Research Coordinator

Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. 
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver’s license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.

About the Department/College

The School of Forestry (SoF) has 20 faculty (tenure-, teaching- and research-track) administering an SAF-accredited Forestry BS degree plus an active graduate research program in forestry. Our well-equipped facility jointly houses the School of Forestry, the Ecological Restoration Institute, Centennial Forest (education and research forest), and a unit of the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

About the Position

The Research Coordinator plans, coordinates, and monitors the execution of interdisciplinary research activities focused on climate adaptation, fire ecology, and socio-ecological resilience in the southwestern United States. Acts as a point person for administrative, logistical, and communication activities required to support research and stakeholder engagement. Serves as a key liaison between research teams and Tribal and agency partners, supporting communication, outreach, and ethical exchange of information.

Responsibilities Include

30% - Administrative Support

• Coordinates the day-to-day initiation and operation of research and data collection activities.
• Plans, implements, and maintains systems for project tracking, time allocation, and reporting.
• Coordinates logistical arrangements for field campaigns, including travel paperwork, site selection, crew coordination, and data workflows (including 4FRI activities).
• Coordinates the procurement and management of research supplies, permits, and compliance documentation.
• Coordinates communication across research teams and partners, including scheduling meetings and tracking action items.
• May supervise or coordinate students and research support personnel.

30% - Data Collection and Analysis

• Develops and coordinates qualitative data collection, transcription and coding.
• Helps with field crew training for data collection.
• Coordinates workshops, focus groups and interviews.
• Works on data analysis of qualitative data, interpretation and writing.

25% - Outreach

• Supports Tribal engagement and outreach, including organizing workshops, webinars, and follow-up communication.
• Facilitates two-way communication to ensure research outcomes are accessible, relevant, and responsive to partner priorities.
• Assists in development of outreach materials and summaries tailored to diverse audiences.

10% - Reporting

• Monitors progress of research activities and prepares periodic reports.
• Assist with data organization and basic visualization for reporting and communication purposes.

5% - Other

• Other duties as needed to support the scope of work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline.
• 2 years of research support, coordination, or related experience.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant discipline.
• Experience working with Tribal Nations or community-based research.
• Experience in science communication, outreach, or stakeholder engagement.
• Highly organized and able to manage the various components of multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfort in the field and under inclement conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Familiarity with fire ecology and management, restoration, or climate adaptation.
• Experience with NAU travel, approval, purchasing, and reimbursement systems.
• Experience with qualitative social science methods (focus groups, interviews, data coding and analysis).
• Experience in data quality control and management.
• Experience with project management, planning, and organization.
• Ability to problem-solve and work independently.

Compensation

Budgeted salary is $56,000. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.