Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (HDNR) is one of five academic departments in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. The other departments are: Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology; Forest and Rangeland Stewardship; and Geosciences. General information about the Warner College of Natural Resources and departments can be accessed at www.warnercnr.colostate.edu.

The Warner College of Natural Resources recognizes that a sustainable natural environment is essential to human well-being and our common good. The natural environment is essential in providing material, psychological, and physical health benefits to all. Thus, we strive toward providing voice for all those affected by natural resource policies to ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in decisions that affect the natural environment. This inclusionary philosophy is embedded in our instruction, research, service, outreach, and interactions as a community. Warner College members hold themselves accountable for fostering an atmosphere that is welcoming and accepting of diverse perspectives. Warner students, faculty, and staff uphold and embrace CSU’s principles of community: respect, inclusion, integrity, social justice and service. Everyone is welcomed. The Warner community recognizes the disparities that exist within the field of natural resources and therefore call on individuals whose passions and work align with our college’s effort to make change. Warner College supports an environment where identities, cultures, experiences, and ideas are recognized, valued, and appreciated.

The Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources prioritizes the importance of fostering meaningful connections between people and nature to promote the health and well-being of social-ecological systems. The Department aims to develop actionable strategies that inspire hope, address interconnected environmental challenges, and ensure that diverse voices and worldviews are included in the quest for a sustainable future.

The HDNR Department delivers transformative education and mentorship that prepares leaders and scientists to conserve biodiversity and promote meaningful and joyful relationships with nature. We do this by providing inclusive student-centered training and experiential learning that broaden individual perspectives and empower students to make meaningful contributions to their communities and environments. Through transdisciplinary social science approaches, the Department conducts research and outreach that bridges academic science, local knowledge systems, and practice to provide equitable and just solutions that enhance environmental conservation and human well-being outcomes, facilitate meaningful connections to nature, and instill hope for positive change for people, society and the planet.


The Department has 17 tenure-track, 9 non-tenure track, 10 full-time Instructor faculty and 25 salaried employees. Faculty expertise spans social science perspectives and applications related to natural resource conservation and management, including, but not limited to: conservation and sustainable development; ecosystem services; environmental communications; environmental governance; human dimensions of conservation; protected areas management; and sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation management.

The Department offers B.S. undergraduate majors in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and Natural Resource Tourism, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. In addition, HDNR has several non-thesis professional Master degree programs: a Master of Conservation Leadership, a Master of Tourism Management both at CSU and Central China Normal University through a unique educational partnership, and a Master of Parks and Protected Area Management in partnership with Central China Normal University. Faculty members may also direct graduate students in the interdisciplinary Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (https://ecology.colostate.edu). As of Fall 2024, the Department has approximately 240 undergraduate majors, 25 MS and PhD students, and 216 students enrolled in HDNR’s non-thesis Masters programs. The Department is also home to the Center for Protected Area Management (https://warnercnr.colostate.edu/cpam/) that supports the conservation, planning, and management of the world’s protected areas and the landscapes and seascapes through capacity building, applied research, and technical collaboration with the organizations that help manage them and the communities whose well-being depends on them.


In addition to the five academic departments, the Warner College of Natural Resources is also home to several interdisciplinary centers and programs, including the Center for Human Carnivore Coexistence, the Center for Collaborative Conservation, the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, the Environmental Learning Center. In addition, the Colorado State Forest Service is embedded within the Warner College, which provides a unique opportunity for collaboration and student internships. Warner College is one of eight academic colleges at Colorado State University. The Department and College are active participants in programs and courses at CSU’s Mountain Campus (https://mountaincampus.colostate.edu/), a 1,600-acre campus and conference center located at 9,000 feet elevation about a 90-minute drive from CSU’s Main Campus. In addition, the College administers a 212-acre Environmental Learning Center on the eastern edge of Fort Collins.

Colorado State University is a land grant university with about 33,000 students located in Fort Collins, Colorado (population ~175,000). Fort Collins residents enjoy a high quality of life, a regionally moderate cost of living, and the city is often rated as one of the best places to live in the United States. The city has numerous bike paths, a vibrant downtown, and is adjacent to the Rocky Mountains with easy access to many outdoor activities. Fort Collins is approximately a one-hour drive north of metropolitan Denver and the Denver International Airport.

The Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (HDNR) at Colorado State University is seeking applicants for Department Head. The Department Head is primarily responsible for leadership and administration of teaching, research, extension, and service activities of departmental personnel. As such, this role is crucial in ensuring the department’s success in meeting its goals and objectives, as well as in fostering a productive and inclusive academic environment. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment (comprised of a 9-month tenured position with an additional three months of summer salary and an administrative stipend). The Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources is currently undergoing exciting changes including major undergraduate and graduate curricular revisions, strategic planning, and establishing collaborative governance processes. We are seeking a Department Head who is eager and excited to contribute to and facilitate completion of these important and timely efforts.

We strongly encourage those who will further advance the Warner College of Natural Resources commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, including those from historically underrepresented groups, to apply for this position. We welcome applicants with a range of experiences, including those new to the profession.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in the announcement to be considered for hire. Apply no later than February 10, 2025 for full consideration at jobs.colostate.edu. Mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted.

Upload each of the items below individually as a Word Document (.doc), PDF (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please remove social security numbers and birthdates from application materials. A complete application consists of:

Application materials of finalist candidates, including letters of reference, will be made available for review by the entire faculty of the Department of HDNR.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.