Review of applications will commence on March 1st and continue until the position is filled.
Are you a forest or landscape ecologist looking for a new and exciting opportunity? Seeking to make operational impacts on the ground by utilizing your scientific and partnership building skills? If so, take the next step and develop your career with us in a fun atmosphere that fosters research and innovation with the active support of our industry and government shareholders, Indigenous partners, consultants and academia from across Canada.
This is a unique opportunity! You will lead a research program with 30 years of exciting history making a meaningful impact on forest and landscape management in western Canada. As a research leader, you will take an active and collaborative role in the identification of research priorities, design research projects, write grant proposals and secure external funding.
fRI Research is an independent not-for-profit research institute that conducts practical science to improve land and resource management. We are proud of our values which notably include research excellence and independence. Our office is located in Hinton, Alberta, 20 minutes east of Jasper National Park, and 3 hours west of Edmonton. For more information about us, please visit our website.
We are proud of our strong shareholder support which includes the Government of Alberta, Jasper National Park, West Fraser, Weyerhaeuser, Tolko, Canfor and Vanderwell Contractors.
The Healthy Landscapes Program, one of fRI Research’s longest-running and most successful initiatives, has explored the application of ecosystem-based management (EBM) principles to forested landscapes in western Canada for over 30 years. It’s partnership base includes over 25 land management and NGO organizations across five provinces and territories, and more than ten academic and research institutes. It is highly partnership driven, meaning that team members are engaged not only in making project investment choices but also as part of teams that conduct the work.
The next phase of the Healthy Landscapes Program will be developed jointly by the new Program Lead, the Activity Team, and the fRI Research shareholders. These may include further studies into EBM and disturbance dynamics, challenges related to a changing climate, as well as projects related to outreach and education as related to forest ecology.
Job description
fRI Research is seeking a knowledgeable, personable, and dedicated leader for our Healthy Landscapes Program. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Lead is responsible for managing all aspects of the program including seeking funding resources and leading the scientific research in the program area. This position will appeal to those interested in leading an applied and highly diversified research program and taking it to the next level, who enjoy working closely with both shareholder organizations and a wide range of experts from across Canada and beyond, and who strive to see their research put to work on the ground.
While primarily focused on Alberta, the program often extends its research scope to forests and with partners in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and NWT.
The role of the successful candidate will be to:
- Create, coordinate, plan and manage the full research process from project inception through to the publication of results
- Leads the development of practical solutions in the areas of sustainable land and forest management, forest resiliency, and climate-smart strategies
- Communicate project progress and results to stakeholders and partners
- Develop a program communications plan, and participate in fRI Research communications activities, including webinars, presentations, infographics, reports, and/or field tours
- Lead and supervise program staff, following fRI Research policies, procedures, and safety requirements
- Manage program financials, including sourcing research funding, and managing all project budgets
- Complete annual work plans, quarterly updates, and other reporting tasks as required by fRI Research and the fRI Research Board of Directors
- Work closely with Activity Team members to identify research questions
- Build and maintain relationships with the program’s Activity Team, shareholders, partners, and stakeholders from industry, government, academia and other groups
- Participate within the organization’s Leadership Team
Essential job qualifications, skills, and experience
Experience in designing and conducting applied research projects that solve practical land use problems
- Expertise in forest ecology, wildfire behaviour/ecology, landscape dynamics, disturbance ecology and/or spatial modelling
- PhD in natural resource management with at least 2 years of practical experience
- Recognized scientific peer-reviewed publication history
- Exceptional interpersonal and collaborative skills for building and maintaining diverse, productive teams
- Proven problem-solving skills and ability for independent decision making
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to speak to both scientific and non-scientific audiences
- Experience in large project management, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development
- Experience in research proposal writing and grant management
- Ability to meet strict production deadlines
- Strong administrative and project management skills, including all aspects of financial tracking and reporting
- Respectful, strategic thinking, action oriented, and possess integrity
- Legally able to work in Canada
- Possession of a valid Class 5 driver’s license
Desirable job qualifications and experience
- Experience working within the private sector
- Undergraduate degree in forest management or forest science
- Membership in relevant professional organizations (e.g., Alberta Association of Forest Management Professionals or the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists)
- Post doctoral studies
- Ability to secure Adjunct status, preferably at an Alberta based university
- Experience working with Indigenous communities and Indigenous knowledge
- Broad experience in forest and land management on multi-use landscapes
- Coding skills in R
- History of interdisciplinary collaboration
- Experience in spatial modelling
- Experience with spatial statistical methods
- Related fire behaviour and fire pattern research
- Experience with EBM
Salary: $90,000 – $132,000 per year (under review), based on experience and qualifications
Hours of work: 37.5 hrs/week
Start date: April 1, 2026. Start date is negotiable
Location: Hinton or Edmonton, Alberta
Travel: Throughout western Canada
Benefits:
- Flexible work schedule
- Extended Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short & Long-Term Disability coverage
- Parental leave top-up
- 3 weeks paid vacation per year to start
- Paid leaves including personal days, sick days, bereavement leave, and a volunteer day
- RRSP/TFSA program
- Support for professional development
- Moving allowance up to $3,000
To apply
Please email your resume with a cover letter as a single file to Risa Croken with the subject line: “Application – HLP Program Lead”. Name the file lastname_firstname_application.
Closing date: Review of applications will commence on March 1st and continue until the position is filled.
While we appreciate the interest of all candidates for this position, only candidates that are invited to interview will be contacted.
fRI Research is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from persons who may have been marginalized in the past including Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities and newcomers to Canada.
