Forestry Educator

Job Details

Salary:
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:Academic Staff

Employment Type:Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:Outreach Specialist

Job Summary:

The Forestry Educator position will work alongside a team of educators to provide outreach to family forest owners statewide. This role is housed in the Natural Resources Institute within UW-Madison's Division of Extension.

The Forestry Educator designs, promotes, administers, and supports outreach activities, community engagement, and educational programming. This unique statewide role will work with WI Department of Natural Resources and other collaborators to address working woodlands. This position is initially a 2-year contract, renewable pending funding. Initial programming focus will include:

• Delivery of outreach programs to reach woodland owners with limited woodland management experience.
• Coordinate working lands outreach for landowners and connect landowners to foresters for technical advice.
  • Implementation and evaluation of outreach for landowners to educate them about forest and wildlife management.
  • Meet with DNR and key partners to evaluate progress, accomplishments, and barriers of outreach work.
  • Evaluate the success of the project and identify any future funding needs or ideas for additional grant opportunities connected to this project.
• Work with the Forestry and Wildlife Program to fulfill funding partners requirements around other outreach and education for woodland owners.

Statewide Location

The position location is flexible within northern Wisconsin and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate’s preferences, and availability of suitable office space.

Terminal Position

The initial period of employment will be 2 years, with the possibility to become renewable contingent upon available funding.

Partial Remote

This position will require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per Extension's Remote Work Policy.

Evening/Weekend Work

This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

Travel Expectations

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.

Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Works with the Forestry and Wildlife Program team to fulfill funding partners requirements around outreach and education
• Communicate plans, activities and achievements to Program Managers, partners and relevant stakeholders
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

Department:

Division of Extension, Natural Resources Institute, Forestry and Wildlife Program is looking to hire a Forestry Educator.

About Extension

Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.

About the Institute

The Extension Natural Resources Institute (https://naturalresources.extension.wisc.edu/) addresses today's critical environmental issues, particularly the sustainable management of food, water, and energy, by using collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches grounded in an understanding of human interactions with resources. We leverage our team of researchers and outreach specialists to provide science-based information and education, embodying the Wisconsin Idea through extensive partnerships. Ultimately, our mission is to empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions that benefit our shared natural resources through a variety of programs.

Additional Department Details

The Forestry and Wildlife Program is a team of 11 people including educators and campus specialists. Extension’s forestry educators lead classes and build programs to engage landowners in the sustainable stewardship of Wisconsin’s privately owned forests. To learn more about our forestry program, visit go.wisc.edu/forestry.

Compensation:

The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $59,603 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

Required Qualifications:

• Work experience relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of the position.
• Experience planning, implementing, and/or evaluating community-based, non-formal, innovative educational programs related to natural resources.
• Experience communicating effectively using a variety of methods and technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 2 years experience developing, delivering, and evaluating educational programs for different audiences utilizing a variety of educational techniques, methods, and modes preferably in forestry or other natural resources context.
• Experience in facilitation to assist other agencies, community-based services, or organizations addressing educational and organizational needs.
• Demonstrated skill in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other agencies, community-based services, or organizations to address educational needs

Education:
Required Education

Bachelor’s degree (or an advanced degree) in a field that relates to the responsibilities of this position, including, but not limited to human dimensions or behavior change in natural resource management, forestry, or other closely-related fields.

Preferred Education

Master’s degree in a field relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of the position

How to Apply:

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "Apply Now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)

Please note when applying, there will be only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field. Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. Failure to upload all required materials may result in your application not being considered.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

​Application Deadline is May 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (CST).