Assistant Conservation Social Science Jobs in California

  

 

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Ecological Restoration and/or Wildlife Conservation

School/Department Name: School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector.  See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU's excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2027

Application Deadline: October 30, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San Jose State University is pleased to announce a search for Assistant Professor, Ecological Restoration and/or Wildlife Conservation beginning in August 2026. We seek a teacher-scholar in environmental conservation with expertise in ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, or closely related fields. The ideal candidate combines quantitative, applied research with inclusive, field-based teaching. Areas of specialization may include restoration ecology, biological conservation, climate change ecology, ecosystem management, social-ecological systems, biodiversity conservation, landscape ecology, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)/Indigenous resource management. The successful applicant would be expected to teach a range of courses spanning environmental science, conservation, restoration, ecology, quantitative methods, and field research within the School, develop an active research program, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and participate actively in School governance.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies' programs encompass the undergraduate degrees of Environmental Studies (BA, BS), Geography (BA),  and Global Studies (BA). Additionally, we offer Masters degrees in Environmental Studies (MS), Urban Planning (MUP), Public Administration (MPA), and Geographic Information Science (MS). Many graduates of our programs continue their connections with the School and form strong alumni ties to faculty and students. The interdisciplinary school creates a wealth of internship, conference, and full-time job opportunities for our students. Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in subjects including species conservation, social-ecological systems, forest ecology, GIS, community development, water resources management, and energy justice. Information about School's programs and faculty can be found on the following website: https://www.sjsu.edu/plan-policy-envs/]

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies and San Jose State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community-particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related natural science field focused on conservation, in particular ecological restoration/wildlife conservation
• Evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness in environmental studies
• Evidence of or potential for a productive research program in environmental studies
• A strong background in quantitative research methods
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Demonstration of teaching excellence in higher education at the undergraduate and/or graduate level
• Demonstrated experience in habitat restoration and/or applied ecosystem management
• Demonstrated experience in or commitment to service at the department and university level
• Experience in or commitment to support co-curricular academic activities that support student success (e.g., professional network development)
• Engagement with professional communities of practice
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications
• Experience designing and implementing field-based research
  

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching courses in the Environmental Studies undergraduate and graduate core, including life science and restoration courses; as relevant, assigned courses may also include other undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the School that align with applicant's disciplinary training.
• Maintaining an active research program that results in peer-reviewed publications, grants, and similar research, scholarship, and creative activity outputs
• Supervising graduate student projects and research. Applicants must be willing to supervise graduate students conducting EnvS Masters of Science thesis research or culminating projects.
• Advising undergraduate majors, minors, and prospective students
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity - in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation - through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents [departments may specify length of items below (e.g. 2 pages)]:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• institutional excellence statement (dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest)
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• research plans
• three references with contact information

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair or Search Committee Chair: Dr. Katherine Kao Cushing (katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu).

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.  Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of background and reference checks (including criminal records and prior employment) are required. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San Jose State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley - one of the most innovative regions in the world - San Jose State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San Jose State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San Jose State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San Jose State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San Jose State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.