Director of Extension Fire Program and Assistant/Associate Professor (Extension Specialist)

Director of Extension Fire Program and Assistant/Associate Professor (Extension Specialist)

Oregon State University

Department: Ext Wildland Fire Progm (FOR)

Appointment Type: Professional Faculty

Job Location: Oregon

Recommended Full-Time Salary Range: $94,000-$130,000

Job Summary:

The Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR ) and Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University (OSU ) invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE ), 12-month, combination position as Director of Extension Forest Program & Assistant/Associate Professor: Extension Specialist, reflecting duties in both academic and administrative areas.

The Director of Extension Fire Program position is a part-time (0.50 FTE ) 12-month professional faculty position and the Assistant/Associate Professor position is a part-time (0.50 FTE ), 12-month, tenure/tenure-track academic faculty position with an academic home in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society.

Appointment at the Assistant Professor rank is anticipated; however, appointment at a promoted rank may be considered depending upon the qualifications of the successful candidate.

The position is housed within the Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program (FNR ), within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University.

The Fire Program Director provides leadership of the FNR Extension Fire Program and supervision of Fire Program employees (six Regional Fire Specialists and one Fire Program Manager). The Director guides and supports the Fire Program team in pursuing its mission, vision, goals, and programmatic activities, which are focused on fire resilience, a culture of adaptation, and fire-adapted ecosystems. The team’s mission is to foster fire-adapted communities and resilient landscapes through place-based partnerships, with a focus on equity and environmental justice.

The Director is expected to:

• lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based education and outreach programs that align with the team’s mission.

• supervise and support program faculty and staff, providing guidance on program planning, delivery, and evaluation while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.

• work across Extension, university units, and external partners to identify emerging issues, integrate current fire science into programming, and ensure alignment with stakeholder and community needs.

• build and maintain partnerships with state, tribal, and federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; and other relevant groups to enhance program reach and impact.

• serve as a key representative of the program at state, regional, and national levels, contributing leadership, expertise, and coordination in advancing wildfire policy, preparedness, and resilience efforts.

As an Extension Specialist, this position will have responsibility for Extension and Applied Research/Scholarship. Their work will address wildland fire science issues in forests, rangelands, and other ecosystems in Oregon to support wildfire resilience and foster fire-adapted cultures and ecosystems. They will seek to understand stakeholder needs and assets, and use these insights to develop and deliver tailored educational opportunities, providing technical assistance to support collaborative, landscape-scale wildfire resilience and adaptation efforts. Primary audiences may include natural resource managers, wildland fire managers, Tribal Nations, industry representatives, agency personnel, students, private landowners, and the general public. They will conduct applied research in wildland fire science to support wildfire resilience, a culture of adaptation, and fire-adapted ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, securing external funding and publishing and presenting research results.

This faculty member is required to use modern learning tools, employ and practice engaged scholarship, promote integration of programs across disciplines that are demand-driven and use open source tools that continually align with innovation and shifts in educational program delivery. Active and effective communication with staff and key stakeholders is critical to the success of this position. Oregon State University and the OSU Extension Service are committed to maintaining and enhancing a collaborative and inclusive community that strives for equity and equal opportunity. All employees of Extension are responsible for helping to ensure that these commitments are achieved.

Commitment to inclusive excellence: Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, this individual will support the Fire Team to design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.

An offer of employment does not guarantee Oregon State University’s ability or commitment to sponsor employment authorization within the U.S.

Why OSU?

Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job!

Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

FACTS :

• Top 1.4% university in the world

• More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined

• 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.

• 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties

• 7 https://hr.oregonstate.edu/work-life/diversity-and-cultural-resources that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone

• 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates

• 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color

• 217k+ alumni worldwide

• For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/about

Locations:

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.

Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.

• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.

• Retirement savings paid by the university.

• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.

• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.

• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.

• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Oregon State University is deeply committed to the principles of a Health Promoting University. This commitment drives a collaborative approach across OSU’s safety and well-being programs, reducing silos and coordinating efforts to enhance employee safety and well-being. By prioritizing resources that support the health of both employees and students, OSU fosters a culture of care and a healthier campus environment where everyone can thrive.

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Future and current OSU employees can use the https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU .

Key Responsibilities

This faculty member embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed. This individual ensures that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.

Fire Program Director:

50%: Program Leadership and Administration

• Provide leadership, supervision, and direction for assigned staff, including hiring and training employees, and planning, assigning, and reviewing work. Support staff in developing and achieving goals, assess performance through completion of written evaluations, and provide mentorship and coaching as needed.

• Promote professional development opportunities for assigned staff, and maintain a personal professional development plan, including training, conferences and workshops, and web-based learning opportunities. Professional development activities may include wildland and prescribed fire activities.

• Establish, manage, and maintain internal and external partnerships including, but not limited to, other faculty and units within OSU , land and fire managers, non-governmental organizations, practitioner networks and science exchanges, and other academic institutions.

• Manage an FNR Extension Fire Program Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from these partner entities.

