Director of Extension Fire Program and Assistant​/Associate Professor; Extension Specialist

Position 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.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research‑based education and outreach programs that align with the team’s mission of fire resilience, a culture of adaptation, and fire‑adapted ecosystems.
• 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.

• Address wildland fire science issues in forests, rangelands, and other ecosystems in Oregon to support wildfire resilience and foster fire‑adapted cultures and ecosystems.
• Understand stakeholder needs and assets to develop and deliver tailored educational opportunities, providing technical assistance to support collaborative, landscape‑scale wildfire resilience and adaptation efforts.
• 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.
• Use modern learning tools, engage scholarship, promote interdisciplinary programs that are demand‑driven, and use open‑source tools to align with innovation in educational program delivery.
• Communicate effectively with staff and key stakeholders to ensure the success of the position.

• Provide leadership, supervision, and direction for assigned staff, including hiring, training, performance reviews, and mentorship.
• Promote professional development opportunities for staff and maintain a personal development plan, including training, conferences, workshops, and web‑based learning.
• Establish, manage, and maintain internal and external partnerships with faculty, units, land and fire managers, NGOs, practitioner networks, and academic institutions.
• Manage an advisory committee comprised of representatives from partner entities.
• Collaborate with team members, partners, and community leaders to identify education and engagement needs and priorities related to fire resilience and adaptation.
• Participate at the state and national level in promoting the FNR Extension Fire Program and sharing program progress.
• Track trends, initiatives, and developments in wildland fire science and community engagement in the context of wildfire resilience and adaptation.
• Secure and manage external funding to support programmatic growth and expand statewide impact.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the program and in the broader field of wildfire resilience and adaptation.
• Coordinate with the Fire Program Manager to facilitate collective planning, implementation, and assessment of educational outreach…