Extension Educator, Prescribed Fire

Society of American Foresters; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 68,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Minnesota Extension is hiring an Extension Educator, Prescribed Fire, to lead the Minnesota Certified Prescribed Burn Manager program. The role emphasizes curriculum development, stakeholder collaboration, and delivering education across Minnesota.

The educator will work with regional offices, Cloquet/Duluth, and partners to pilot and scale CPBM content using face-to-face and online formats, including asynchronous delivery.

Qualifications

• Master's degree addressing applications of natural, physical, or social science to problems including wildland fire or related fields.
• Ability to deliver programming to diverse audiences.
• Experience communicating complex scientific information clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborations with stakeholders.
• Wamiliarity with developing and evaluating curricula for professional audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of the Minnesota CPBM curriculum.
• Collaborate with state partners and colleagues to ensure curriculum relevance and reach.
• Deliver programming in person and remotely to diverse audiences.
• Evaluate program impact and report on outcomes.
• Grow stakeholder networks and secure funding for CPBM initiatives.

Skills

Prescribed fire knowledge

Science communication

Stakeholder relationships

Program leadership

Education

Master's degree in natural resources or related field

Job description

Working Title: Extension Educator, Prescribed Fire

Job code: 9624NR, Assistant Extension Professor-Natural Resources

Employee Group: Professional and Administrative (P&A)

Full/Part Time (FTE): 100% time. This in an in-office, in-person position, with options for flexibility

Regular/Temporary: Regular; position is currently funded through June of 2029

Office location: Preferred UMN Extension Regional Office locations are in Cloquet/Duluth, Brainerd, or Grand Rapids. Other Extension Regional Office locations may also be considered.

Pay Range: $68,000-$78,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

About the Job

This is a regional Extension Educator position that is currently funded through June 2029 with the primary responsibility to develop, pilot, and deliver a new Minnesota Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) program. This program will be developed in collaboration with the Minnesota Prescribed Fire Council, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and other stakeholders. Council members and collaborators in other states have been working to synthesize and prepare CPBM curriculum materials, and this position will assume leadership for the development and delivery of this work.

The educator will be a member of the UMN Extension Forestry team and collaborate closely with Cloquet Forestry Center staff as well as Extension educators, program coordinators, and specialists. Other collaborators include research faculty from the UMN Department of Forest Resources and other units. Key roles will include stakeholder network development, delivering Extension programming and research-based content through modalities including face-to-face and remotely, synchronously and asynchronously, written, podcast, video, or others. The position may also provide technical assistance to help grassland and forest managers identify and implement sustainable forest management activities at scale.

This position is supervised by the UMN Extension Natural Resources Program Leader. Funding for this position was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Location and Work Environment

This is an in-office, in-person position, with options for flexibility. Some of this work will be done in the community, in outdoor or off-grid or forest environments and similar locations. Work may be conducted in all weather conditions, and will need to traverse outdoor/uneven/various ground and environmental conditions and factors. This position includes occasional work in smoky, fire present locations (e.g. on site during active prescribed burn treatments).

Preferred UMN Extension Regional Office locations are in Cloquet, Brainerd, or Grand Rapids. Other Extension Regional Office locations may also be considered.

Work Schedule

This position will mainly work Monday-Friday, but program delivery activities and travel are often required on evenings and weekends. This position requires overnight travel to locations across Minnesota approximately 1-3 nights per month and additional day trips approximately 1-3 times per month.

Primary Responsibilities

70% Program Leadership and Delivery

• Design, develop, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based educational programming to advance competent, professional prescribed burn management. Namely, a new Minnesota Certified Prescribed Burn Manager program
• Identify educational needs and audiences, and design educational curricula and materials to meet those needs with an audience of aspiring prescribed burn managers. This will include synthesizing materials from existing wildland fire coursework and certified burn manager programs in other states to formalize new curriculum for Minnesota.
• Deliver programing at in-person and possibly online Extension and partner programs so attendees can gain knowledge and skills and change behavior.
• Evaluate and report on the impact of this work and how it may need to change in the future.
• Cultivate relationships with colleagues and collaborators in other states, as well as Minnesota stakeholders, to ensure quality, relevance, and audience alignment for the new curriculum.

