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DEPARTMENT OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS AND SOCIETY
Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Telephone: 541-737-2244 | Fax: 541-737-5814
http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu
Position Announcement
Position Title: Assistant or Associate Professor of Nature-Based Recreation Management
The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society (FES) at Oregon State University (OSU)
invites applicants for a full-time (1.00 FTE) nine-month tenure-track Assistant or Associate
Professor position (depending on qualifications) in Nature-Based Recreation Management.
Preference will be given to candidates at the Assistant Professor level, but applicants with an
exceptional record of relevant teaching, research, and service achievements may be considered at
the Associate Professor level. This appointment consists of a balanced program of
teaching/instruction (45%), research/scholarship (40%), and service (15%) responsibilities, and
is expected to begin in September 2016. The new faculty member can supplement this
appointment during the summer through opportunities related to the position duties (e.g., grants,
summer teaching, and international study abroad). It is an exciting time in the FES Department
and the new faculty member will have many opportunities to shape, expand, and diversify the
FES Department’s reputation for excellence in research, undergraduate and graduate (masters
and doctoral) instruction, and institutional and professional service. The FES Department is
seeking a diversity of its perspectives, and welcomes applicants with a wide range of life and
professional experiences.
The new faculty member will be responsible for delivering quality instruction, especially within
the newly revised Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership (TRAL) undergraduate
program and the FES graduate program. The new faculty member will also be expected to
establish a program of distinction in research and scholarship within the broad disciplines of
nature-based recreation and protected area management, and contribute to the interdisciplinary
nature of the FES Department’s mission of “bringing together biological and social scientists and
philosophers to understand ecological systems, social systems, and the interactions between
them.” There are also opportunities to contribute to the College of Forestry’s evolving
engagement in international teaching and research, and its new Institute for Working Forest
Landscapes (http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/research/institute-working-forest-landscapes-
0). OSU is the state’s Land Grant university and is one of only two universities in the country to
hold Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Sun Grant designations. The new faculty member, therefore,
will be expected to bring their expertise and experiences to address local and regional issues as
part of their overall program of teaching, research, and service.
Position Duties:
45% – Teaching/Instruction: The new faculty member will teach three to four courses per year,
including at least one graduate level course (e.g., FES 351 “outdoor recreation management on
public lands,” FES 352 “parks and protected area management,” FES 456 “planning for outdoor
recreation” [senior capstone course], FES 422/522 “research methods in social science”).
Teaching assignments may be adjusted as the FES Department’s needs evolve and the new
faculty member’s interests and aptitude dictate, including on campus, online (e-campus), and
field-based instruction.
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The new faculty member will also be expected to recruit, supervise, support, mentor, and serve
as major advisor for graduate students. In addition, mentoring of undergraduate students and
providing opportunities for their involvement in conducting research is encouraged to help foster
professional development and placement.
40% – Research/Scholarship: The new faculty member will conduct research and scholarship
that contributes to the FES Department’s broad focal areas of sustainable tourism and outdoor
recreation, social science and natural resource policy, and integrated social and ecological
systems. The new faculty member is expected to develop a program of nationally and
internationally recognized research and scholarship that advances scientific knowledge,
addresses theoretical and applied issues, and informs management decision making. Acquisition
of external funding to support this research is essential to the success of this position. The new
faculty member will also have fiscal responsibility for research program budget development and
control.
The new faculty member will be responsible for synthesizing and communicating results of this
research to scientific and natural resource communities through outlets including refereed
journals, books and book chapters, scientific meetings, professional workshops, and outreach
with natural resource managers and other practitioners.
15% – Service: The new faculty member will participate annually in an equitable share of
departmental, college, and university level affairs and governance, including leadership in
curriculum and program administration, especially for the TRAL program. This service includes
demonstrating initiative, a cooperative spirit, and excellent organizational and communication
skills in carrying out obligations as a member of academia and as a state employee.
Service is also expected in support of external agencies, industry, academic organizations,
review boards (e.g., journals, panels), and other professional groups and associations. The new
faculty member will also be expected to actively participate in promoting and enhancing a
diverse, equitable, and inclusive community both on and off campus.
Appropriate collaboration with faculty, students, staff, and external partners and clientele (e.g.,
natural resource professionals, Extension personnel, educators, public) in various venues is
expected in all of these areas of responsibility and duties.
The new faculty member will drive OSU Motor Pool and/or personal vehicles to meet with
stakeholders and for field trips.
Required Qualifications:
An earned doctorate degree (e.g., Ph.D., D.Phil.) by the time of hire focusing on naturebased
recreation, leisure sciences, park and protected area management, human
dimensions of natural resources, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated commitment to student success.
Experience in teaching/instruction.
Demonstrated potential to develop and manage an active research program that advances
scientific knowledge, addresses theoretical and applied issues, and informs management
decision making.
Demonstrated potential to publish in outlets such as refereed journals, books, and/or book
chapters.
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Experience presenting research findings at scientific meetings and/or professional
workshops.
Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills enabling collaboration
with a broad spectrum of students, teachers, researchers, and natural resource
professionals.
