The Department of Society and Conservation in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana invites applications for a full-time academic year tenure-track Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Policy to join our interdisciplinary social science faculty. We are seeking candidates who have the ability to apply policy to a range of contemporary real-world challenges in natural resource management and environmental conservation. This position will be part of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Program, an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that connects science and solutions to provide students with the knowledge and skills to solve complex environmental problems and advance sustainability. 

The successful candidate will teach policy courses serving students across degree programs within the Franke College. Courses may include undergraduate Natural Resources Policy, as well as offerings in Water Policy, Climate Policy, Wildlife Policy, and/or Environmental Politics and Policy, depending on the College’s needs and the successful candidate’s expertise. The successful candidate will also mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students (MS and PhD); lead an impactful, externally-funded research program; and participate in service activities for the Program, Department, College, and University. We welcome candidates who value “partnering with place,” a UM Priority for Action focused on engagement with Montana communities and landscapes, and the application of research to practice at the federal, state, and tribal levels.  

About Us

The Department of Society and Conservation is an interdisciplinary social science department within the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at The University of Montana. We are dedicated to research and education that addresses our most pressing human-environment challenges. We value multiple approaches to pedagogy and to social science inquiry, and we embrace interdisciplinary collaboration in and out of the classroom. Our faculty have expertise in human dimensions of natural resources, environmental governance and public lands policy, outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism, sustainable communities and livelihoods, wildland and protected area management, international conservation and development, and political ecology and environmental justice. We work at local to global scales, connecting science and practice to engage a range of decision-makers and communities. The Franke College is highly interdisciplinary and promotes collaboration across disciplines and departments in both teaching and research. Additional information can be found at https://www.umt.edu/environment/.  Missoula is a wonderful place to live and work and is home to a wide range of renowned writers, artists, musicians, and outdoor enthusiasts.