Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in land and/or forest resources policy

University of British Columbia

UBC’s campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples and of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

Position Description
The Faculties of Forestry, and Land & Food Systems at the University of British Columbia invite applications for a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor position in policy in subject areas related to land, food, forests, and/or bioenergy. The precise area of specialization is open. Examples of teaching and research programs (not exclusive) include the following:

• All areas of policy related to food, fuels, and/or fibre and the bioeconomy
• Policy related to agriculture, forestry and harvesting
• Food policy
• Climate justice and role of land and/or forest resources
• Green economy, biobased products including bioenergy and bioplastics

The expected start date is July 1, 2025. This is a joint appointment between Forestry and Land & Food Systems. Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in social or natural sciences by the time of appointment or shortly thereafter, and a strong record or promise of achievements.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop an innovative, externally-funded and internationally-competitive research program, supervise graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, collaborate with faculty members, teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their discipline, and participate in service to the department, university, and academic/scientific community. Candidates will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion to create a welcoming community for all, particularly those who are historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized.

Description of the Faculties
The Faculty of Forestry (https://forestry.ubc.ca/) at the UBC is one of the largest of its kind globally. Its award-winning, multidisciplinary researchers explore social-ecological systems from many perspectives, including ecosystem functioning, applied resource management, bioeconomy and advanced bioproducts, conservation decision-making and policy, Indigenous knowledge, and values that human societies derive from nature. Our research continually strives to redefine and broaden our conception of forestry by addressing a wide variety of issues including public policy, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, climate change mitigation, sustainable forest management and bioproducts development, to name a few.

The Faculty of Land & Food Systems (LFS https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/) is a pioneering leader in studying, understanding and researching key issues in food supply, health and nutrition, and sustainability and climate change. We collaborate and innovate across disciplines and we work closely with community and industry partners to create real-world solutions to local and global challenges. With the goal of balancing food systems and planetary health to create a better world, LFS develops change makers and leaders who improve global health through science, innovation and positive actions that recognize the critical connections between soil, plants, animals, humans and the environment.

Application Process
Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search will be restricted to qualified Black scholars. We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Candidates are required to self-identify through the Applicant Diversity Survey, which takes approximately two minutes to complete. All questions unrelated to self-identification as Black are voluntary and options to decline to answer are available. Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self-identify as Black to be considered eligible. All information collected by UBC will remain confidential and any reported data will be in aggregate form shared with the Search Committee co-chairs for to track intersectional diversity and support and equitable and meritorious search process.

As one of the world’s leading universities, UBC is taking steps and implementing programs to build a more inclusive community. In alignment with UBC’s commitment to advance the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education, the University of British Columbia is undertaking a Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative aimed at increasing the representation of Black faculty members at UBC. The initiative supports the recruitment of professors at all ranks across both the research and educational streams. The advertised position is part of a Food, Forests, and (Bio)Fuels cluster of three tenure-track appointments.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The expected salary range for this position is $125,000 to $135,000 annually.

Candidates must demonstrate excellence or clear promise of excellence in teaching and research. Evidence of the latter can take the form of three writing samples which can include published works, forthcoming articles, and completed manuscripts.

Applications should be submitted through the UBC Career Website. Interested applicants must submit all of the following documents:
1) Cover letter that summarizes (up to 2 pages)
a) Your research vision and accomplishments,
b) How your expertise, scholarship, planned research and teaching will integrate within the Faculties of Forestry, and Land & Food Systems,
c) How you have displayed leadership or potential to display leadership through: existing or proposed research, teaching, service, community engagement, outreach, contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, or other relevant activities;
2) Current CV including list of publications;
3) Research statement (2-3 pages single-spaced) describing your work to date and future plans including any research related to food, food systems, and /or forests;
4) Statement of teaching interests, approach and philosophy (1-2 pages);
5) UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization (EDID) through the academic and research ecosystem. Provide a brief (1-2 page) statement describing current and future commitments or interests related to EDID. Your comments may relate to lived/living experience, professional work or practice, academic and research activities, and/or community-engagement.

Note: Long-listed candidates will be asked to arrange for 3 letters of reference to be submitted to the search committee.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority for the position. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. All applications must include one of the following statements:

● Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
● No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Applicants do not need to otherwise indicate country of origin or current citizenship.

For full consideration, complete application materials must be received by 25 November 2024.
Any inquiries may be sent to Patty Renneckar at patty.renneckar@ubc.ca.

Career Interruptions
UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other legitimate reasons in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

Dual Career Inquiries
UBC is committed to supporting candidates within a dual career household. Inquiries about spousal/partner employment may be directed to the Office of the Provost & Vice President Academic at viceprovost.avpaa@ubc.ca.

Commitment to Accessibility and Accommodations
The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or form more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca. Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact patty.renneckar@ubc.ca .