Regional Liaison

Westernfireforest; Cary (NC); Remote; USD 68,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Remote work

Professional development

Job summary

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies seeks a liaison for the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) to engage with land managers and science teams across the Rocky Mountain region. The role emphasizes science–management partnerships, boundary-spanner networking, and remote collaboration with field travel in the Rocky Mountain states.

The successful candidate will facilitate science translation for place-based research, attend regional meetings, and help broaden the program’s

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in ecology, natural resource management, or related field.
• One year of experience in applied research or natural resource management and policy.
• Knowledge of land management decision-making context in the Rocky Mountain region.
• Experience with science–management partnerships and boundary organizations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct on-the-ground engagement with state, federal, and non-governmental land management organizations in the Rocky Mountain region.
• Represent WFFRC’s science agenda at regional meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Build partnerships and maintain relationships with land managers.
• Translate practical challenges into research needs and work with scientists to customize deliverables.
• Represent science needs in place-based research and syntheses.
• Collaborate with boundary organizations to strengthen knowledge exchange.

Skills

Science communication

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation

Network building

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

We seek an engaging connector and partnership builder to join the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) as liaison in the Northern Rocky Mountain region. WFFRC is engaging 10 science teams to create and implement a research program that will ensure the science of fire ecology and forest resilience can support effective solutions for the fire crisis in the western US. WFFRC is led by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem studies and is expected to run for the next 5 to 10 years. The regional liaison will have the opportunity to connect with WFFRC science teams across the country. This position will be supervised by WFFRC’s Deputy Director for Policy and Management, Dr. Crystal Raymond.

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is the world’s premier think tank on ecosystem science. It is a uniquely collaborative, supportive, and welcoming institution. The successful candidate will have opportunities for professional development beyond the project. For additional information about Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, visit https://www.caryinstitute.org/.

Conduct on-the-ground engagement with state, federal, and non-governmental land management organizations in the Rocky Mountain region.

Represent WFFRC’s science agenda at regional meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Build partnerships and maintain relationships with land managers.

Connect the practical challenges facing land managers with WFFRC’s science program by identifying science needs and working with WFFRC scientists to customize research products.

Represent the science needs of managers in the development of place-based research, customized deliverables, and science synthesis.

Collaborate with science–management boundary organizations, such as the Fire Science Exchange Network, to strengthen regional capacity for knowledge exchange

Location:

This position is remote and open to candidates living in Idaho or Montana.

Qualifications & Skills:

Master’s degree in ecology, natural resource management, natural resource policy, or related field.

One year of experience in applied research or natural resource management and policy.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience with science-management partnerships and working collaboratively at the boundary of science and decision-making.

A professional network of researchers or natural resource managers in the region.

Knowledge of the land and resource management decision-making context and challenges specific to the Rocky Mountain region.

Experience with facilitation and stakeholder engagement.

Experience with applied fire or forest ecology research or natural resource management.

Excellent interpersonal skills to quickly build and maintain relationships, foster science–management partnerships, and expand professional networks.

Ability to work remotely, independently, and collaboratively with science teams dispersed around the country.

Strong skills in oral and written science communication for diverse, non-scientific audiences.

Familiarity with ecosystems, fire regimes, and forest ecology in the Rocky Mountain region.

A passion for applying science to achieve real-world impact

Full time, exempt, fully benefited

One year initial appointment, renewable for an additional year contingent upon performance and funding.

The Cary Institute standard work week is 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday.

Regular travel in the Rocky Mountain region (Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming).

Other domestic travel outside the region approximately 2-5 times per year.

This position has no physical demands, safety concerns, or potential hazards.

Finalist candidates must successfully complete a post-offer, pre-employment background check.

Annual salary ranges from $68,000- $72,000 depending on experience plus a highly competitive benefits and time-off package.

A start date before May 15, 2026 is preferred