Identify operational priorities and capability gaps in fire weather, climate, fuels, and environmental information to align university research capacity with federal and regional land management needs.Coordinate multi-institutional activities across external partners to maximize program relevance, enhance proposal competitiveness for extramural funding, and prevent duplication of research effort.Exercise independent judgment and considerable operational latitude in establishing long-term partnership goals, strategic outreach plans, and collaborative frameworks with sponsor leadership.Applied Interdisciplinary Research & Tool Development:- Translate deep operational fire management expertise into novel, interdisciplinary research questions, bridging the gap between academic atmospheric/environmental science and operational wildland fire decision-making.
- Lead and co-lead the conceptualization, testing, and iteration of experimental, science-based decision-support tools, datasets, and environmental models tailored for wildland fire managers.
- Actively contribute to scholarly and practical outputs, including co-authoring peer-reviewed journal publications, technical reports, white papers, and sponsor deliverables.
- Evaluate complex, non-precedented environmental challenges in wildland fire management using innovative methods and domain expertise.
Applied Training & Technology Transfer:- Design, author, and deliver specialized training materials and instructional modules for operational wildland fire managers focused on WFEIP experimental tools and datasets.
- Conduct technical workshops, technology transfer sessions, and consultation services to facilitate practitioner adoption of emerging science-based tools.
- Synthesize user feedback from fire practitioners during training activities to inform continuous tool refinement and guide future university research initiatives.
Stakeholder Representation & Program Leadership:- Represent WFEIP and the University externally to federal decision-makers, agency leadership, fire managers, and interagency research committees.
- Serve as an internal operational subject matter expert and liaison to faculty, research groups, and campus units whose work intersects with wildland fire management and environmental science.
- Promote program visibility and research impact at national professional conferences, sponsor reviews, and interagency briefings.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Demonstrated expertise in applied meteorology and climatology, considered a recognized regional or national subject matter expert (SME).
- Demonstrated knowledge of the inter-agency operational environment of US wildland fire management, including the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Coordination System (NCS).
- Demonstrated experience developing and delivering training materials for US wildland fire managers. (NWCG 400-level (national) or higher level, especially with fire environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build, support, & adapt science-based tools for wildland fire management.
- Knowledge of how interagency fire environment science, developed applications, related training & standards, and field practitioner use & experience have historically been interrelated.
- Demonstrated skill of collaborative research.
This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Preferred Qualifications- Bachelor of science degree AND a minimum of 20 years of experience working directly with wildland fire managers on delivery of science-based tools and information.
FLSA: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time: Part Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week: 20
Job FTE: .50
Work Calendar: Fiscal
Job Category: Research
Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay: $86,870 - $112,932
Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade11
Compensation GuidanceThe
Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The
Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our
Applicant Compensation Guide and our
Total Rewards Calculator.
Career Stream and LevelPC4
Job FamilyResearch Development
Job FunctionResearch
Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies: 1
Contact Information for CandidatesMike Crimmins:crimmins@arizona.eduDan Ferguson:dferg@arizona.eduOpen Until Filled: Yes
Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety ReportIn compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an
Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at
cleryact@arizona.edu.
