Tenure Track Faculty - Department of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management (Rangeland Resource Science)

Cal Poly Humboldt and the Department of Forestry, Fire and Rangeland Management invites applicants for a full-time, academic year, tenure-track faculty position with an emphasis in Rangeland Resource Science. We invite applicants with a broad suite of skills in addition to range, including fire, wildlife, and social science/policy.

About the Department

The Department of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management offers three baccalaureate degree programs in Forestry, Applied Fire Science and Management, and Rangeland Resources Science. The department has approximately 286 Forestry, 43 Applied Fire Science, and 33 Rangeland Resources Science undergraduate students, with anticipated continued growth following Humboldt’s recent polytechnic designation. The department prides itself on a strong tradition of field-based instruction and hands-on learning in natural resource management.

The Rangeland Resources Science (RRS) program was accredited by the Society for Range Management in 2025 and will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2028. The program qualifies students for federal OPM 0454 Rangeland Management Specialist employment, and includes a wildland soils concentration that qualifies graduates for federal OPM 0470 Soil Scientist employment.

For more information about the department, visit: https://www.humboldt.edu/forestry-fire-rangeland-management.

Responsibilities

Candidates should be committed to teaching excellence and to building a strong research record. Instructional assignments may include:

• RRS 306 (Rangeland Management Principles)
• RRS 360 (Rangeland Plant Communities)
• RRS 370 (Rangeland Ecology)
• RRS 375 (Rangeland Inventory and Health)
• RRS 420 (Introduction to Animal Science)
• RRS 430 (Rangeland Restoration and Improvement)
• RRS 460 (Rangeland and Ranch Planning)
• Other classes based on candidate expertise

Primary professional responsibilities include:

• Teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity
• Service to the University, profession, and community
• Advising students
• Participation in campus and system-wide committees
• Maintaining office hours
• Collaborating with colleagues
• Participation in traditional academic functions

Probationary faculty receive ongoing mentorship and a reduced teaching load (approximately one course fewer per semester during the first two years) to support the establishment of research, scholarship, and creative activities required for retention, tenure, and promotion.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. or equivalent in Rangeland Ecology and Management or a related field from an accredited college or university at the time of appointment (ABD candidates must complete degree requirements by the appointment date)
• Record of training or experience in Rangeland Resource Science
• Excellence in, or clear potential for, university-level teaching and creating a student-centered learning environment
• Evidence of, or clear potential for, conducting and publishing original research on Rangeland Management in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience in, or clear commitment to, applied, community-based rangeland research in collaboration with regional livestock producers, Tribal Nations, and/or prescribed burn associations
• Demonstrated commitment to collegiality and interdisciplinary collaboration across programs such as Applied Fire Science, Native American Studies, Wildlife, Environmental Science, and Botany
• Experience with, or evidence of preparation for, grant writing and pursuit of external funding
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse student and/or research populations
• Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity addressing issues of concern facing students from diverse backgrounds in higher education
• Record of, or potential for, involving students in research and scholarly activity

Preferred Qualifications

• Active involvement in professional organization(s) affiliated with range, fire, wildlife, and/or soils science disciplines
• Record of rangeland, fire, soils, and/or wildlife habitat management experience with federal or state agencies, Tribal Nations, Cooperative Extension Service, academic research, or other land management activities
• Familiarity with diverse soils and rangeland ecosystems, including coastal prairies, annual grasslands, and oak woodlands
• Experience in the development of online learning experiences and the use of online instructional technologies

Pay

The Assistant Professor classification annual salary range for this position is $74,652 - $158,688; the anticipated starting annual salary is $76,000 - $79,000.

Benefits

Cal Poly Humboldt provides an excellent benefits package for faculty. Information about benefits plans can be found at: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf.

Additional Information

Employment is contingent upon working in the state of California. The successful candidate must be able to accept on-campus instruction assignments and come to campus when needed. At the time of appointment, non-U.S. citizens must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States. Evidence of degree(s) is required at the time of hire.

Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations and prioritizes applicants who demonstrate understanding of the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The university is located on the traditional homelands of the Wiyot people in Arcata, CA, and is home to leading Native American programs, including the Indian Tribal Education and Personnel Program (ITEPP) and the Indian Natural Resource, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP).