Fire Academic Coordinator II (AP 26-08)

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for an Academic Coordinator II position at UC Cooperative Extension, Humboldt office, in Eureka, CA.

Location Headquarters: UCCE, Eureka, CA.

Purpose:
The Academic Coordinator II will assist in content development, partner coordination, and project implementation of the Fire Resilience and Workforce Development Program. Specifically, this position will collaborate with UC ANR staff, including the ANR Fire Network, and strategic partners to develop educational curricula to increase fire resiliency in California across a variety of stakeholders and thematic areas. The coordinator will also communicate science-based research, pursue new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers, both internal and external to UC ANR, and build relationships with project partners across the state. This curriculum will be delivered in both online and in-person formats. The coordinator will also help teach components of the program.

The Fire Resilience Education and Workforce Development Program will help California's citizens, professionals, and communities accelerate fire adaptation and resilience. This program will develop and deliver comprehensive fire education supporting workforce development and action planning. Through this program, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources team is leveraging its in-house expertise, in partnership with CAL FIRE and other groups, to develop educational programming in fire. The program aims to bolster a fundamental understanding of the components of wildfire risk at home, community, and landscape scales. These targeted trainings will reduce the threat of wildfire by inspiring action, standardizing messaging, and invigorating community planning and risk reduction.

The Academic Coordinator II will also assist in fire science outreach and education for Northern California as a part of the California Fire Science Consortium, which leads fire science delivery for the interested public, including private and public land managers. The Academic Coordinator will also help in the coordination and implementation of activities associated with the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association, which collaborates with regional partners to lead a fire educational program aimed at increasing the skills and qualifications of the North Coast's prescribed fire practitioner community.

Alignment. As described in UC ANR's Vision 2040, California faces a complex, ever-changing regulatory environment that requires science-based input and community engagement to inform policy, management decisions, and implementation. Now more than ever, solutions are needed to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events and other disasters, advance more efficient agricultural production, further sustainable land stewardship, strengthen food systems, and build resiliency to the future impacts of social, political, and ecological challenges. As these challenges increase in complexity, so, too, do their solutions. Local, state, and federal policies and regulations must adapt and be responsive, taking into consideration current scientific and technological advances.

This position will help UC ANR achieve its mission of cultivating thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California by developing and sharing equitable, collaborative, science-based solutions with national and global impact. Through research, education, extension, and outreach, this position will contribute to each of UC ANR's Public Value Statements.

Clientele. The Academic Coordinator II clientele is broad, including natural resource managers, homeowners, and landowners, as well as professionals who support homeowners, landowners, and land managers (e.g., foresters, building contractors, realtors, landscapers, etc.). Much of the Academic Coordinator's responsibilities will be to UC ANR academics to help extend their materials into online and in-person workshops.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide coordination for activities of the statewide Fire Resilience and Workforce Development Program and the northern California region of the California Fire Science Consortium.
• Provide regional coordination for activities of the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association.
• Lead and contribute to effective communication efforts (e.g., develop and maintain websites, social media, blogs, and other media).
• Develop, adapt, implement, and evaluate program activities, training, curriculum, and other educational activities aligned with program goals and/or audience needs.
• Assist in the development of proposals for extramural funding (e.g., grants, contracts, gifts/donations).
• Effectively communicate science-based research to a variety of audiences.
• Collaborate with other UC ANR academics, campus-based specialists and faculty and/or others to address priority issues.
• Create a positive environment that supports the success of the team and team members; includes modeling and supporting a good team working environment. Sets goals and target outputs for shared clarity of vision. Be an effective listener and communicator, take responsibility for own actions, motivate others, and keep commitments.
• Participate in professional organizations and collaborate with federal, state, and county governmental agencies, non-government organizations, and others.
• Represent UC ANR in a professional manner. Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders and clientele. Meet with and provide responsive communications with key stakeholders (e.g., industry partners, donors, policymakers and elected officials, and others as required). Act as a liaison with other agencies and institutions in the public and private sectors.
• Commit to ongoing self-improvement both professionally and personally; interest in continued and lifelong learning.
• Promote and operationalize UC ANR's Principles of Community

Reporting Relationship:
The Academic Coordinator II reports to the Forestry Advisor of the UCCE Humboldt County and the Fire Network Director, who are responsible for supervision and evaluation of the position. This position also collaborates with UC ANR academics, Cooperative Extension staff, and other UC academics.

Qualifications Required:

Education: A minimum of master's degree in natural resource management, fire, or a related area required at the time of appointment.

