Extension Forestry Specialist at the University of Illinois

Hiring Organization: University of Illinois
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: Illinois
Application Due Date: December 15, 2023

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences seeks an Extension Specialist in Forestry to provide leadership, outreach, technical guidance, and educational programming in areas that may include urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, and climate change resilience. This position will also provide undergraduate level instruction in dendrology (and potentially other courses). The position will be responsible for conducting applied research that informs forestry needs in the State of Illinois.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Outreach/Extension:

Develop an innovative Extension Program with a focus on urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, or climate change.
Provide outreach, education, training, programming, and technical guidance to your primary constituents.
Sponsor/co-sponsor, lead/co-lead in the coordination of forestry-related conferences, symposia, workshops, trainings, and field days.
Develop (author or co-author) technical bulletins, educational videos and articles.
Serve as a technical advisor to one or more forestry or conservation related state organizations such as the Illinois Tree Farm Program, Illinois Forestry Development Council, Illinois Walnut Council, Illinois Forestry Association, Illinois Arborist Association.
Develop and maintain Extension Forestry websites and social media accounts.
Collaborate with colleagues and staff with the Division of Forest Resources (IL Dept. of Natural Resources), Illinois Natural Resources & Conservation Service, USDA Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (Dept. of Forestry), and U of I's Prairie Research Institute.

Undergraduate Teaching and Advising: Instruct one NRES undergraduate course annually, including Dendrology which is taught every other year, plus potentially a forestry-related field course.

Applied Forestry Research

Research in urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, or climate change resilience.
Contribute to collaborative interdisciplinary research endeavors within University of Illinois.

Position Requirements and Qualifications

Education

Required: A master's degree in forest science, or a closely aligned ecological or natural resource discipline.
Preferred: Ph.D. in forest science, or a closely aligned ecological or natural resource discipline.

Experience

Required: Expertise in urban and community forestry, agroforestry, or arboriculture
Preferred: Academic or employment history that demonstrates independence, superior organizational skills, and experience writing successful grant proposals (for applied research and outreach) is highly desirable.

Training, Licenses or Certifications

Preferred: Illinois pesticide applicator’s license (or demonstrate ability to acquire one shortly after hiring), advanced chainsaw training, certified arborist credentials.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required: A working knowledge of urban and community forestry needs; competency in identification of native trees of Illinois; competency in public speaking, writing, and development of educational materials
Preferred: Competency using new technologies for forestry/tree work, such as remote sensing, GIS application, UAVs.