Research Manager

Utah State University•Logan, UT

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Utah Forest Restoration Institute (UFRI), housed in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University, seeks a full-time Research Manager (Researcher Senior) to lead and expand a diverse portfolio of applied research and monitoring projects. These efforts support UFRI’s mission to inform the management of healthy, fire-resilient, and climate-adapted forests and woodlands in the state and region. This position conducts and manages research of local and regional significance and oversees multiple concurrent projects spanning forest and fire ecology, forest disturbances, fuels management, and post-treatment and post-fire monitoring. Applicants should have extensive expertise and practical experience in forest and fire ecology, management, and monitoring. A demonstrated ability to compile, analyze, communicate, and disseminate field-based research is strongly desired. Successful candidates will also benefit from extensive on-the-ground experience in one or more of Utah’s dominant forest types (e.g., dry conifer and mixed conifer forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and aspen).

Requirements

Ph.D. in forest ecology, forest science, or closely related field
At least two years of professional experience in academic, government, or other applied research settings
Expertise in forest and fire ecology and management in Interior West conifer forests
Expertise in forest and fire ecology, fuels, and vegetation management
Fuel characteristics and fire behavior
Vegetation treatments for fuel/hazard reduction
Forest regeneration and restoration
Knowledge of monitoring methods for fuel loads, treatment effectiveness and longevity, and post-fire assessment
Experience in designing and implementing ecological research across a multitude of scales
Ability to maintain records and keep detailed reports
Proficiency in data analysis and management (e.g., R, Python, GIS)
Strong written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
Ability to lead teams and collaborate across organizations
Strong organizational and record-keeping skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in the coproduction of forest and fire science
Experience supervising staff or leading project teams
Experience disseminating research to land managers and the public through presentations, written materials, and outreach activities
Experience integrating research across stand, local, and regional scales
A career-stage appropriate portfolio of publications (not including MDPI or Frontiers journals) that demonstrate the ability to work on a diversity of questions

Responsibilities

Collaboratively develop and manage a portfolio of pre- and post-treatment and post-fire research and monitoring projects in the state of Utah
Maintain communication with UFRI leadership and external partners to identify needs and opportunities for UFRI engagement
Collaborate with UFRI leadership and internal partners on research and proposal development for external funding
Lead experimental design and development of field monitoring and analytical protocols
Oversee collection, quality assurance/quality control, analysis, and archiving of ecological and social science datasets
Collaborate in the preparation and dissemination of research findings to a wide range of partners, collaborators, and consumers through peer-reviewed journal articles; technical reports, syntheses, and white papers; data summaries; and applied communication products (fact sheets, “explainers,” slide presentations, infographics, etc.)
Supervise and mentor a cadre of research associates implementing research and monitoring activities, including field and laboratory research, spatial analysis, decision support, and technical writing
Manage project timelines, deliverables, and budgets to ensure successful completion of work
Represent UFRI through presentations, outreach, and partner engagement
Ensure compliance with university, state, and federal rules and regulations and maintain required records
Perform other job-related duties as needed