Institute of Forestry Assistant Director/Assistant Professor in the Practice of Forestry

Position: Institute of Forestry Assistant Director / Assistant Professor in the Practice of Forestry
Status: Regular, Full-time, Exempt, Faculty (12-months)
Department: Institute of Forestry / Academics
Reports to: Director, Institute of Forestry / Dean of Faculty
Salary: $72,500 annual salary

College Background: Paul Smith’s College is a small, private college on the shores of Lower St. Regis Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. Its mission is to empower career-ready graduates, advance sustainability, and foster regional resiliency. The College is home to regionally and nationally recognized “centers of excellence”, including the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the Visitors Interpretive Center, and the Institute of Forestry, which are dedicated to applied research and enterprise activities that leverage the College’s unique setting and assets. The Institute of Forestry integrates hands-on professional education, applied research, and practical forest management, and manages the College Forest—nearly 10,000 acres of productive timberland plus additional mountains, streams, wetlands, ponds, and lakes—as well as a student logging crew, a 2,400-tap maple sugarbush, and an expanding portfolio of off-campus contract forestry work with private, municipal, state and federal partners.

Position Description:
Paul Smith’s College invites applicants for a full-time, 12-month service/teaching faculty appointment that combines Institute leadership, program management, staff supervision, and teaching in field forestry. The position will play a key operational and strategic role in the Institute of Forestry while also holding faculty status as an Assistant Professor (or higher for exceptional candidates). The position will be centrally involved in the Institute’s operations, including College Forest and forest enterprise management; development and execution of a diverse research agenda and project portfolio in forest science, economics, and management; and integration of Institute activity into the College’s SAF-accredited forestry degrees and other academic programs.

A core expectation of this role is end-to-end project management, including work planning; coordinating student employees and other personnel; assisting in budget management, including purchasing; and assisting with grant spending, tracking, and reporting in collaboration with the Institute Director, the Office of Strategic Initiatives, and the Finance Office. The position carries the responsibility and expectation to coordinate and direct day-to-day work in key operational areas and is expected to assume increasing supervisory responsibilities over the first year as the Institute grows. The position will work directly with the Institute Director and collaborate closely with other Institute staff, affiliated faculty, and regional, national, and international project partners from universities, industry, NGOs, and state and federal agencies. The position includes a modest teaching load equivalent to one standard course per semester (approximately 6 contact hours per week during the academic year), along with commensurate academic services such as student advising, program development, and advising student clubs.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Institute Director to formulate, articulate, and execute a strategic vision for the Institute of Forestry that supports its growth, innovation, and impact.
• Provide operational and administrative support to ensure that all Institute projects, College Forest activities, and enterprises are planned, executed, and documented on time and to high professional standards.
• Support the Director in budget management, including monitoring expenses, tracking deliverables, and contributing to progress reports.
• Provide day-to-day coordination and direction for key operational work (e.g., grant management, student and staff assignments, purchasing, and project timelines), with growing people-lead responsibilities over time.
• Lead or support the development of new programs, projects, and initiatives, including seeking funding from state, federal, or private sources to support the Institute’s mission
• Serve as primary instructor or co-instructor for approximately one undergraduate or graduate-level forestry course per semester (about 6 contact hours per week during the academic year).
• Supervise student fieldwork and research projects tied to the Institute’s operations and mission.
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners to advance the mission of Paul Smith’s College.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Preferences:

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in forestry, or a BS in forestry and an advanced degree in a closely related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant professional experience; the ideal candidate will demonstrate experience across field forestry; teaching, research, and/or outreach; and managerial or entrepreneurial leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and administrative skills, including responsibility for budgets and grant activities, organizing complex workflows, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables across multiple projects.
• Demonstrated experience supervising or leading staff and/or student employees, including coordinating workloads, providing direction and feedback, and supporting professional growth.
• Demonstrated success building and working effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to hands-on, place-based education and applied forestry.
• Ability to work with a broad range of diverse individuals and groups to form a safe and inclusive workplace.

Paul Smith’s College is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to inclusive position descriptions that focus on essential functions and avoid unnecessary or discriminatory requirements.

Applications due by: 05/01/2026