Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.

About the Department/College

The School of Forestry (SoF) has 21 faculty (tenure-, teaching- and research-track) administering an SAF-accredited Forestry BS degree plus an active graduate research program in forestry (including an online MF, an in-person MF, and MS and PhD degrees). Our well-equipped facility jointly houses the School of Forestry, the Ecological Restoration Institute, Centennial Forest (education and research forest), and a unit of the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

About the Position

The School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (NAU) invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Human Dimensions of Forest and Wildfire Policy. This position is a 9-month, tenure-eligible appointment (40-50% Teaching, 40-50% Research, 10% Service).

We seek an applicant whose interests will support, build, and complement the School of Forestry’s and NAU’s programs in the following areas: expertise in forest and wildfire governance, community protection and resilience in fire-prone and WUI landscapes; cross-boundary and multi-jurisdictional forest policy; social dimensions of forest management, risk communication, and post-fire recovery. The position offers significant opportunities to collaborate with the Ecological Restoration Institute, a congressionally funded applied research institute focused on forest restoration and wildfire resilience, including through the new WIRE (Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies) Partnership. The successful applicant will be expected to teach courses in support of our undergraduate and graduate forestry programs, develop a productive, externally funded research program, advise graduate students (MF, MS, and PhD), and serve the School of Forestry, NAU, and the profession.

The anticipated start date for this position is August 17th, 2026.

Responsibilities Include

• Teach in-person and online courses on our Flagstaff Mountain campus in support of our undergraduate and graduate forestry programs.
• Teaching responsibilities and opportunities include the broad scope of forest and natural resource policy, forest planning and management, natural resource leadership, leadership and the environment, human dimensions in forestry, social research methods, leadership and environmental problem solving, co-production and translation in natural resources, and social dimensions in forestry.
• Develop a productive, externally funded research program focused on challenges in forest and wildfire governance, community resilience in fire-prone and WUI landscapes, cross-boundary and multi-jurisdictional land management, and the social dimensions of forest, fire, and restoration policy faced by the state of Arizona and the western United States more broadly.
• Advise graduate students (MF, MS, and PhD).
• Serve on committees in the School of Forestry, the College of Forestry, Environment, and Natural Sciences, and NAU.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in forestry, social science, natural resource policy, or a closely related field conferred by the start date.
• At least one degree in forestry or closely related natural resources field.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience of excellent teaching in undergraduate and graduate level courses, both online and in-person.
• Demonstrated proficiency in teaching pedagogy and diverse teaching methods
• Demonstrated record of securing, or evidence of the potential to secure, external funding to support research.
• Evidence of a strong research foundation in the human dimensions of forestry, such as forest and wildfire governance, community resilience in fire-prone landscapes, cross-boundary and multi-jurisdictional land management, public perceptions and risk communication of forest management and wildfire, and natural resource policy design.
• Demonstrated or emerging capacity to lead a productive, externally funded research program addressing the above challenges in Arizona and across the western United States.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with decision-makers and land management partners (e.g., local, state, or federal agencies, non-governmental agencies, private industry, and other natural resource management organizations) on real-world, applied projects and issues, and to build and maintain strong relationships with federal, state, and tribal partners in support of policy-relevant research.
• Demonstrated experience in giving oral presentations to audiences of scientists, natural resource managers, policymakers, private industry, and other stakeholders.
• Professional experience working in fields closely related to forest and natural resource policy.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the needs related to public education.
• Knowledge of learning management system
• Knowledge of instructional design, effective pedagogy, team teaching, and innovative learning methodologies.
• Knowledge of best practices in teaching and learning in traditional, hybrid and online classroom environments.
• Knowledge of current trends in higher education and demographic trends.
• Knowledge of grant management including budget development, fiscal planning, and management techniques.
• Knowledge of effective supervisory and leadership practices.

Skills

• Teaching and research program development skills.
• Effective leadership and active listening skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Abilities

• Communicates effectively.
• Teaches a wide variety of courses.
• Recruits, advises, and mentors undergraduate or graduate students.
• Engages with and leads collaborative multi- and inter-disciplinary teams.
• Works in a collaborative environment with faculty, staff, and students
• Organizes and coordinates others in developing, implementing, and evaluating short- and long-term goals, standards, curriculum, and programs.

Compensation

Budgeted salary is $72,500.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University welcomes applications from U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals who already hold valid authorization to work in the United States or who may qualify for a change of status within the United States under current USCIS regulations. NAU is unable to initiate new employment-based visa sponsorships that require payment of the federal H-1B supplemental fee including for candidates residing outside the United States.

Submit your Application

Vacancy will remain open until filled. Applications received before the deadline shown above will receive full consideration.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page.

Application must include (saved as PDF and/or Word documents):
1. a cover letter highlighting your particular qualifications for this position;
2. a curriculum vitae; and
3. names and contact information for three references.

Please do not include any other documents as they will not be considered.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.