Appalachian Landscape Conservation Fellowship
This position for Landscape Conservation Fellow and Cultural Resource Specialist will work with the Appalachian LCC and Penn State University Department of Landscape Architecture to engage conservation partners and resource managers at the intersection between cultural resources and landscape conservation design.
Responsibilities will include:
- Fellow will be a key communication link between regional stakeholders and scientists working to downscale the Appalachian LCC Landscape Conservation Design (LCD); will work on spatial planning for cultural resources, including: data discovery, acquisition, evaluation, and organizing of “local” spatial datasets.
- Coordinate technical meetings, consultations, and provide administrative and financial assistance services to the LCC.
- Assist in the oversight of cultural resource funded-research activities, preparation of technical reports as well as general outreach of communication products.
- Prepare or present findings and results to both technical and public audiences.
- Serve as an Advisor and support network planning and coordination of conservation delivery activities to implement conservation planning including monthly communications.
- Represent the research units as needed at outreach events and technical meetings.
- Participate or conduct seminars and partner survey and or serve on committees or teams.
- As appropriate, the Landscape Conservation Coordinator will be responsible in coordinating and supervising junior staff, interns, or volunteers.
Criteria and Evaluation
Candidate will be evaluated based on the following categories:
- Scientific or technical background: Candidates with an educational background and/or work experience in the area of natural resource management or cultural stewardship, landscape ecology or design, are encouraged to apply.
- Technical skills: Training in a technical skill area will receive additional consideration from such fields as GIS, computer modeling, programming or statistics, or relevant experience in the earth sciences such as climate, hydrology, or energy and areas of cultural anthropology or sociology.
- Organizational and problem-solving skills: Candidate needs to demonstrate how, through their training or work, have analytical and problem-solving abilities, communication skills at both a technical, professional publication level, as well as at the general public outreach level, knowledge and experience in other forms of communication such as web-based products or other forms of social and digital media are an advantage.
- Social and Community Skills: Working as part of a large, decentralized team with demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as the ability to work independently will be key. Other aspects of work in areas such as social or community engagement, facilitation, or organization are valued experiences.
- Commitment: A critical factor in selection is a demonstrated commitment to the professional development opportunity offered through the Fellowship program.
Requirements
This job will require a Bachelor's degree or higher plus four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience for a level 2. Additional experience and/or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs. Master's degree is preferred. Candidate with an educational background and/or work experience in the area of cultural resource management, landscape ecology and/or design, is preferred. The successful candidate should possess strong data analytic skills, problem-solving abilities, communication skills at both a technical, professional publication level, as well as at the general public outreach level. Knowledge and experience in other forms of communication such as web-based products or other forms of social and digital media are an advantage.
Preference will be given to individuals that have advanced experience in landscape archaeology, cultural resource GIS, computer modeling, programming or statistics, along with relevant experience in regional planning (landscape architecture and community planning) or social sciences (cultural anthropology and archaeology). This is a fixed-term appointment funded for one year from date of hire with excellent possibility of re-funding.
For more information and questions about the position, contact Dr. Tim Murtha, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Penn State University - tmurtha@psu.edu.