To be appointed at the Associate Professor level by the time of hire, applicants must have
sufficient experience to qualify for promotion to this level at OSU according to the
university’s guidelines (http://oregonstate.edu/admin/aa/faculty-handbook-promotionand-
tenure-guidelines). Appointment at the Associate Professor level requires teaching,
research, and service performance that meets the criteria for promotion to the rank.
Specifically for this position, appointment at the Associate Professor level requires a
strong record of achievement in: (a) scholarship/publications, (b) innovative and funded
research programs, (c) teaching and course development at the college level, (d) service
both on and off campus, and (e) experience creating, administering, and/or managing
curriculum or other academic programs.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the
incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be
position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to
self-report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal
History Checks every 24 months.
This position requires driving a University vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the
University; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Motor Vehicle History
Check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be
determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions (as per Voluntary and
Compulsory Driver Standards OSU Standard 125-155-0200) as per OSU 576-056-0000
et seq.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to teach/instruct specifically at the college level.
Demonstrated ability to develop and teach online distance (e-campus) courses.
Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, including evidence of
successful mentoring of members of traditionally underrepresented groups.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage an active research program that advances
scientific knowledge, addresses theoretical and applied issues, and informs management
decision making. This includes writing proposals for competitively funded grants and
securing research funds.
Publications in outlets such as refereed journals, books, and/or book chapters.
Demonstrated ability to lead collaborative projects/programs involving teams of faculty,
students, managers, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to create, administer, and/or manage curriculum or other academic
programs.
Demonstrated ability to integrate social and ecological sciences in research, and
communicate interdisciplinary approaches in teaching/instruction.
Demonstrated ability to integrate contemporary and innovative pedagogies, technologies,
methods, and/or other tools in research and teaching.
Active participation in professional organizations.
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Salary:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with education and experience. The benefits package
includes several options for health/dental/life insurance, retirement, and reduced tuition for
dependents (some restrictions apply).
To Apply:
To view the posting and apply, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/jobs and search for posting
#0016472. The position will remain open until filled. For full consideration, apply by December
4, 2015. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a
sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to
change without notice to applicants.
Qualified applicants will be required to upload the following electronic documents when
applying:
Full curriculum vitae/resume, including the names and complete contact information
(mailing address, telephone number, email address) of five individuals who can be
contacted to provide references.
Detailed letter of application describing your: (a) qualifications for this position
(education, professional, and life experiences) in reference to this position’s required and
preferred qualifications (see above); (b) vision, interests, and experience associated with
research and scholarship; and (c) ability to integrate social and ecological sciences in
research and scholarship. At the beginning of this letter, you must specify whether you
are applying for the position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. This letter must
be no longer than three single-spaced pages (12 point font, 1 inch margins).
Separate statement outlining your: (a) interests and experience associated with
teaching/instruction, (b) teaching philosophy, and (c) experiences related to
demonstrating commitment to student success, engaging with students, and promoting
and enhancing diversity. This statement must be no longer than one single-spaced page
(12 point font, 1 inch margins).
Official or unofficial transcripts of all higher education coursework and degrees (official
transcripts will be required from the new faculty member by the time of hire).
Up to three of your publications most relevant to this position that exhibit your
scholarship.
Applicants will also have the option of uploading student evaluations of teaching (e.g., teaching
scores), if desired.
Location:
The location of this position is Corvallis, Oregon (United States), a vibrant town of more than
56,000 people in the heart of Western Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Ocean beaches, lakes, rivers,
forests, high desert, the rugged Cascade and Coast mountain ranges, and the urban amenities of
the Portland and Eugene metropolitan areas are all within a 100-mile drive of Corvallis.
Corvallis consistently ranks among the best and safest cities to live in the country, as well as
among the most environmentally responsible.
The FES Department is one of three departments in the College of Forestry and has 44
internationally recognized faculty, 550 undergraduate and 125 graduate students, multimillion
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dollar research and educational programs, and outstanding facilities. We also have close ties to
other campus units and several partner agencies and organizations in the area. Our degree
programs, extensive outreach education network, and involvement in natural resource issues and
public service make this a stimulating and rewarding place to work and study. Additional
information about the FES Department is at: http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu. Additional
information about the College of Forestry is at: http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu.
OSU is the only university in Oregon to hold both the Carnegie Foundation’s top designation for
research institutions and its prestigious Community Engagement classification. With 11 colleges,
15 Agricultural Experiment Stations, 35 county Extension offices, the Hatfield Marine Sciences
Center in Newport, an active program in La Grande, and OSU-Cascades Campus in Bend, OSU
has a presence in every one of Oregon’s 36 counties, with a statewide economic footprint of
$2.23 billion. OSU welcomes a diverse student body of over 26,000 students from across
Oregon, all 50 states, and more than 100 countries. They can choose from more than 200
undergraduate and 80 graduate degree programs, including over 30 degrees online offered
through E-campus. Additional information about OSU is at: http://oregonstate.edu.
Additional Information:
For more information about this position, please contact Mark Needham, Ph.D., Search
Committee Chair, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Telephone: 541-737-1498.
Email: mark.needham@oregonstate.edu
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are
an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer, and particularly encourage applications
from members of historically underrepresented racial / ethnic groups, women, individuals with
disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who share our vision of an
inclusive community.