Location
Missoula, MT, United States
Open Date
Feb 10, 2026
Description
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, 10-month, Adjunct Instructor of Natural Resource Policy to join our dynamic and interdisciplinary social science faculty for an academic-year replacement appointment. We are seeking candidates with expertise in natural resource policy in the Western U.S. who can teach in the areas of natural resources, public lands, climate, water, environmental, and/or wildlife policy and apply policy expertise to contemporary real-world challenges. The successful candidate will contribute to our teaching mission and help meet demand for policy-related coursework in the College and University.
The successful candidate will teach five courses across the academic year. Teaching will include two offerings of a large undergraduate course in Natural Resource Policy (typically one section each semester), an upper-division undergraduate course in climate, water, or wildlife policy (based on program needs and the successful applicant’s expertise), a course in Environmental Politics and Policy, and one additional course to be determined based on departmental needs and the background of the successful applicant. The position will be affiliated with the College’s undergraduate Environmental Science and Sustainability (ESS) Program.
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 social science inquiry, and we embrace interdisciplinary collaboration in and out of the classroom. Our faculty lead research 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, political ecology and environmental justice, and social-ecological systems and resilience. We work at local to global scales, connecting science and practice to engage a range of decision-makers and communities. Additional information can be found at https://www.umt.edu/environment/.
Position Details
Title: Adjunct Instructor of Natural Resource Policy
Schedule: Full-time, academic year (10-month) appointment beginning fall semester 2026
Salary: $65,000
FTE: 1.0 teaching
Benefits: Medical Insurance/Mandatory Retirement Contribution/ Partial Tuition Waiver/Wellness
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- M.S., Ph.D. or J.D. in a relevant field of study, with emphasis on natural resource policy and/or law.
- Demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate level, including the ability to teach large-enrollment courses.
- Expertise in natural resource policy and governance in the Western U.S., with the ability to teach Natural Resource Policy and Environmental Politics and Policy.
- Ability to connect policy to practice in the classroom.
- Commitment to student-centered teaching and mentoring.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. or J.D. in a relevant field of study, with emphasis on natural resource policy and/or law
- Expertise in one or more areas of climate policy, water policy, or wildlife policy, with a focus on the Western US.
- Relevant professional, applied, or managerial experience outside of academia.
- Experience bridging policy and practice in teaching and/or professional work.
- Experience teaching and mentoring across diverse student backgrounds and disciplines.
Application Instructions
Screening of applications will begin after the closing date of March 2, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
To apply, please upload the following materials:
- Letter of Interest – describing your interest in the position and relevant experience in teaching and policy to practice engagement.
- Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., teaching statement, sample syllabi, and/or teaching evaluations).
- Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience.
- Three (3) professional references – Names and contact information.
Please contact Search Committee Chair Keith Bosak (keith.bosak@umontana.edu) with any questions.
The University of Montana is interested in receiving applications from people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always”; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.
