Position Description and Application Information
EXTENSION SPECIALIST IN FORESTRY
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences seeks an Extension Specialist in Forestry to provide leadership, outreach, technical guidance, and educational programming in areas that may include urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, and climate change resilience. This position will also provide undergraduate level instruction in dendrology (and potentially other courses). The position will be responsible for conducting applied research that informs forestry needs in the State of Illinois.
Major Duties & Responsibilities
Outreach/Extension:
• Develop an innovative Extension Program with a focus on urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, or climate change.
• Provide outreach, education, training, programming, and technical guidance to your primary constituents.
• Sponsor/co-sponsor, lead/co-lead in the coordination of forestry-related conferences, symposia, workshops, trainings, and field days.
• Develop (author or co-author) technical bulletins, educational videos and articles.
• Serve as a technical advisor to one or more forestry or conservation related state organizations such as the Illinois Tree Farm Program, Illinois Forestry Development Council, Illinois Walnut Council, Illinois Forestry Association, Illinois Arborist Association.
• Develop and maintain Extension Forestry websites and social media accounts.
• Collaborate with colleagues and staff with the Division of Forest Resources (IL Dept. of Natural Resources), Illinois Natural Resources & Conservation Service, USDA Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (Dept. of Forestry), and U of I's Prairie Research Institute.
Undergraduate Teaching and Advising: Instruct one NRES undergraduate course annually, including Dendrology which is taught every other year, plus potentially a forestry-related field course.
Applied Forestry Research:
• Research in urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, or climate change resilience.
• Contribute to collaborative interdisciplinary research endeavors within University of Illinois.
Position Requirements and Qualifications
Education
Required: A master's degree in forest science, or a closely aligned ecological or natural resource discipline.
Preferred: Ph.D. in forest science, or a closely aligned ecological or natural resource discipline.
Experience
Required: Expertise in urban and community forestry, agroforestry, or arboriculture
Preferred: Academic or employment history that demonstrates independence, superior organizational skills, and experience writing successful grant proposals (for applied research and outreach) is highly desirable.
Training, Licenses or Certifications
Preferred: Illinois pesticide applicator’s license (or demonstrate ability to acquire one shortly after hiring), advanced chainsaw training, certified arborist credentials.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Required: A working knowledge of urban and community forestry needs; competency in identification of native trees of Illinois; competency in public speaking, writing, and development of educational materials
Preferred: Competency using new technologies for forestry/tree work, such as remote sensing, GIS application, UAVs.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is Tuesday, January 16th, 2024. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on Friday, November 24th, 2023. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Chris Evans (cwevans@illinois.edu). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requisition ID: 1021020
Job Category: Off-Campus
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
