Oregon State University Visa Sponsorship Jobs USA

INTRODUCTION

Oregon State University (OSU) invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, combination position as Director of Extension Fire Program & Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice: Extension Specialist, reflecting duties in both academic and administrative areas.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Extension Fire Program position is a part-time (0.50 FTE) 12-month professional faculty position and the Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice position is a part-time (0.50 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term academic faculty position with an academic home in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society.

The position is housed within the Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program (FNR), within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University.

The Fire Program Director provides leadership of the FNR Extension Fire Program and supervision of Fire Program employees (six Regional Fire Specialists and one Fire Program Manager). The Director guides and supports the Fire Program team in pursuing its mission, vision, goals, and programmatic activities, which are focused on fire resilience, a culture of adaptation, and fire-adapted ecosystems. The team’s mission is to foster fire-adapted communities and resilient landscapes through place-based partnerships, with a focus on equity and environmental justice.

The Director is expected to:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based education and outreach programs that align with the team’s mission.
• 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.

As an Extension Specialist, this position will have responsibility for Extension and Applied Research/Scholarship. Their work will address wildland fire science issues in forests, rangelands, and other ecosystems in Oregon to support wildfire resilience and foster fire-adapted cultures and ecosystems. They will seek to understand stakeholder needs and assets, and use these insights to develop and deliver tailored educational opportunities, providing technical assistance to support collaborative, landscape-scale wildfire resilience and adaptation efforts. Primary audiences may include natural resource managers, wildland fire managers, Tribal Nations, industry representatives, agency personnel, students, private landowners, and the general public.

This faculty member is required to use modern learning tools, employ and practice engaged scholarship, promote integration of programs across disciplines that are demand-driven and use open source tools that continually align with innovation and shifts in educational program delivery. Active and effective communication with staff and key stakeholders is critical to the success of this position. Oregon State University and the OSU Extension Service are committed to maintaining and enhancing a collaborative and inclusive community that strives for equity and equal opportunity. All employees of Extension are responsible for helping to ensure that these commitments are achieved.

Commitment to inclusive excellence:

Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, this individual will support the Fire Team to design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.

An offer of employment does not guarantee Oregon State University’s ability or commitment to sponsor employment authorization within the U.S.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Master’s degree in natural resources management, social sciences, or other related fields.
• Demonstrated experience providing informal education regarding wildland fire.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams effectively through collaborative decision-making and respectful engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities, such as natural resource professionals, wildland fire managers, Tribal Nations, industry representatives, agency personnel, students, private landowners, and the general public.
• Demonstrated strengths in interpersonal, written and oral communication.

For individuals seeking the rank of Associate Professor (Practice): Candidate should have a demonstrated record of accomplishment in wildland fire science and formal or informal instruction that merits appointment as an Associate Professor (Practice), meeting the OSU teaching, advising, scholarship, and service criteria for appointment at the desired rank (see the OSU Guidelines for Professor of Practice Appointments and Promotion for details). OSU will consider previous years of experience at other similar institutions towards timelines for rank promotions.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Oregon ecosystems, natural resources, and wildland fire issues and needs.
• Experience supervising a team with diverse skills, interests, and work styles while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.
• Experience participating in multi-stakeholder collaboratives pertaining to natural resources.
• Experience developing and delivering educational programs to audiences with varying technical backgrounds.
• Demonstrated capacity to produce scholarly outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, Extension materials, or professional presentations.
• Track record of securing external funding through grants, contracts, or partnerships, and managing a budget.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating respectful, safe, and inclusive work and learning environments, including active efforts to engage historically marginalized or underserved communities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with media representatives and respond to public inquiries or concerns.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to lead strategic planning efforts, set short and long-range goals and objectives, manage time, work under pressure and manage multiple projects effectively.

WORKING CONDITIONS / WORK SCHEDULE

Work hours are generally 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. from Monday through Friday, however, some work on weekday nights and weekends will be required. Travel throughout the state will be required. Work is performed indoors in a professional office environment that includes operation of standard office equipment. Work can be conducted remotely, as agreed upon by employee and supervisor.

Physical Requirements:

The work requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, and use repetitive motions. The visual capacity to review and edit documents, and the ability to frequently remain in a stationary position, operate a computer and other standard office equipment, and converse by telephone and in person is required. Driving required for travel.

COMPENSATION

• Recommended Full-Time Salary Range: $94,000-$130,000

BENEFITS ELIGIBLE

Full-Time, benefits eligible

LOCATION

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.

Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

EEO STATEMENT

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A Curriculum Vitae; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Micah Schmidt

micah.schmidt@oregonstate.edu

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Starting salary within the salary range will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

An offer of employment does not guarantee Oregon State University’s ability or commitment to sponsor employment authorization within the U.S.