The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

Job Description

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative Extension Specialist in Natural Resources to provide statewide development, delivery, and evaluation of applied research and educational programs focused on Nevada’s natural resource needs. This full-time position is based out of the Humboldt County Extension Office in Winnemucca, Nevada, while supporting statewide Extension initiatives.

The successful candidate will address critical natural resource topics such as natural resource policy, rangeland restoration, vegetation, riparian, wildlife habitat management, and sustainable land stewardship. The position involves building partnerships with county offices, state and federal agencies, and local land managers to deliver impactful, research-based public educational programming.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Educational Programming

• Design, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based educational programs on applied natural resource topics.

• Utilize diverse teaching methods including workshops, demonstration sites, publications, webinars, and digital media.

• Provide leadership for statewide Extension initiatives, program teams, and strategic planning efforts related to natural resources.

• Develop collaborative relationships with county, state, tribal, and federal partners.

Research and Scholarly

• Engage with interdisciplinary teams and external stakeholders to conduct applied research relevant to Nevada’s natural resource priorities.

• Translate scientific research into practical tools and recommendations for diverse audiences.

• Identify and pursue extramural funding opportunities to support natural resource education and research initiatives.

• Manage grants, contracts, and reporting in compliance with University and sponsor guidelines.

• Publish peer-reviewed articles, Extension bulletins, and other scholarly and educational materials.

• Develop and provide impact reporting for Extension activities and stakeholder communications.

University and Community Service

• Participate in University and Extension committees and working groups.

• Contribute to UNR Extension’s mission of fostering thriving communities through engaged scholarship and education.

Lecturer Statement

The University of Nevada, Reno reserves the right to hire at any level of Lecturer (I-IV) or Teaching Assistant/Associate (terminal degree candidates) that is appropriate for the hire. If you have questions about the title, please inquire during the interview process.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in natural resources, environmental science, rangeland management, ecology, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering educational or outreach programs.

• Knowledge of natural resource issues relevant to Nevada.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field.

• Experience working within Extension or similar outreach/education environments.

• Knowledge of rangeland health in arid environments.

• Demonstrated success in securing grants or contracts.

• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations, including tribal communities.

Licensure

A valid Class "C" driver's license or higher operator's license within 30 days of employment.

Schedule and Travel

• Work a flexible schedule, with periodic evening and weekend work.

• Periodically travel throughout the state to assist with multi-county or statewide efforts related to subject matter expertise or attend area and statewide Extension meetings.

• This position involves working in both office settings and field environments.

• Travel within Nevada will be required

Compensation

Lecturer II / Teaching Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty.

Our Benefits

Great Retirement!

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. The University generously matches your 19.25% contribution.   With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested on your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

“I had no idea the values of the faculty retirement plan when I joined UNR. I discovered I was fully vested in my contributions and the company’s 19.25% matching on my first day. I have watched my retirement grow over the years, not only in contributions but with investments.  It is hard to describe how appreciative I am to feel so secure in my future” – Michelle B.

Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Generous annual and sick leave and life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Faculty dependents have unlimited credits, but to be eligible, children must be unmarried and under 24. They must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or the employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them in identifying career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

Department Information

https://extension.unr.edu/default.aspx

Search Contacts

Holly Gatzke, Northern Area Director and Hiring Manager: gatzkeh@unr.edu

Leslie Lynn, Search Coordinator: lynnle@unr.edu

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu  

Attach the following attachments to your application
1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter
3) Contact Information for Three Professional References

4) Statement of Extension philosophy (1 page) - required

This posting is open until filled.
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

  

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

  

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

  

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

  

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

    

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno