Assistant/Associate Professor, Landscape-scale Working Lands Conservation

Cal Poly • San Luis Obispo, CA

13d • $90,948 - $114,720 • Onsite

About The Position

The Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor specializing in Landscape-Scale Working Lands Conservation. This position, starting around August 12, 2027, focuses on preparing students to lead conservation efforts on working lands. The ideal candidate will contribute innovative courses to the Environmental Management and Protection major and potentially the Forest and Fire Sciences major. The role involves using biophysical approaches at a landscape scale to address conservation and environmental management issues in the western United States, with potential expertise in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, water resource management, or carbon management. A strong ability to partner with diverse stakeholders and leverage Cal Poly's extensive working lands for experiential learning and applied research is highly valued.

Requirements

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology/Ecology, Forestry, or a closely related field (ABD candidates may be considered if doctorate is awarded before appointment).
• Demonstrated or potential excellence in teaching.
• Effective communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral English.
• Ability to communicate well with peers, students, industry partners, and the public.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
• Strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments.
• Ability to develop an externally funded, applied research program that involves undergraduate and/or graduate students, and collaboration with key external partners.

Nice To Haves

• Strong track record of applied research in areas with clear application to landscape-scale conservation, environmental management, and resilience of environmental resources critical in the West.
• Experience working collaboratively with partners including public lands managers, the forestry industry, the agricultural industry, state agencies, tribal governments and organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
• Industry experience.
• University-level teaching experience.
• Record of successful research.
• Demonstrated ability to generate external funding to support student research.
• Ability to link new courses to the Forest and Fire Sciences major.

Responsibilities

• Prepare students to serve as future leaders in landscape-scale conservation on working lands.
• Expand lower division core and complementary upper division courses in the Environmental Management and Protection major.
• Potentially link new courses to the Forest and Fire Sciences major.
• Use biophysical approaches at a landscape-scale to address conservation and environmental management issues facing working lands.
• Partner with diverse environmental resource managers and rights holders to advance teaching and scholarship.
• Leverage Cal Poly’s working lands for experiential learning and applied research.
• Develop an externally funded, applied research program involving undergraduate and/or graduate students and external partners.
• Foster inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments.

Benefits

• Rank and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Access to Cal Poly’s more than 9,000 acres of working lands for experiential learning and applied research.
• Access to a variety of on-campus and off-campus field and lab resources.
• Potential eligibility to teach in a third semester for additional compensation under a possible semester-based year-round operations model.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree