Campus/Location:
Penn State Extension
Date Announced:
07/05/2019
Date Closing:
open until filled
Job Number:
88967
Level/Salary Band:
03 – H – Exempt
Work Unit:
College of Agricultural Sciences
Department:
Extension-McKean or Elk County
Full/Part Time:
Full–Time
The College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an individual trained in forest resource management to join our nationally recognized Penn State Extension Forestry and Wildlife Team. As a member of this statewide team, the individual will be responsible for actively working to identify important educational needs and learning objectives and implementing programs that address them. Team members are expected to participate programmatically at the county, area, and state level. In addition, team members are expected to develop a diverse external funding portfolio (e.g. grants, contracts, cost recovery, development) in support of the team’s programs. Pennsylvania has approximately 17 million forested acres covering nearly 60% of the state. These forests are important for furnishing timber and non-timber forest products (Pennsylvania is the nation’s leader of hardwood lumber production.), jobs, clean water, wildlife habitat, and other services. Significantly, nearly three-quarters (70%) of the state’s forestland is in private ownership, held by an estimated 738,000 owners. Sustainable management of these forests has strong economic, social, and ecological implications. However, extension work to support, inform, and sustain public land agencies’ goals and activities is also extremely important in Area 2 and across the state. Additionally, coordination between public land managers and private landowners is needed on a landscape scale to address broader forest management issues that impact forests across borders, including invasive species, pests and pathogens, watershed health, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat, to name a few. The individual in this position will undertake primarily these activities: provide diverse forest resources programming to private (non-industrial) forest landowners, natural resource professionals (foresters, wildlife biologists, timber harvesters, etc.), youth, and educators; assist forest landowners and natural resource professionals in gaining knowledge, making decisions, establishing beneficial partnerships, and acquiring skills to manage forest resources sustainably so that these working forests provide enduring benefits; and encourage private landowners to obtain professional forestry assistance in managing their forestlands for long term health and productivity. The expected outcomes of this work will include increased: acres of sustainablly managed forestlands, use of BMPs for site and water quality protection, forest landowners following written management plans, trained loggers, and trained/certified natural resources professionals. Other critical outcomes include higher employment in the forest sector, better trained forestry/natural resource professionals, better science-based management of private forest lands, broader community engagement on forest issues, and citizens that are more aware of the importance of forests and their sustainable management. Area 2 contains a variety of forest types and multiple ecoregions. The Educator in this position will work with local stakeholders to determine the primary needs for forest management programming topics and engagement in this region, but likely programming foci include: multiple-use forest management, silviculture, invasive and interfering vegetation management, wildlife habitat management, deer management, ecosystem services, managing successional diversity, participation of women and minorities in forest management activities, low-value wood use and markets, wood energy, pest and pathogen effects, riparian management, logger safety, agroforestry and non-timber forest products. The Educator in this position will be responsible for developing and leading educational programs in these areas for landowners, natural resource professionals, community stakeholders, government officials, educators and youth. The counties of Area 2 include significant acreage in private and public forestland; both private landowner engagement as well as coordination with public land management agencies will be essential in this position. County-based Extension Educators work closely with university-based research faculty and other agencies engaged in foundational forest management research (USFS labs, etc.) in developing and conducting applied research that is relevant to state-wide client needs. The individual must work effectively in a team and with diverse populations and audiences. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop and/or participate in interdisciplinary collaborations across multiple statewide extension teams and with outside institutions. While the successful candidate will be stationed in Extension Area 2 (Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter and Warren Counties), the employee will be part of a state team and thus expected to participate and deliver programs across the state. Review of applications will begin August, 1 2019 and will remain open until a suitable candidate is hired. Typically requires a Master's degree or higher plus two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional experience is preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with degree(s) in forest resources management, forest ecosystem management, environmental science, silviculture, or other related disciplines, and to those that have related work experience in natural resources education or forest resource management. Candidates should have a basic knowledge of and commitment to sustainable forestry, wildlife management, silviculture, insect and disease management, invasive and competing plants, and enjoy the challenge of working as part of a team on a wide variety of educational efforts. A demonstrated ability to relate to a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students is desirable. Candidates must possess effective communication skills (both verbal and written), teaching skills, and interpersonal skills. The abilities to build effective working relationships with colleagues and clientele and to work as a member of a team are necessary. The candidate must be organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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