UC Cooperative Extension Specialist- Community Economic Development: Outdoor Recreation and Tou

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist – Community Economic Development:
Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (AP 25-36)

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Open date:
December 9, 2025
Next review date:
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) – Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date:
Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) – Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialist at the Assistant Rank. California's outdoor recreation economy is the largest in the United States. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California's outdoor recreation activities led the nation in value, accounting for 2.1 percent of the state's GDP in 2023-approximately $81.5 billion, which encompassed more than 545,000 jobs and $38.1 billion in earnings.

Activities include boating and fishing, cycling, climbing, hunting and shooting, winter snow sports, equestrian activities, recreational aviation, OHV/ATV use, recreational vehicles, and more. Sales of consumer goods, travel, and tourism expenses, as well as the cost of participating in outdoor recreational activities, all generate spending that contributes significantly to federal, state, and local tax revenue. This economic impact is particularly significant for rural gateway communities, where outdoor recreation and tourism-related activities comprise a substantial portion of local economic activity.

Outdoor recreation economies are interconnected with multiple community domains, including strategic planning, workforce and economic development, infrastructure, small business support, housing, creative and knowledge economies, arts and culture, food and entertainment, youth development, and health and wellness.

The Specialist will balance opportunities and impacts of outdoor recreation and tourism, spanning infrastructure, natural resources, environmental stewardship, and sustainable, equitable economic development. With expertise across these domains and in facilitating collaborative approaches to community problem-solving, Cooperative Extension is well-positioned to help communities manage and leverage their outdoor recreation and tourism assets. This Specialist will work in a unique role at the intersection of community economic development and outdoor recreation and tourism through an innovative research and extension program.

In collaboration with academics, public agencies, and partners from the non-profit and private sectors, they will build capacity across California to foster outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities, as well as their benefits to local economies. The Specialist will work closely with UC ANR's Community Economic Development Program Area to develop statewide and local plans for sustainably enhancing California's outdoor recreation and tourism industries.

• Develop and implement a collaborative research, education, and outreach program to build and strengthen California's outdoor recreation and tourism economy.
  • Best practices in Destination Management and sustainable tourism strategies
  • Develop toolkits, case studies, and other tools that communities can use to maximize their outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities for collaborative partnerships, infrastructure, small business, and workforce development
  • Innovative public and private financing and policy mechanisms for outdoor recreation infrastructure and small business development, community and economic development incentives and land use practices, community benefits, workforce development, and other measures
  • Develop economic, workforce, visitor and tourism profiles and data tools and strategic planning methods to support local planning collaboratives, set baselines and track progress
• Provide research and data support for local partners to create baseline and performance assessments of economic, community, and…