Assistant Professor of Natural Resource and Water Policy

The University of Montana is seeking a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Natural Resource and Water Policy. The role involves teaching, advising students, and leading research in natural resource management. Candidates should have expertise in Western American water policy and be able to connect policy with practice. The position is located in Missoula, MT, and includes teaching courses in natural resource and water policy.
Assistant Professor of Natural Resource and Water
Policy

University of Montana: Provost: Missoula: W. A. Franke College of
Forestry and Conservation: Society and Conservation

Location: Missoula, MT, United States

Open Date: Dec 03, 2024

Deadline:

Description

The Department of Society and Conservation in the
W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University
of Montana invites applications for a full-time academic year
(10-month) tenure-track Assistant Professor
of Natural Resource and Water Policy to join our
dynamic and interdisciplinary social science faculty. We are
seeking candidates with expertise in Western American natural
resource and water policy who have the ability to integrate and
apply this expertise to a range of contemporary real-world
challenges in natural resource management and governance. The
successful candidate will lead an impactful research program,
advise students, and help meet demand for policy-related coursework
in the College and across the University, including by teaching
courses in Natural Resource Policy and Water Policy. This position
will be housed in the Environmental Science and Sustainability
program, an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that connects
science and solutions to provide students with the knowledge and
skills to solve complex environmental problems and advance
sustainability.

The ability to make connections between policy and practice within
the context of different disciplines, areas of resource management,
and conservation foci is key to this position. The College,
Department, and Program value public outreach and engagement and
"partnering with place;" and the application of scholarship to
practice at the federal, state, and tribal levels of natural
resource and water management. The candidate will contribute to
joint efforts and a long-running collaboration between the College
and the environmental program within the Alexander Blewett III
Blewett School of Law, including a possible professional master's
degree program in natural resources law and policy, to be jointly
administered between the College and School of Law.

The successful candidate will help meet the high demand for
policy-related coursework in the College and will complement and
deepen existing policy coursework and expertise offered in the
areas of natural resources, federal public lands, and wildlife. The
faculty member will teach 6 to 9 credits per academic year.
Teaching will include a large undergraduate survey course in
natural resources policy, an upper-division undergraduate course in
water policy (with a particular focus on Western U.S. water policy,
law, and management), and an additional course (or courses) to be
determined based on the needs of programs across the College and
the background of the successful applicant.

About us

The Department of Society and Conservation is an interdisciplinary
social science department within the W.A. Franke College of
Forestry and Conservation at The University of Montana. We are
dedicated to research and education that addresses our most
pressing human-environment challenges. We value multiple approaches
to pedagogy and to social science inquiry, and we embrace
interdisciplinary collaboration in and out of the classroom. Our
faculty have expertise in human dimensions of natural resources,
environmental governance and public lands policy, outdoor
recreation and nature-based tourism, sustainable communities and
livelihoods, wildland and protected area management, international
conservation and development and political ecology and
environmental justice. We work at local to global scales,
connecting science and practice to engage a range of
decision-makers and communities. Additional information can be
found at https://www.umt.edu/environment/.

Position Details

Title: Assistant Professor of Natural Resource and
Water Policy

Schedule: Full time academic year (10-month)
position beginning fall semester 2025

FTE: 0.45 research, 0.45 teaching, 0.10
service

Benefits: Medical
Insurance/Mandatory Retirement Contribution/Professional
Development/Partial Tuition Waiver/Wellness

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
• A Ph.D. or J.D. with emphasis on natural resource or water
policy and/or law.
• Evidence of ability to develop and manage an active research
program and potential to achieve professional distinction and
national recognition in the candidate's field.
• Interest in and experience with applied research at state,
federal, and/or tribal levels.
• Demonstrated or potential for excellence in teaching at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.

Preferred Qualifications
• Expertise in the field of water policy, with a focus on the
Western US.
• Relevant professional, applied, or managerial experience
outside of traditional scholarship.
• Experience bridging policy and practice in teaching and/or
professional work.
• Experience building partnerships with a range of private,
public, and/or non-profit organizations.
• Experience teaching and mentoring.
• Ability to connect students to professional opportunities and
career pathways.

Application Instructions

Priority Application Date: Monday, January 27,
2025 by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed
consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are
required to submit all of the following materials:
• A cover letter (2 page maximum) describing your interest in the
position and relevant experience in both teaching and
research.
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• One recent, relevant publication.
• Names and contact information for three references.

The University of Montana is interested in receiving applications
from people who would assist the University in demonstrating its
five
priorities for action:
Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence
and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the
principle of "mission first, people always"; partner with place;
and proudly tell the UM story.

Please contact Search Committee Chair Will Rice
(will.rice@mso.umt.edu) with any questions.

For more information and to apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/160158

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Montana (UM) is an equal opportunity
employer. UM does not discriminate against any applicant on the
basis of protected class status as described in UM's
non-discrimination policy and any applicable law.

Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for
persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available
in alternative format upon request.

Qualified candidates may request veterans' or disabilities
preference in accordance with state law.

Criminal Background Investigation is required
prior to the offer of employment. In accordance with university
regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to
criminal background investigations.

References: References not listed on the
application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to
the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may
elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to
essential job functions.

Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be
eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first
date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form
I-9).

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