Director of Wisconsin Forestry Center and Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Forestry

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Position Title:
Director of Wisconsin Forestry Center and Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Forestry

Job Category:
Faculty

Employment Type:
Regular

Job Profile:
Assistant Professor

Job Duties:

The Director of the WFC is a full-time (12-month), CNR tenure-track professor and UW-Madison Division of Extension specialist within the Natural Resources Institute (NRI). This position that includes 80% Director responsibilities (administrative leadership, grant writing, research, Extension programming, and/or facilitation) and 20% undergraduate teaching (up to 2 courses per academic year). The WFC is a multifaceted Extension and Education center with several staff and student employees.

Aligned with their role in the CNR, the individual will be a UW-Madison Division of Extension Specialist within the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), integrating Extension leadership, applied research, and community outreach with CNR undergraduate and graduate education that advances the NRI mission.

The WFC Director plans and provides strategic direction for the Wisconsin Forestry Center (WFC) to advance the mission, goals, and objectives of the Center in alignment with the CNR and NRI. This position is expected to facilitate impactful forestry research and outreach programming consistent with the WFC mission.

The Director will be expected to connect the resources of the WFC to other CNR faculty, staff, and students as well as Extension researchers and outreach programs. The Director is expected to play a leadership and collaborative role in existing and emerging state, regional, and national forestry initiatives, teams, and opportunities. The successful candidate will be poised to be a leader in forestry and forest-related products with a track record of successful leadership, applied research, and innovative outreach. Other expectations include undergraduate and graduate student mentoring and contribution to college and university governance. Scholarship and service consistent with professor rank expectations are required.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Administration (60%)
• Leadership: Direct and supervises the Wisconsin Forestry Center programming, budget, and personnel resources; Directs, and implements strategic planning initiatives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources; Leverage UW-Madison Division of Extension and UW-Stevens Point investments in the WFC by securing extramural funding to support strategic planning initiatives aligned with the WFC’s mission, and undergraduate and graduate students and staff in support of Extension and applied research missions; Serves as the WFC liaison to internal and external local, regional, and national stakeholder groups to generate support that advances the WFC’s mission and strategic planning initiatives; Provide leadership in integrating the WFC’s research programs and services into the Forestry discipline, the College of Natural Resources curriculum and broader outreach and research efforts while fostering collaboration with other UWSP and UW-Madison Division of Extension forestry experts and initiatives; Provide an annual Program, Services, and Research report for review by CNR and Division of Extension administrators; When appropriate, participate in CNR/UWSP/Division of Extension committees and workgroups that benefit from the individual’s expertise and vision; Represent UWSP and Extension Forestry at local, regional, and national levels.
• Fiscal Management: Develop an annual budget, one-year budget projections, quarterly budget reports, and provide an annual budget report for review by CNR administrators; Maintain an accurate, accountable fiscal management system and balanced budget; Provide administrative oversight related to all grants and contracts of the WFC.
• Personnel Management: Supervise all students and staff of the WFC; Follow all UWSP/CNR policies relative to the evaluation of those staff; Develop and implement a personnel management system that clearly specifies roles and responsibilities of all WFC staff and lines of supervision; Provide an overview of personnel management in an annual report to CNR and Division of Extension Administrators.
• Facilities Management: Provide oversight and leadership related to the development and maintenance of all WFC facilities and equipment; Provide an overview of facilities management in an annual report to CNR Administrators.
  
• Development (20%)
• Facilitate, develop, and/or lead extramurally funded Forestry research and outreach including Extension programming and public engagement; Publish and present research in peer-reviewed journals, relevant public outreach outlets, professional and public conferences, seminars, and outreach venues; In coordination with the CNR Dean and/or Associate Dean for Outreach and Extension, develop and secure extramural and philanthropic giving to support the mission of WFC.
  
• Academic (20%)
• Teach a minimum of 2 courses (6 credits) per year; Facilitate undergraduate and graduate student development; As a faculty member of the Forestry Discipline and CNR, participate in the regular order process for curriculum, strategy, and faculty/staff governance and oversight.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Department:

The Forestry discipline is in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) at the University of Wisconsin – StevensPoint. The College supports premier undergraduate natural resources programs. The CNR has approximately 1,600 undergraduates, 50 graduate students, and over 125 faculty and staff. The college supports undergraduate natural resource programs with disciplines in Fisheries and Water Resources, Forestry, Environment and Society, Soil and Waste Resources, Wildlife Ecology and the Department of Paper Science and Chemical Engineering.

The Wisconsin Forestry Center (WFC) is a UW-Stevens Point (CNR) and UW-Madison Division of Extension(Extension) collaborative outreach and engagement center dedicated to serving the needs of Wisconsin’s forestry community through partner-driven professional and workforce development, applied research, and community outreach initiatives.

The mission of the WFC is to promote vibrant, sustainable forests and forest-based economies through:

• coordinating, creating, and disseminating professional training, certificate, and credentialing programs.

• devising and implementing novel approaches to workforce recruitment and development.

• conducting stakeholder-directed applied research.

• collaborating with the professional forestry community to assess emerging needs and translate them into impactful outreach and education.

Compensation & Benefits:

The Director of Wisconsin Forestry Center and Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Forestry is a full-time, salaried, exempt, annual (12-month), faculty position.

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $88,000 - $120,000 commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications. Relocation assistance may be available.

Eligible Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Universities of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Quick Guide. Use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to calculate the estimated value of your compensation and benefits. 

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Forestry or a terminal business degree with applications to Forestry or the Forest Products Industry.

• Demonstrated record of writing, securing, and implementing external grants and contracts.

• At least 3 years of professional experience in forestry and/or allied forestry industries, state, federal, or NGO agencies.

• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills.

• Outstanding communication skills (written and oral).

• Demonstrated budget development and management skills. Proven experience developing and fostering partnerships with stakeholders.

• Experience developing short- and long-term strategic plans for outreach and education programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain strategic relationships with forestry stakeholders to achieve shared outcome

• Demonstrated development and implementation of Extension and outreach programming.

• Demonstrated project management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to connect and incorporate students in Extension and research.

• Experience working effectively to reach all populations.

Education:

Ph.D. in Forestry or a terminal business degree with applications to Forestry or the Forest Products Industry.

How to Apply:

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Applications received by 10/18/2026 are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration.

Files must be complete to be considered. Submission in PDF format is preferred for all attachments. Please include the following documents:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and experience

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae

• Unofficial/Official Transcripts

(Official Transcripts will be required of finalist)

After you submit your application, you will be unable to edit it. Please be sure to include all required materials before submitting your application.

Contact Information:

Name: Catherine Scheder, Ed.D, Associate Dean of Outreach, Extension, and Extramural Programming

Email: cathy.scheder@uwsp.edu

Phone: 715-346-4403

If you have any questions regarding the application process, need special arrangements, or if you submitted your application with missing materials, please call or email:

Human Resources

Email: human.resources@uwsp.edu

Phone: 715-346-2606