Key qualifications:

• Technical knowledge of fire science and management;
• Ability to communicate complex natural resource-related concepts to landowners, community members, and academics;
• Five years or more of professional experience in fire or forest management;
• Record of training or experience in the field of fire and forest science or management;
• Candidates with experience developing curriculum, teaching fire science topics, designing research and monitoring fire effects, and planning/implementing prescribed burns will be prioritized. Preference given to those with operational fire qualifications, particularly those that indicate leadership abilities, fire effects skills, and advancement toward California burn boss certification (e.g., NWCG FFT1, FIRB, and FEMO);
• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Must possess or obtain valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University Vehicle.
• This is not a remote position. The candidate must be available to work onsite. In accordance with UC ANR Flexible Work Guidelines flexible work agreements are available upon approval by supervisors and periodic re-evaluation.
• Interest in and desire to pursue a career in UC Cooperative Extension
• Applicants must have unrestricted and permanent work authorization in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. at the time of hire, without additional sponsorship. Internal UC ANR applicants with questions may contact Katie Kilbane at klkilbane@ucanr.edu.
• As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer. 'Misconduct' means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Anti-Discrimination Policy Affirmative Action

Skills Required:
To be successful, Academic Coordinators require skills in the following:

Technical Competence

• Demonstrated ability to prepare, deliver, and evaluate research, educational materials, and extension programming.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and conduct prescribed fire operations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and disseminate science-based educational material, including presentations and in-person activities.
• Ability to maintain literacy in internet communications and with computer software.
• Experience and skill with conducting specialized field sampling and data collection and analysis, including work with remote field plots, and laboratory equipment.

Communication

• Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken, including the specific ability to effectively discuss complicated technical and scientific questions.
• Ability to tailor communication to the specific audience, including a range from academics, land managers, to the public.
• Demonstrated ability to listen, communicate, and extend complex information in a format tailored to diverse audiences (funders, partners, and other external stakeholders).

Collaboration, Teamwork, and Flexibility

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in teams and provide leadership for research and education activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and instruct groups of varying skill levels and diverse perspectives in field operations of prescribed fire preparation and implementation.
• Ability to work and collaborate with groups and stakeholders with diverse viewpoints and worldviews.
• Self-directed, responsible, and internally motivated.
• Adapts to changing conditions, prepared to capitalize on opportunities and work around potential threats, shifting focus as times and organizational needs change.
• Demonstrated ability to model and support effective teamwork and remain open to exploring new ideas and innovative solutions.

Interest in Continued and Lifelong Learning

• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing self-improvement both professionally and personally.

Desired Experience:

• Familiarity with local, state, and federal policies and agencies.
• Professional accomplishment in applied research and experimental design in fields such as forestry, fire, or other relevant natural resources disciplines.
• Experience creating science-based curriculum in fields such as forestry, fire, or another relevant discipline.
• Skills to engage in dialogue and creative problem-solving with diverse groups of stakeholders and partners.
• Knowledge of both the operational and prescribed fire landscape, culture, community, and pressures, including knowledge of and experience with prescribed burn associations or similar groups.
• Familiarity and experience working in fire and fuels management planning and implementation.
• Experience working across multiple disciplines in whole systems approaches that consider multiple elements of agricultural and food systems as complex coupled human and natural systems.

Learn more about Skills and Areas of Programmatic Review (including Professional Competence, University and Public Service) at: Programmatic Review

Salary & Benefits:

Salary: The salary will be in the Academic Coordinator II series from Step 1 - $84,246 to Step 5 - $101,425 annually. The Step placement in this series is based on experience and professional qualifications. For information regarding the Academic Coordinator series salary scales, please refer to Salary scale

This appointment is a limited term appointment. The merit cycle is every two years. The performance in the position will be evaluated annually. The position will be extended based on the continued need for the position, performance and availability of funding.

Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, two days per month paid vacation, one day per month paid sick leave, and paid holidays. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website Benefits

How to Apply:

If interested in this position, please visit UC Recruit and choose 'applicants' (refer to position #26-08) Closing Date: To ensure full consideration, application packets must be received by April 16, 2026 (open until filled).

Questions?
Contact Mikyla Perez at mikperez@ucanr.edu

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• References - Please provide 3 references including names, titles, emails and phone numbers.
• College Level Transcripts - Electronic transcripts or legible scanned copies (PDF) of original transcripts will be accepted. Transcripts must identify course work completed, grades earned, degrees conferred and confer dates. Please DO NOT send transcripts that are password protected.

Reference requirements

• 3-6 required (contact information only)