Job Information
University of Maine System Postdoctoral Research Associate Parks, Recreation, Tourism in Orono, Maine
Dr. John J. Daigle, Professor in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral position research scholar with a strong social science and Parks, Recreation and Tourism background. This is a full time position that will provide an individual who has recently been awarded a doctorate to undertake the responsibilities of community engagement, teaching and research. The position will include outreach and communications for collaboration in development and implementation especially around cultural tourism.
Purpose: Facilitate, coordinate, and engage in rigorous, collaborative research partnerships involving faculty and staff associated with the Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) program in the School of Forest Resources. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will advance their individual professional development as a researcher and scholar while contributing to the larger programmatic goals of PRT. The PRT Postdoctoral Research Associate will be expected to contribute to the statewide THOR initiative (Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation), the EDA-supported Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Road Map, and core PRT programming, to include course instruction where appropriate. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be responsible for liaising with tribal community partners to communicate both educational and research opportunities within the Parks, Recreation and Tourism field. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be responsible for liaising with allied government, non-profit, and industry partners on statewide bodies and to statewide initiatives relevant to the PRT program. She/he will be expected to contribute to the broad research and service missions of the University while advancing the specific programmatic needs of the PRT program. Principal duties of the position will include: 1) mixed-methods/social science investigation of cultural tourism and other outdoor recreation studies; 2) network facilitation and collaboration; and 3) teaching. In these domains of work there will be opportunity for mentorship with teaching core PRT classes such as Forest Recreation Management and network facilitation; opportunity for close collaborations in areas such as cultural tourism research; self-direction with research; and leadership opportunity with research and programmatic goals of PRT.
In all three areas the b) teaching responsibilities as appropriate; c) service on grant writing teams; d) contributions to PRT activities, to include manuscript preparation and original research. Typical hiring salary for this soft-money funded, one-year fixed-length position is $65,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Complete Job Description (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FetZ3svzvE1VHNzJHsI0fc5ZPIRP2EHc/view?usp=sharing)
About the University:
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.
The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits (https://www.maine.edu/human-resources/benefits/) for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.
UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here (https://www.visitbangormaine.com/about-the-region/the-region-at-a-glance/) .
Qualifications:
Required:
A completed Ph.D. in a discipline related to Parks, Recreation and Tourism or closely aligned field by position start date, providing sufficient expertise in social scientific processes, theories, and methods.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and proven experience working effectively with faculty and graduate students.
Strong analytical, organizational, and planning skills.
Ability to plan, organize, and implement research activities with independence and only moderate supervision.
Strong analytical skills and ability to draw appropriate conclusions based on data in a business, economic, or social context.
Experience with field-based social scientific research methods, including data collection with human subjects via means such as surveys, focus groups, interviews, or behavioral experiments.
Indicators of likely success in publishing research findings in peer-reviewed outlets.
Demonstrated ability with basic computing and technology skills used within a professional environment.
Familiarity with statistical or other data analysis software.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in collaborative environments, including with stakeholders and other non-technical parties.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate clear goals and to synthesize research findings for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to work both independently and as a productive member of a team.
Ability to travel both in- and out-of-state, usually requiring a valid driver's license with reimbursement at the contract rate.
Preferred:
Experience with research on cultural tourism.
Experience working with rural and underserved communities with planning and management around parks, recreation and tourism.
Evident potential for scholarly productivity.
Potential for securing external funding to support research and PRT activities.
Potential to contribute to academic program administration and development at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Teaching experience in PRT or adjacent fields.
Potential for community engagement through research and service at local, state, or national levels.
Experience working with state and municipal leaders, nongovernmental organizations, and industry partners.
Other Information:
To be considered for this position you will need to “Apply” and upload the documentation listed below:
1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references.
Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
For full consideration, materials must be submitted by September 24, 2024.
For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair John Daigle at jdaigle@maine.edu or 207-581-2850.
The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report (https://umaine.edu/police/clery-annual-safety-report/) . If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.