Fixed‐Term Position Announcement
Academic Specialist – Outreach
Forest Carbon and Climate Program
Department of Forestry

Position description: The Department of Forestry at Michigan State University invites applications for a full‐time,
12‐month Academic Specialist focused on forests, carbon, and climate change. The successful candidate will help
lead the department’s Forest Carbon and Climate Program, with a special focus on activities and projects in the
United States and Canada. The mission of the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP) is to meet the educational
needs of professionals and the public on forest carbon and its relationship to mitigating climate change. The position
will consist of outreach and non‐credit online education (55%), curriculum development (20%), research (20%), and
other activities (5%). This is a fixed‐term position with annual renewals available depending on satisfactory
performance and continued funding availability. The position is supported by MSU and a coalition of external
partners from industry, conservation, and government.

This role is a unique opportunity to shape an important and timely disciplinary intersection of forest management,
conservation, forest products, and global climate change. The specialist will: develop and implement training and
educational material for North American professionals; track science and policy in forest carbon and climate topics;
present at influential events and professional gatherings; design and lead workshop sessions; collect and analyze
data; build relationships with partners; contribute to proposal development and pursue funding for specific projects;
monitor and report on sponsored activities; support policymakers and natural resource decisionmakers; contribute
to a research agenda; and complete limited administrative tasks related to educational programming offered by the
FCCP, including the Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy, and Management.

Required Qualifications: Master’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, environmental economics,
environmental policy, or a related field. At least 3 to 5 years of demonstrated leadership in relevant research, science
communication, conservation, program or project management, or environmental education. Strong written and
verbal communication (including public speaking), knowledge of foundational environmental science methods and
outputs, and a passion to learn, including tracking new developments in this evolving field. Eagerness to interpret
and translate research findings for diverse audiences, visualize and analyze data, and utilize cutting‐edge software to
help further an effective and vibrant Forest Carbon and Climate Program at MSU.

Preferred Qualifications: Doctoral degree in above fields. Experience or background in grant writing, publishing in
academic journals and opinion pieces, community engagement, adult education, and/or teaching at the college level.
Knowledge of or experience in forest carbon project development, forest carbon baseline modeling, risk
assessments, and monitoring, reporting, and verification.

Location: The position will be based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA. Formally established in
1902, Michigan State’s Department of Forestry was among the first undergraduate forestry programs in the U.S. and
is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. The Department is a vibrant, growing, internationally recognized
unit committed to interdisciplinary education, research, and extension to understand and resolve environmental and
natural resource issues.

MSU enjoys a park‐like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is located in the city of
East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of
approximately 450,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. The
University is proactive about its obligations under the ADA and provides individual accessibility plans to students and
employees with disabilities. Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for
dual career families, both inside and outside the University, and respects all family forms. Information about MSU’s
dual career support can be found at http://miwin.msu.edu/. Information about WorkLife at MSU can be found at
http://worklife.msu.edu/ The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is committed
to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic
diversity. We are an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates
of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and
proactive inclusion.

The position will be office‐based, with intermittent North American travel. Office environment will include some
remote work, largely in professional settings. Occasional opportunities to visit the field may arise.
To Apply: For consideration, submit your application online at http://careers.msu.edu to position number 623271.
Upload the following required documents: a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position; b) current
curriculum vitae; c) summary of your experience supporting diversity in previous employment and a description of
how you will contribute to our goals of inclusive excellence; and d) contact information for three professional
references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application deadline: The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until a
suitable candidate is selected. The position is targeted to begin in early 2020. Questions regarding this position can be
addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Lauren Cooper, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, MI 48824, USA, email: ltcooper@msu.edu.