Vacancy Announcement

Faculty Tenure-Track Position Starting August 2023,  or another date as negotiated

Department of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management (Applied Fire Science and Management)

 Cal Poly Humboldt is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) that strives to foster an equitable and inclusive community that supports our students of diverse backgrounds. Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and endeavors to employ faculty and staff of the highest quality committed to working in a multicultural and multiracial community that reflects the diversity of the state.

DESCRIPTION: Cal Poly Humboldt, the Department of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management, and the Fire Resilience Institute invites applications for an academic year tenure-track faculty position in Applied Fire Science and Management.                               

Cal Poly Humboldt is home to the largest undergraduate Forestry and Fire programs in California. Our program prides itself on a strong tradition of field-based instruction and hands-on learning of forest, fire, and rangeland science and management. The ideal candidate will have a depth of experience in the application of fire as a management tool and be able to integrate these skills in teaching, service, and research.

As an institution, Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations with dynamic, student-centered practices and policies that fully engage the campus community. The ideal candidate will share Cal Poly Humboldt’s commitment to helping its racially and socioeconomically diverse students succeed in their degree and career objectives.

We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, ability and orientations. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, and students who are also committed to closing equity gaps.

RANK, SALARY AND BENEFITS: We seek to fill this position at the Assistant Professor rank; however, rank and salary are dependent on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The Assistant Professor Classification annual salary range for this position is $64,860 - $143,928; the anticipated annual starting salary is $79,008.  

Cal Poly Humboldt provides an excellent benefits package for faculty. Information about benefits plans can be found at: http://www.humboldt.edu/forms/node/934.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:  An earned Ph.D. in Forestry, Fire Science, Fire Ecology, Fuels Management, or related field from an accredited college or university is required at the time of appointment.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following:

• Ability and enthusiasm to teach field-based courses in applied fire science and management;
• Commitment to and/or experience promoting and fostering a learning environment that is supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds;
• Engagement with teaching or research topics related to prescribed fire, cultural fire, traditional ecological knowledge, fire and forest policy or other fire-relevant social science;
• Interest in supervising and mentoring graduate and undergraduate student research assistants;
• Record of conducting and publishing scientific research related to fire science, management, and/or policy;
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with diverse students and colleagues.

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

• Past experience teaching similar or related courses in Fire Weather, Fire Behavior and Effects, Applied Fire Use and Policy, Humans and Fire, Fire Capstone, and Fire Internship or related courses;
• Ability to acquire extramural funding for research, management, or education projects;
• Prior experience engaging with or conducting Indigenous fire science/traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and tribal nations;
• Record of conducting and publishing scientific research related to prescribed fire or cultural fire;
• Prior experience conducting and translating fire science for management and communities; and
• Commitment to participating in professional development opportunities that build effectiveness in areas of inclusion, intercultural communication, and advancing diversity.

Working in the state of California is a condition of employment for this position. Even if part or all of an employee's assignment can be performed remotely, the employee must maintain a permanent residence in the state of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus instruction, as assigned, and come to campus when needed.

At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States. For information on the University policy on support for non-immigrant probationary faculty visa acquisition, please visit the Faculty Immigration Resources page: https://extended.humboldt.edu/international-programs/immigration/faculty.

Evidence of degree(s) is required at time of hire.

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES: Candidates should be committed to teaching excellence and to building a strong service or research record. Instructional assignments may include a subset of three or four of the following courses: Fire Weather, Fire Behavior and Effects, Applied Fire Use and Policy, Humans and Fire, CA & US Forest and Wildland Policy, Fire Capstone, and Fire Internship. Instructional assignments will be consistent with the programmatic needs of the department and students.

Successful candidates will be actively involved in implementing the new Applied Fire Science and Management degree program. Candidates will be expected to engage with applied research related to fire science, ecology, management, or policy and to be an active member of the Fire Resilience Institute.

The primary professional responsibilities of instructional faculty members are: teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity; and service to the University, professional and to the community. These responsibilities include: advising students, participation in campus and system-wide communities, maintaining office hours, working collaboratively and productively with colleagues, and participation in traditional academic functions. Probationary faculty are typically provided ongoing mentorship to be a successful member of the faculty. During the first two years of the probationary period, teaching responsibilities will be reduced by approximately one course each semester. The reduced teaching load supports the establishment of research, scholarship and/or creative activities required for retention, tenure, and promotion.

