory to conduct analysis on time sensitive water samples• Manage DNR's wastewater laboratory, including a team of up to eight staff• Oversee time sensitive routine and follow up sample collection and analysis• Serve as media contact person for beach closures and other environmental concerns

Iowa City, Ia

Served as a research scientist for the University of Iowa, contracted by the Iowa DNR. Conducted research on water quality aligned with Iowa DNR priorities • Manage targeted water quality monitoring projects in impaired watersheds throughout Iowa• Coordinate, speak at, and engage with community members at local public meetings• Provide customer service by responding to citizen inquiries• Serve as Iowa representative on multi-state partnership with EPA Region 5 universities• Responsible for weekly water quality data release on state managed swimming beaches

Master Of Science - Ms, Environmental Programs

Activities and Societies: Sigma Xi, Iowa Academy of Science, Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Environmental Biology

Activities and Societies: Sigma Xi, Resident Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Student Senate

Pre-Veterinary Studies