Assistant Professor - Jazz

Requirements and Qualifications

Candidates must have earned a doctoral degree in Jazz Performance and/or Jazz Composition/Arranging, or a closely related area by the time of appointment, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research (including creative professional activities/practice) and teaching in jazz. We seek candidates whose research and teaching complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by a record of achievement that could include: performances and/or compositions/arrangements for major venues, organizations, and festivals; collaborations with established artists and ensembles; public presence through broadcasts, recordings, and media platforms; presentations at significant academic or professional conferences; publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals; awards and accolades; arts and/or research grants; the submitted research statement; and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments and the teaching dossier (including the required materials outlined below, as well as superior performance in other teaching-related activities), and strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant, course instructor or ensemble leader, experience leading successful workshops/clinics or seminars, or student mentorship.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research (including creative professional activities/practice), and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. In addition, the successful candidate will be assigned a teaching and service load. Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate and graduate jazz courses, including one-on-one performance lessons and/or leading jazz ensembles, as appropriate to the candidate's areas of specialization; and research supervision and mentoring of jazz students at the masters and doctoral levels.

Hiring Salary Range

The expected salary range is $135,000–$160,000 CAD per annum, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

About Us

The Faculty of Music is a division of Canada's largest university, located in one of the world's most diverse cities. The Faculty of Music offers undergraduate and graduate (MMus and DMA) degrees in Jazz. For further information see music.utoronto.ca and uoftjazz.ca.

Application Process

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by November 16, 2026.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. 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. Links to audiovisual documentation submitted as part of the application must remain valid for the duration of the search process. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• a cover letter;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a statement outlining plans for current and future research (including creative professional activities/practice)
• a select portfolio of recent samples of their work including stable active links to audiovisual documentation and including description of the applicant's role in collaborative outputs
• a teaching dossier, including:
  • a teaching statement
  • sample course materials
  • teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above; and
• 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 within 48 hours of an application being submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references 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.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Dean Ryan McClelland at dean.music@utoronto.ca.

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.

Apply now