Cal Poly Humboldt also continues to build unique and innovative learning opportunities for students, bridging multiple disciplines across the spectrum. Cal Poly Humboldt is a leader in “learning communities” that build relationships between students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the community. These communities incorporate environmental and social responsibility.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Department of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management offers two baccalaureate degree programs in either Forestry or Rangeland Resource Science. The Forestry program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, and the fire management concentration within the Forestry major is certified by the Association for Fire Ecology and is one of the largest in the nation. A new bachelor of science degree program in Applied Fire Science and Management will begin in Fall 2023. We also have a robust Master-level graduate program in Forest, Watershed, and Wildland Science. We currently have about 300 undergraduate majors in Forestry and Rangeland Resource Science and about 20-30 graduate students. We have nine tenure-line forestry faculty members, two tenure-line rangeland resources faculty members, and ten lecturers. Physical resources include an indoor fire laboratory to facilitate teaching and research; an extensive stockroom with field equipment for forest and fire measurements; and access to diverse set of surrounding sites for field-based teaching and research. For more information, please visit: https://fwr.humboldt.edu/

The Fire Resilience Institute is a center of excellence in applied fire science and management research, education, and outreach. With over 10 tenure-track faculty members and numerous collaborators and partners in northern California, the institute is heavily engaged in research that provides workable solutions to reduce the negative impacts of wildfires on natural resources, ecosystems, and human communities, while promoting the reintroduction of cultural and ecological fire to benefit California’s natural and cultural heritage. For more information, please visit: https://fireinstitute.humboldt.edu/

Cal Poly Humboldt sits on the traditional homelands of the Wiyot people in what is currently called Arcata, CA. The Wiyot people call the area Goudi’ni (over in the woods). The Cal Poly Humboldt campus in Northern California is in close proximity to several thriving Native American tribes and communities. Cal Poly Humboldt currently has the largest percentage of Native American students in the CSU system and has over 30 Native American faculty and staff many from local area California Indian tribes. Cal Poly Humboldt is home to a number of leading Native American programs including the Indian Tribal Education and Personnel Program (ITEPP) and the Indian Natural Resource, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP). There are also many opportunities at Cal Poly Humboldt to conduct research, teaching and community work on Native American history and cultures in Special Collections at the Cal Poly Humboldt library. The Humboldt Room in the Library has fantastic resources for tribally focused archive materials from the region. Cal Poly Humboldt strives to build a supportive and inclusive Native community and engages with Native communities through various initiatives and opportunities like the annual California Indian Big Time and Indigenous People’s Week and a chance to network with other faculty and staff as part of the Cal Poly Humboldt Council of American Indian Faculty and Staff. For more information, please visit: www.humboldt.edu/nasp

APPLICATION: Qualified candidates should submit the following materials through PageUp:

• Letter of Application (2 page limit);
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Diversity Statement, include your understanding of the barriers facing Black, Indigenous, and other people of Color (BIPOC) in higher education and your past and/or future contributions to inclusive student success, including equitable access and outcomes through teaching and professional or public service. Applicants are encouraged to highlight any contributions they have made towards the inclusivity of students from the LGBTIQ+ community. (2 page limit);
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy, including how it relates to supporting students who have been historically marginalized and/or minoritized;
• Statement of Research Interests and Experience (3 page limit);
• Copy of Most Relevant Publications, if available (maximum of 2);
• Graduate Transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review); and
• Names and Contact Information for Three (3) Professional References.

Additional application materials may be requested at a later time.

Please direct any questions pertaining to this position to:

Jeff Kane, Search Committee Chair

Department of Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management

Phone: (707) 826-5622

Email: jkane@humboldt.edu 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than February 5, 2023. Early response is encouraged.

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It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide complete and accurate employment information. Evidence of required degree(s), certification(s), or license(s) will be required prior to the appointment date. A background check (including a criminal records check, employment verification, and education verification) must be completed satisfactorily as a condition of employment with the CSU. Certain positions may also require a credit check, motor vehicle report, and/or fingerprinting through Live Scan service. Adverse findings from a background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position. All CSU employees are obligated to respond to and report incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Compliance with the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 (EO 1083) is a condition of employment.  CSU employees in positions with duties that involve regular contact with children or positions which supervise such employees are designated as Mandated Reporters under CANRA and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in EO 1083.  Upon appointment to this position, the successful candidate(s) will be notified of and required to acknowledge their CANRA reporting status. New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017 are subject to a 10 year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Cal Poly Humboldt is a Title IX/Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. If accommodations need to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please contact Human Resources at (707) 826-3626 or hsuhr@humboldt.edu