Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
• This position is posted as Manager, Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies (WIRE) , which is a working title. The NAU system title for this position is Manager, Research Project.
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver’s license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.

About the Department/College

The Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University serves diverse audiences with objective science and implementation strategies that support ecological restoration and climate adaptation on Western forest landscapes. The ERI is nationally recognized as a leader in primary and secondary ecological and social science, scholarship, information exchange, collaborative efforts, and policy analysis supporting forest restoration and fire use. The ERI is one of three congressionally designated institutes, the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) located in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, focused on bridging science and management to restore western fire-adapted forests.

About the Position

The ERI seeks a Manager, Research Projects for the newly formed Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies (WIRE) Partnership, which will involve close collaboration with the NAU School of Forestry, other ERI units, and ERI and SWERI partners and collaborators. The WIRE Partnership tackles the growing insurance crisis in the Western U.S., driven by the increasing severity of wildfires. It focuses on understanding and innovating insurance models to support communities and businesses, alongside reframing wildfire economics to emphasize prevention and restoration over reactive suppression and commodity extraction.

Working closely with the aforementioned collaborators, the Manager, WIRE will design and implement a program within ERI that explores the wildfire insurance and economics system, including but not limited to the following: analyzing insurance models to identify impacts and develop equitable, prevention-focused alternatives, quantifying the economic benefits of wildfire prevention and forest restoration, and educating policymakers, insurers, and communities on the long-term value of prevention and restoration, sustainable insurance models, and wildfire risk reduction. In addition to designing and implementing the WIRE program, the successful applicant will work closely with partners and build relationships to facilitate real change on the ground.

The successful applicant will be passionate about working collaboratively with partners and designing a program that is focused on actionable science for decision-making. The Manager, WIRE will work with other scientists to implement research for the WIRE Partnership, and as such, will need experience leading research using a variety of economic and/or social science methods. In addition, a key component of this position will be communication, and the successful applicant will demonstrate exemplary communication skills, including developing and publishing written products in accessible formats and sharing information in other communication formats. Finally, as a Manager, WIRE the successful applicant will ensure program compliance and management within ERI and the School of Forestry.

Responsibilities Include

30% Program Development and Implementation

• Design, develop, and manage the Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies (WIRE) program, ensuring alignment with ERI’s mission and compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Establish policies, procedures, and operational frameworks to support program objectives. - (Essential)

25% Research

• Direct and conduct research using economic and/or social science methods to analyze insurance models, quantify economic benefits of wildfire prevention, and inform policy recommendations, among other related topics.
• Oversee data collection, modeling, and analysis to guide decision-making and improve program processes.
• Develop and disseminate accessible research reports, publications, and presentations to share with partners. - (Essential)

25% Partner Engagement and Communication

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with policymakers, insurers, community leaders, and academic partners to advance program goals.
• Work with partners in convening, facilitating, gathering information, and dissemination of findings from the ERI’s work.
• Assist in the planning, initiation, production, and delivery of communication products for partners.
• Assist ERI staff with collaboration and partnerships across all lands. - (Essential)

15% Program Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures; gather data, compile information, and prepare reports to ensure program compliance, report, and impact.
• Coordinate proposal writing and funding development to sustain and expand program activities as needed.
• Assist other ERI staff in responding to scientific information requests. - (Essential)

5% Other

• Attend coordination meetings among SWERI and ERI staff.
• Other duties as assigned. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in forestry, economics, ecology, environmental studies, geography, or closely related fields
• 1 year of management or supervisory experience.
• 2 years of relevant experience.

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

Preferred Qualifications

The educational requirements, experience, and skills preferred, but not necessary, to perform in the position.

• PhD degree in forestry, economics, ecology, environmental studies, geography, or closely related fields.
• Evidence of experience leading or collaborating on research initiatives related to the WIRE Partnership. This includes the development of relationships, proposals, research questions, methods, analysis, and writing.
• Understanding of U.S. forest and wildfire policy, governance, and management.
• Experience leading or contributing to complex projects involving multiple components and partners.
• Evidence of professional oral and written communication skills, including peer reviewed publications and gray literature.
• Interest and facility working across biophysical and social science disciplines.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrated understanding of U.S. forest and wildfire policy, governance, and management frameworks (e.g., fire-adapted landscapes, restoration practices, risk reduction), and their implications for insurance and community resilience.
• Applied knowledge at the intersection of forestry/ecology and economics/social science—including but not limited to risk modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and insurance market dynamics in fire-prone regions.
• Skill in designing and implementing complex, multi-partner programs (policies, procedures, workflows).
• Demonstrated experience ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal requirements.
• Skill in leading or collaborating on research initiatives: framing questions, selecting mixed-methods (e.g., econometric analysis, scenario modeling; interviews/surveys), overseeing data collection/analysis, and translating findings into policy-relevant recommendations.
• Working knowledge of programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, ArcMap, Qualtrics, Atlas.TI (or similar social science coding software), or SPSS (or similar statistical software).
• Advanced skill in cultivating relationships and facilitating collaboration among policymakers, insurers, community leaders, academic partners, and ERI/SWERI colleagues to drive actionable outcomes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including producing peer-reviewed publications and gray literature; creating accessible briefs, presentations, and decision-support materials for diverse audiences.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff (task assignment, training, performance feedback), set priorities and timelines, resolve issues, and foster a productive, inclusive working environment that advances program goals.
• Proficiency in building and managing program activities and budgets, monitoring progress, preparing reports, and coordinating proposal development to sustain program activities.
  
  

Compensation

Salary range begins at $76,082. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

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 will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need 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.