The Department of Wildland Resources in the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University seeks applicants for an Assistant Professor / Extension Specialist in Human-Wildlife Interactions. Key areas of expertise include human-wildlife conflicts, urban-wildland interface, urban wildlife ecology, wildlife damage management, wetland ecology, and similar focuses within wildlife management and conservation. This tenure-track, 12-month position is based at the USU main campus in Logan. The position is 85% Extension, 10% Teaching and 5% Service. The teaching component is expected to consist of an undergraduate level course with a focus in wildlife damage management, human-wildlife conflict resolution, human dimensions of wildlife or similar (specific assignment will depend upon candidate expertise and the needs of the department). The anticipated (but negotiable) start date is August 1, 2025. Background information is available on the webpages for the Department of Wildland Resources (https://qcnr.usu.edu/wild/) and its home, the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources (https://qcnr.usu.edu/). The incumbent will collaborate with other faculty in the Department of Wildland Resources, Quinney College of Natural Resources, and statewide Extension offices, and will be a source of information to other Extension personnel as well as to various public and private stakeholders. The incumbent will coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies to identify and implement programs that increase knowledge and awareness of wildlife management and conservation issues within the state of Utah, while working to alleviate those issues. Utah State University is home to the Berryman Institute, which is dedicated to researching and communicating strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Ideally, the incumbent will partner with the Berryman Institute to develop outreach programs designed to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Other potential local partners include the USDA-APHIS National Wildlife Research Center’s Utah Station, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

• Function as a resource for other Extension personnel and statewide stakeholders for information and recommendations related to urban wildlife management, wildlife damage management, human-wildlife conflicts, and similar related topics
• Design, develop and deliver educational programming to assist natural resource agency personnel, city and state managers, and local communities
• Develop new core curriculum materials for use by other Extension Agents and Specialists; serve as a mentor for Extension Agents and Specialists and participate fully in Extension programs
• Conduct and publish Extension-related research
• Develop a positive working relationship with USU research faculty, particularly those that work with urban wildlife management, wildlife damage management, and human-wildlife conflicts
• Track trends, initiatives, and developments in human-wildlife interactions
• Develop an undergraduate level course in the topic of urban wildlife management, wildlife damage management, human-wildlife conflicts or similar topic, to be taught once per year
• Participate with local, state, and federal resource agencies and NGOs on advisory councils and committees, and serve on Department, College, and University committees

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD degree in wildlife ecology, wildlife management, human-wildlife conflicts, urban wildlife ecology, or related field
• Experience in, and desire to work with, diverse populations of learners and stakeholders
• Experience in organizing, developing, and delivering public presentations, events, and/or other informational and educational activities to a diverse audience
• Valid driver’s license to perform essential job responsibilities, such as driving university vehicles and transporting materials. Ability to travel extensively to statewide locations.

• Experience with outreach program development, delivery, and impact assessment related to urban wildlife management, wildlife damage management, human-wildlife conflicts, and similar related topics
• Demonstrated ability to develop an externally-funded extension program meeting the needs of stakeholders (e.g. landowners, and county-, state- and federal-level agencies)
• Basic knowledge of western United States wildlife management, human-wildlife conflicts, and related issues.
• Experience with populations that are underrepresented in natural resource professions and in the general public
• Demonstrated ability to conduct applied research in a natural resource management context
• Demonstrated interest in community-engaged research and/or research outreach

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV" 
2. Extension Statement that describes outreach and education experience, and future interests (3-page maximum) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10” 
3. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile 
4. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work performed. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, in an office space, event space, or public space are protected from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Incumbents may nearly continuously sit and often use repetitive hand motion (such as typing).  

Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 25 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time.  

The S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agencies.  

 The Department of Wildland Resources in QCNR encompasses research in applied terrestrial ecology, including the ecology and management of wildlife, forests, rangelands, conservation biology, and climate change adaptation.  Award-winning faculty teach courses that prepare students for professional careers in many natural resources fields, including programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management and aligned with the Society of Ecological Restoration. 

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023