25% Partnerships and Collaborations

• Engage key partners through the Minnesota Prescribed Fire Council to ensure broad stakeholder support for the new curriculum and program. Partner organizations include the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, nonprofit organizations including The Nature Conservancy, private contractors, Tribal fire and natural resource leads, and others.
• Coordinate other project and grant activities, including reporting requirements, for LCCMR project 2026-143, Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Curriculum Development and Pilot, which is funding the position.
• Collaborate internally with faculty from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Sciences, University of Minnesota Crookston, the Natural Resources Research Institute, and other units.
• Pursue grant funding to extend CPBM program and create other opportunities for prescribed fire training and technical assistance as identified by stakeholders.

5% Scholarship and Professional service

• As a member of the Extension natural resources team, contribute fire-related expertise to other Extension programming addressing ecosystem health, grassland and forest adaptation and resilience, and/or related issues.
• Actively contribute scholarship and service as a member of the Extension, and broader University of Minnesota community. Document professional performance using the annual performance review, professional plan of work and promotion processes for Extension educators with rank.

Required Qualifications

(must be documented on application materials)

• A master’s degree addressing applications of natural, physical, or social science to problems including, but not limited to wildland fire, silviculture, forest management, natural resource conservation, or a related field.
• Sufficient knowledge of the science and practice of prescribed fire to deliver programming to diverse, semi-professional and professional audiences.
• Experience in the practice of prescribed fire.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly and concisely in appropriate formats for various audiences, particularly in natural resource sectors (may include scientists, community members, decision makers, students, media, or others).
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
  Excellent English communication skills, including oral, written, and graphic/image formats and the ability to use technology to enhance learning.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance, to be utilized for travel to workshops and transporting materials and supplies to events; the need to transport other people/employees may occur.
• A large amount of this position’s work will be in an office or other indoor environments, but there will be a need to participate in activities in the field, including site visits, instruction, demonstrations, and other outdoor activities. In doing so, the person in this position will need to traverse terrain (typically in forests, brushlands, or prairies) and work in various weather conditions including smoky and high temperature conditions.
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile number at the employee's own expense. That number will be published in the Extension staff directory.
• Must be able to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work.
• Must have reliable internet if/when working outside of assigned office location.
• Must be able to travel within the designated work area and provide in-person programming; including transporting of supplies frequently, and other people rarely.
• This position will travel locally frequently, in state somewhat frequently and out of state rarely; see work location information for requirements for travel for this role.
• Ability to perform tasks involving frequent repetitive motions, prolonged sitting, standing, bending, twisting, lifting, and carrying 20 pounds frequently, with occasional exertion of up to thirty pounds of force.
• Ability to work on a computer for prolonged periods of time
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional training and experience as a wildland firefighter or prescribed burn practitioner.
• Training or experience in Extension theory and practice, including needs assessment and program development, delivery, management and evaluation.
• Experience engaging across the various networks, professions and organizations offering adult natural resources education.
• Experience in participatory research, community engagement and knowledge co-creation and delivery.
• Experience writing and administering grants.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and ability to work independently with little or no supervision. This includes the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with colleagues, stakeholders, and communities.

About Extension

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota, a land grant institution with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees. Find further information on the Extension website.

About Extension Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems

We work with purpose to deliver research-based programming that improves lives, environments and the communities in which we live and work. Our values are Engagement. We work alongside colleagues, partners, volunteers and stakeholders to define priorities and develop enduring solutions. Inclusion – We prioritize access and including all. Only by engaging people with a variety of perspectives, lived experiences and ways of knowing can we solve our most complex and pressing problems. Discovery – We foster curiosity and integrate research into the real world to yield innovative and practical solutions. Integrity – We build trust by being reliable, sharing unbiased research and being good stewards of the investments in Extension. Growth – We encourage lifelong professional and personal growth for our team members through technical learning, leadership development, and career opportunities. Balance - We emphasize flexibility so employees can adapt to new circumstances and manage demands across professional, personal, and community life.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $68,000-$78,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of thetime, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensuresthat compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate whilemaintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair andequitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidateswill be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.