Fire Advisor - Resiliency in the Wildland-Urban Interface Serving Southern California and Beyond

 

Fire Advisor – Resiliency in the Wildland-Urban Interface Serving Southern California and Beyond Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), a statewide program with local development and delivery, is seeking the following UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Advisor.

Location Headquarters:  UCCE Orange County
South Coast Research and Extension Center, Irvine, CA

Purpose: The Fire Advisor will implement an innovative, extension education and applied problem-solving research program to help solve California’s wildfire challenges. The expected focus of the Fire Advisor is to address the needs, issues, and interests related to designing and maintaining communities in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Experience in planning, knowledge of construction materials, testing to support the fire resiliency of the built environment, fuels and vegetation management, or the use of fire as a tool for ecological or cultural benefits is helpful. 

The advisor will work with and provide a point of connection for landowners, agencies, local governments and community members to work together toward fire resilience. The research will inform management and policy efforts in the county with potential throughout California. The intent is to have this position help build community fire adaptation and resiliency and reduce California’s social, physical, and ecological vulnerability to wildfire.  

The position will be part of the UC ANR network of Fire Advisors that is filling an important niche; providing critical capacity, coordination, and science-based momentum for an accelerated approach to California’s fire problem.  As such, the advisor’s work will also connect with UC ANR Forest and Rangeland Advisors, UC campus-based specialists and faculty, and with the UC ANR volunteer networks (e.g., UC Master Gardener, UC Master Naturalist, and UC 4-H).

This is an exciting opportunity to have meaningful impacts in the communities of Southern California.

Opportunities abound for research and extension partnerships that link clients and resource professionals across multi-sectors with relevant science-based information and promote effective problem solving.  The advisor will join a team of highly motivated UCCE colleagues who are passionate about their work, and are dedicated to making a difference within the communities and throughout California.  The potential for collaborative projects within the UC ANR system is nearly limitless.

Counties of Responsibility. This position is focused on Southern California – with the expectation the work is likely relevant to other parts of California as well.  There is an opportunity to work collaboratively across counties.

Reporting Relationship: The CE Advisor serves under the administrative guidance of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Orange County Director.

Qualifications and Skills Required  Required Qualifications:

Education: A minimum of a master's degree is required in a natural resource, planning, materials science, wood science, construction management, or an engineering field with experience in either the social, ecological, materials science aspects of fire science, or fire management. Experience in fire-related research is required, and experience in field- and survey-based research skills and participatory research methods is helpful. 

Additional Requirements

The desired candidate will benefit from a background in science delivery and extension, including organizing and hosting conferences, professional meetings and workshops, trainings, webinars, and science-related field tours; developing written extension materials, including research briefs, synthesis papers, blog posts, fact sheets, brochures, and handouts; and using social media and other web-based tools to deliver research findings is desired. 

• Live within a commutable distance of the position headquarters during period of appointment.
• Experience in successful Cooperative Extension programming or community development,
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, manage teams and implement a research program, including setting measurable goals and objectives.
• A Certified Rangeland Management, Registered Professional Forester, or other license may be required or encouraged over time depending on the focus of the advisor's program.

Desired Experience

• Experience, passion and desire to pursue a career in Cooperative Extension and community development.
• Experience in working across multi-sector partnerships. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, manage teams and implement a research program, including setting measurable goals and objectives.
• Experience in disaster response, wildland management, prescribed fire, home hardening and infrastructure protection, workforce training, economic development, community recovery, public health and air quality, and fire impact analysis on agricultural products is highly desirable 

Skills Required

To be successful, advisors require skills in the following:

Technical Competence and Impact

The candidate should understand key concepts related to California’s fire challenges and be able to design and implement programs that lead to positive changes and impact within the community and beyond. There is an expectation that advisors evolve and grow across their career and may even need to change the focus of their work. 

Communication

Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, interpersonal and information technology communication skills.

Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with others. Able to adapt as circumstances warranted. 

Aware and willing to actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Lifelong Learning

Demonstrated commitment to ongoing self-improvement - both professionally and as a person. Ability to shift program focus as times and organizational needs change.

Learn more about Skills and Areas of Programmatic Review (including Professional Competence, University and Public Service and Affirmative Action and DEI) at: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/319460.pdf

About UC ANR

The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) consists of a network of scientists and educators working in partnership across the California. We are committed to developing and supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians. UC ANR administers UC Cooperative Extension UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in the counties throughout the state of California.

Learn more about

• UC ANR at https://UCANR.edu
  UC ANR Orange County: https://ceorange.ucanr.edu
• UC ANR Fire site https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/
• Our Strategic Initiatives http://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives/
• Our Public Value statements at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/2016-2020_Strategic_Plan/Goal_5__Prioritize_programs_and_services/Public_values_statement/
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Further to the above, advisors are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion https://ucanr.edu/sites/Professional_Development/Office_-_Team_Management/Diversity_Equity_Inclusion_Belonging/
• Affirmative Action: Further to the above, advisors are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR’s commitment to affirmative action. Learn more of UC ANR Affirmative Action policy: http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/Affirmative_Action/

Salary & Benefits

Salary: The beginning salary will be in the Assistant CE Advisor Rank and commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications.  For information regarding CE advisor series salary scales, please refer to: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/358478.pdf

The Assistant CE Advisor position is a renewable definite term appointment (up to 4 years total) with a merit cycle every two years.  The performance in the position will be evaluated annually.  Continuation beyond the initial four years is contingent upon a review of continuing need and the availability of funding.  

Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including vacation, sick leave, and approximately thirteen paid holidays per year. This position is eligible for sabbatical leave privileges as per the terms of University policy.   For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html.

How to Apply

If interested in this position, please visit: https://recruit.ucanr.edu/ and choose “applicants” (refer to position #21-07)

Closing Date: To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by January 10, 2022 (open until filled).

Questions?
Contact Tatiana Avoce; email: tavoce@ucanr.edu

Applicants may wish to explore the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars web page at https://siss.ucdavis.edu/ as a resource.

University of California Cooperative Extension

Please note the UC Policy on COVID vaccination and working for UC:  For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the policy will require, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office." Please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2021/07/ucs-covid-19-vaccine-policy.html for more information.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

 As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.