Assistant/Associate Professor, Landscape-scale Working Lands Conservation

Opt For Healthy Living; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 105,492 - 114,720; Full time

Job summary

Opt For Healthy Living is hiring an Associate Professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, to enhance the Environmental Management major through innovative teaching and research. The position emphasizes student preparation for careers in landscape conservation.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. and a strong commitment to inclusive education. Responsibilities include developing courses and conducting applied research with students, addressing conservation challenges in California.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in a relevant field.
• Potential for excellence in teaching and communication.
• Experience in student-centered teaching and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Prepare students for leadership in conservation efforts.
• Expand lower and upper-division courses in Environmental Management.
• Conduct applied research involving students and partners.

Skills

Teaching ability

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Team player

Student-centered learning

Research development

Commitment to inclusivity

Education

Ph.D. in Environmental Management or closely related field

Job description

Position Details

Job no: 559271

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure‑Track

Location: Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo Campus

Categories: Unit 3 – CFA – California Faculty Association, Probationary, Full Time, Faculty – Agriculture

Job Description

Working lands, including forests, farms, and ranches, are key to advancing state‑wide conservation, environmental management, and climate‑adaptation goals. Consistent with Cal Poly’s polytechnic mission, the ideal candidate will show a strong interest and ability to prepare our students to serve as future leaders across the diverse organizations advancing landscape‑scale conservation on working lands across California and beyond. The ideal candidate will bring innovative ways to expand the lower‑division core and complementary upper‑division courses in the Environmental Management and Protection major. The ability to link new courses to the Forest and Fire Sciences major would be considered a strength.

The teaching and scholarship area of the ideal candidate would broadly center on using biophysical approaches at a landscape‑scale to address the suite of conservation and environmental management issues facing working lands in the western United States. Relevant areas of expertise may include, for example, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and resilience, water resource management, carbon management, or related fields that address conservation and productivity goals across multiple land uses and jurisdictions. Applicants with a demonstrated ability to partner with diverse environmental resource managers and rights holders to advance teaching and scholarship are encouraged to apply. A vision and ability to leverage Cal Poly’s more than 9,000 acres of working lands, such as Swanton Pacific Ranch, to advance experiential learning and applied research is highly valued.

Salary

Associate Professor: $105,492 – $114,720

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology/Ecology, Forestry or a closely related field. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to the start of the appointment.
• Candidates must demonstrate, or show potential for, excellence in teaching, effective communication, interpersonal skills, and ability to be a team player. Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.
• Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to communicate well with peers, students, industry partners, and the public.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student‑centered learning and teaching, as well as demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings are required.
• Strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching are required.
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments is required.
• Candidates must demonstrate the ability to develop an externally funded, applied research program that involves undergraduate and/or graduate students, and collaboration with key external partners.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Preference will be given to candidates with a 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.
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience working collaboratively with partners including, for example, public lands managers, the forestry industry, the agricultural industry, state agencies, tribal governments and organizations, and non‑governmental organizations to advance teaching and scholarship.
• Applicants with industry experience, university‑level teaching experience, a record of successful research, and the demonstrated ability to generate external funding to support student research will all be given preference.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment.

Subject to further planning and approval, Cal Poly anticipates a possible transition to semester‑based year‑round operations (YRO). Under YRO, full‑time academic year faculty may be assigned to teach in two consecutive semesters (Fall/Spring, Spring/Summer, or Summer/Fall) out of the three semesters offered annually. The two‑semester sequence will constitute the regular academic year appointment. Faculty may also be eligible to teach in the third semester for additional compensation, subject to departmental needs and University policy.

AWARD AND HEALTH POLICY

For health and well‑being, Cal Poly is a smoke‑and‑tobacco‑free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out‑of‑State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure‑line faculty are expected to establish an on‑campus presence.