• Collaborate with team members, partners, and community leaders to identify education and engagement needs and priorities for initiatives related to fire resilience, cultures of adaptation, and fire-adapted ecosystems.

• Participate at the state and national level in promoting the FNR Extension Fire Program and in sharing program progress and achievements.

• Track trends, initiatives, and developments in wildland fire science, cross-boundary collaboration, and community engagement and education in the context of wildfire resilience and adaptation.

• Secure and manage external funding to support programmatic growth and expand statewide impact.

• Seek opportunities to promote and strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in the program and in the fields of wildfire resilience and adaptation more broadly. Seek opportunities to implement new and emerging program content, strategies, and tactics to reach underserved audiences across the state.

• Coordinate with the Fire Program Manager to facilitate the team in collective planning, development, implementation, and assessment of educational outreach programs and in planning and development of content for curriculum, publications and non-credit courses.

• Provides oversight of the fire program budget.

Extension Specialist:

25%: Extension and Outreach

• Assess needs and assets of target audiences and use results to focus program development efforts. Assessment methods should include combinations of focus groups, surveys, evaluation of secondary data, key informant interviews, and other techniques purposefully implemented to gain a clear understanding of audience needs.

• Contribute to educational programs such as classes, workshops, short courses, seminars, field tours, webinars, web-based instructional modules, videos, etc. focused on wildfire resilience and adaptation, and the application of wildland fire science.

• Lead and assist in development of educational materials such as Extension publications, magazine and newsletter articles, social media, video, mass media, peer reviewed and technically refereed articles in appropriate journals and other outlets.

• Provide technical assistance, capacity building, and analytical service to collaborations and partnerships related to wildfire resilience and adaptation, and the application of wildland fire science.

20%: Applied Research and Scholarship

• Conduct applied research on wildland fire science issues in forests, rangelands, and other ecosystems in Oregon in the context of supporting wildfire resilience and adaptation, fostering fire-adapted cultures and systems, and advancing equity and environmental justice.

• Seek, secure, and manage contract and grant funding to support research.

• Publish results in appropriate outlets including peer reviewed and technically refereed articles.

• Prepare and deliver scientific and technical presentations at conferences and symposia.

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and serve on graduate committees.

5%: Service

• Participate with local, state, and federal resource agencies and nongovernmental organizations on emergency services and natural resource management advisory councils and committees.

• Serve on Department, College, and University committees.

• Represent the wildfire resilience discipline within the University.

• Serve as peer reviewer for relevant journals and other scientific outlets.

• Participate in professional and scientific organizations.

What You Will Need

• Doctoral degree in natural resources management, social sciences, or other related field.

• Demonstrated experience providing informal education regarding wildland fire.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams effectively through collaborative decision-making and respectful engagement.

• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities, natural resource professionals, wildland fire managers, Tribal Nations, industry representatives, agency personnel, students, private landowners, and the general public.

• Demonstrated strengths in interpersonal, written and oral communication.

For individuals seeking the rank of Associate Professor: Candidate should have a significant record of scholarly achievement that merits appointment as tenured faculty in the College of Forestry, meeting the OSU teaching, advising, research, and service criteria for appointment at the desired rank (see the OSU Promotion & Tenure Guidelines for details). OSU will consider previous years of experience at other similar institutions towards timelines for rank or tenure promotions.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Knowledge of Oregon ecosystems, natural resources, and wildland fire issues and needs.

• Experience supervising a team with diverse skills, interests, and work styles while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.

• Experience participating in multi-stakeholder collaboratives pertaining to natural resources.

• Experience developing and delivering educational programs to audiences with varying technical backgrounds.

• Demonstrated capacity to produce scholarly outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, Extension materials, or professional presentations.

• Track record of securing external funding through grants, contracts, or partnerships, and managing a budget.

• Demonstrated commitment to creating respectful, safe, and inclusive work and learning environments, including active efforts to engage historically marginalized or underserved communities.

• Ability to communicate effectively with media representatives and respond to public inquiries or concerns.

• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to lead strategic planning efforts, set short and long-range goals and objectives, manage time, work under pressure and manage multiple projects effectively.

Working Conditions / Work Schedule

Work hours are generally 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. from Monday through Friday, however, some work on weekday nights and weekends will be required. Travel throughout the state will be required. Work is performed indoors in a professional office environment that includes operation of standard office equipment. Work can be conducted remotely, as agreed upon by employee and supervisor.

Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, and use repetitive motions. The visual capacity to review and edit documents, and the ability to frequently remain in a stationary position, operate a computer and other standard office equipment, and converse by telephone and in person is required. Driving required for travel.

Special Instructions to Applicants

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A resume/CV; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.

For additional information please contact:

Micah Schmidt

micah.schmidt@oregonstate.edu

Starting salary within the salary range will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

An offer of employment does not guarantee Oregon State University’s ability or commitment to sponsor employment authorization within the U.S.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/background-checks website including the https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/7228839

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