Lecturer, Bachelor of Social Work Program - Social Work (Full Time Limited Term Appointment)
Wilfrid Laurier University
WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM
Brantford, Ontario
Full-time Limited Term Appointment
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus invites applications for a 1-year Limited Term Appointment (LTA) faculty position commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, subject to budgetary approval.
Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work (FSW), with sites in Brantford (undergraduate) and Kitchener (graduate), is located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. As an accredited BSW program, we have maintained a strong emphasis on our responsibilities as social work educators to implement calls outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report, and we will continue to decolonize our social work and education practices. It is our hope and intention to welcome a candidate who will also contribute to this journey.
The FSW is devoted to excellence in research, creative and critical thinking, and reflexive practice. Across all programs, undergraduate and graduate, our students learn through traditional and innovative teaching strategies. We encourage students at all levels to become active citizens of an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We fulfill our mission by advancing multi-disciplinary and marginalized forms of knowledge. Our graduates are committed to constructively engaging and working toward transforming oppressive conditions and structures, and promoting well-being in individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The BSW program at Laurier is a generalist program preparing students for a variety of practice contexts. Our curriculum emphasizes familiarity with micro, mezzo, and macro practices with individuals, families, and communities by examining various critical issues such as health, gender & sexuality, migration and forced displacement, poverty, violence, disability, and child welfare. Additional information about the FSW and our BSW courses is available at our websites https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-social-work/index.html;
https://academic-calendar.wlu.ca/department.php?cal=1&d=3030&s=1132&y=90
Position Description
We are seeking a scholar-practitioner with direct practice social work experience, an emerging program of research, and demonstrated teaching effectiveness. An ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
Direct Practice Expertise: Direct practice experience in social work settings is required. All applicants should be able to reflect a deep understanding of the complexities involved in direct practice social work and demonstrate an ability to apply evidence-based interventions effectively.
Research Interests: While the specific focus of the candidate’s research program is open, research aligning with current trends and challenges in social work practice related to critical gerontology, mental health, substance use, or Indigenous [FNMI] social work practices or pedagogy would be an asset.
Social Work Teaching Experience: Demonstrate teaching experience and effectiveness in two main areas: 1) research methods. 2) direct practice with individuals, families, groups, and community, and/or Indigenous [FMNI] social work pedagogies. We encourage candidates to demonstrate how their practice area and previous teaching experience would support and complement a generalist BSW program.
Qualifications
The successful applicant will hold (1) a completed or ABD/nearly completed PhD , and at least one practice degree in social work [BSW or MSW], (2) have a minimum of 2 years direct practice experience, in-person [campus based] teaching experience in social work, with undergraduate teaching experience considered an asset.
Responsibilities
The teaching load for this position is a maximum of six courses during the academic year (fall, winter, and/or spring semesters), with an expectation to teach our newly developed course Research for Social Work Practice. BSW courses will be taught in-person as part of our on-campus program, though the opportunity to teach virtual synchronous courses may also exist (in Spring term). This position is a full-time faculty position; therefore, in addition to teaching, there is an expectation of contributing to the FSW community by serving on the BSW Committee and other service areas within the University. Further details related to duties and responsibilities are outlined in the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) Collective Agreement.
Application Package
Applicants should send (1) a letter of application highlighting accomplishments and strengths in relation to the position description and requirements, as well as a list of BSW courses the applicant could teach given their teaching interests and expertise; (2) their curriculum vitae; (3) details (name, position title, organization) and contact information for three referees; and (4) a teaching dossier consisting of a 1-2 page teaching philosophy, two sample course syllabi (please note if developed by the candidate), and evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., peer teaching evaluations, unsolicited student feedback, contextualized student teaching evaluations, and/or examples of professional teaching development). If submitting student teaching evaluations as evidence of effective teaching, applicants are encouraged to provide context and critical commentary of any raw data provided; we recognize these measures can be biased or flawed.
To Apply
Submit the application package through the Wilfrid Laurier University job portal by clicking on the APPLY NOW button (top right, bottom right). The full application package should also be sent to fswrecruit@wlu.ca no later than the deadline.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm (EST), May 15, 2025.
Diversity and creating a culture of inclusion is a key pillar of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Strategic Academic Plan and is one of Laurier’s core values. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any sexual identities and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programming at Laurier are welcome to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at indigenous@wlu.ca. Candidates from other equity seeking groups who would like to learn more about equity hand inclusive programming at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity and Accessibility at equity@wlu.ca.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships however, all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:
Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Members of designated groups must self-identify to be considered for employment equity. Candidates may self-identify, in confidence, to Yumna Al-Adeimi, Senior Administrative Officer at the Faculty of Social Work (yaladeimi@wlu.ca). Further information on the equity policy can be found at https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html .
Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC and NSERC definitions and guidelines. To obtain a copy of this job description in an accessible format, please contact Human Resources (HR@wlu.ca).
Wilfrid Laurier University
We acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay) and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. From the Haldimand Proclamation of Oct. 25, 1784 this territory is described as: “six miles deep from each side of the river (Grand River) beginning at Lake Erie and extending in the proportion to the Head of said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever.” The proclamation was signed by the British wit h their allies, the Six Nations, after the American Revolution. Despite being the largest reserve demographically in Canada, those nations now reside on less than five percent of this original territory.
Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university renowned for its learning environment and student-focused educational experience. As a comprehensive university with more than 19,000 students, Laurier has grown rapidly in research intensity while at the same time preserving its well-earned reputation for undergraduate and graduate teaching and learning excellence. With a multi-campus and multi-community culture, Laurier offers students an exceptional range and depth of more than 100 academic programs taught by award-winning lecturers across nine faculties.
The Faculty/School of Social Work wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. All nominations and applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the Search Committee and a short list of candidates shall be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the short list will be contacted.