College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University is seeking an effective and dynamic educator to fill the Extension Specialist in Forest Management position. This is a full time, 1.0 FTE, 12-month professional staff position within the department’s 10-person Extension Forestry team of 4 faculty and 6 professional staff. The Department’s Extension team works collectively with faculty and staff in tourism and wood products to form the overall Extension program in the College of Natural Resources. The position is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, but requires travel throughout North Carolina. The Forest Management Specialist will provide leadership for the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programming and materials with an emphasis on multi-use forest management and silviculture for woodland owners. Topics may include (but are not limited to) forest management, forest stewardship, reforestation, invasive species, wildlife, non timber forest products, and climate adaptation and mitigation. In addition, the Specialist will build collaborative partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including county Extension personnel, landowners, state and federal agencies, non-government organizations, natural resource professionals and others to increase the visibility and reach of Extension Forestry. They will be responsible for developing and delivering educational programming to diverse audiences, including stakeholders from diverse socio-demographic groups and with varied background knowledge of forest management.

The Specialist will work with researchers within the College of Natural Resources, across the university, and other agencies to interpret and disseminate current research findings consistent with the philosophy, policy, and overall educational objectives of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and NC State University. Educational information and program delivery will be in cooperation with the 101 Extension Centers throughout North Carolina, current Extension Forestry team members, statewide partners and stakeholders, and should use a variety of delivery strategies appropriate for the target audience. Strategies could include workshops, short-courses, demonstration projects, webinars, podcasts, publications, fact-sheets, mass media, and social media. The Forest Management Extension Specialist will report to the Associate Dean of Extension, Department Extension Leader in the College of Natural Resources.

 

 

The physical demands of the position described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the basic essential functions of the Extension Specialist in Forest Management position. The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources is committed to determining and supporting accommodations as needed to meet the physical demands of this position.

 

• Applied knowledge and experience in forestry with emphasis on multi-use forest management and silviculture
• Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate participatory non-formal education programs
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including effective use of electronic and printed media
• Self-directed and self-motivated with the ability to multitask, set priorities, seek opportunities, manage resources, and exhibit success
• Basic knowledge of educational technologies (common computer software programs, Zoom, Panopto, PowerPoint/Google Slides, etc.) and their appropriate use in the development and delivery of educational programs and materials
• Evidence of the commitment to uphold and promote NC Cooperative Extension’s commitment to diversity and the College of Natural Resources values of Equity and Inclusion, Community, Collaboration, Innovation, and Sustainability
• Ability to match schedule to extension needs including the delivery of evening and weekend educational programs and activities as determined by programming and collaborator needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and/or maintain status as NC registered forester
• Knowledge of the Land Grant Mission and the role of Extension
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, work, teach and interact with diverse populations, including stakeholders from different socio-demographic groups and with varied background knowledge of forest management
• Demonstrated ability to teach effectively in non-formal settings, including but not limited to field days, demonstrations, workshops, and public events
• Demonstrated experience writing grants for external funding to support educational outreach programming
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and/or implement an applied research program
• Experience using a variety of digital media tools to create engaging educational materials to reach expanding and new online audiences
• At least one degree in forestry from an SAF-accredited program.