Assistant Professor - Housing, Community and Economic Development

Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Department of Geography & Planning in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto (St. George Campus) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of Housing, Community and Economic Development. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. degree in Planning or a closely related field by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental and Program in Planning strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research at the highest international level and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

Specific areas of specialization of the candidate may include (but are not limited to) real estate development, municipal management, housing affordability, economic development planning, community and social economies, and economic development in relation to reparative, abolitionist and/or Indigenous planning. The candidate is required to demonstrate a strong grasp of quantitative methodologies and the ability to use these methods in research, practice, and teaching (e.g., statistics, geographic information systems, economic models).

The successful candidate will be expected to teach core and elective courses in the graduate planning program (including joint Geography-Planning courses), as well as an undergraduate course in the Department of Geography and Planning. The successful candidate will also be expected to supervise graduate students; lead the economic development concentration in the MScPl program; maintain an active research program that attracts international recognition in the area/s of housing, community and economic development; and provide service within the University and to broader academic and professional communities.

Candidates must provide evidence of excellence in research, which can be demonstrated through: high-quality scholarly publications in peer-reviewed, top-ranked, and field-relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards; the submitted research statement; engagement in international scholarly networks relevant to planners; presentations at significant, discipline-relevant conferences; documentation of research collaborations, including with community, public sector, or private sector partners; evidence of independent scholarship; awards and accolades; a demonstrated ability to attract external funding for an evolving research program; and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

Evidence of excellence in teaching can be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement that outlines the candidate’s teaching philosophy, sample course syllabi related to the teaching of housing, community, and/or economic development, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include previous experience as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, or student mentorship.

Professional experience in the applicant’s area of expertise will be considered an asset.

Membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) with the requisite Registered Professional Planner designation, or in any other comparable national/regional planning body, will be considered an asset, and will be acquired subsequent to the hire.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Planning Program at the University of Toronto is an internationally recognized, dynamic unit within the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. As a community of scholars, practitioners, activists and students, the Program is engaged in research and teaching across the sub-fields of planning, and committed to fostering city-regions that are sustainable, accessible, beautiful and just. The Program offers a Ph.D. in Planning and a professionally accredited Masters of Science in Planning. The Department of Geography and Planning seeks new faculty members who wish to contribute to the achievements and ethos of the Planning Program. For further details please see the Planning Program Mission and Anti-Black Racism Framework.

A distinctive feature of the Planning Program is its location within a wider Department of Geography and Planning, which allows for fertile collaborations at the interface of social and physical sciences and planning action. Faculty can work with exceptional students across these terrains and across the economic, social, urban, environmental, infrastructural and design dimensions of planning. The appointment is at the University of Toronto, which is a tri-campus, research-intensive institution. The St. George Campus is in the heart of Toronto and offers the opportunity to conduct research, teach and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. The University also offers opportunities to work in a wide range of collaborative programs and centres of research, such as the School of Cities, the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the School of the Environment.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking on the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement outlining current and future research interests, a recent writing sample, and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above. All application materials must be submitted online.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to academic excellence as articulated in University of Toronto's Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence . We seek candidates who share these values and who demonstrate throughout the application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Department Chair, Professor Michael Widener, at jobs@geog.utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by October 7th, 2024 .

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.