Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream - Sustainability Science

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for a full-time teaching stream position in Sustainability Science. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027.

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.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in sustainability science, environmental science, physical geography, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching environmental remediation and restoration, waste management, and pollution. We seek candidates whose teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/geography/).

Candidates must have teaching experience in a degree-granting program, including lecture preparation and delivery, curriculum development, and development of online material/lectures (including large courses). Additionally, candidates must possess a demonstrated commitment to excellent pedagogical inquiry, a demonstrated interest in teaching-related scholarly activities, a demonstrated record of excellence in sustainability science topics and experience supervising or mentoring student research projects.

Evidence of excellence in teaching, a commitment to excellent pedagogical inquiry, and excellence in sustainability-related environmental science will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, awards and accolades, presentations at significant conferences, publications in relevant scientific journals, the teaching dossier (including the required materials outlined below), and strong letters of reference.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will be assigned a teaching and service load. We seek enthusiastic and innovative individuals pursuing a long-term academic career in pedagogy with a demonstrated commitment to excellent pedagogical practices and strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

The successful candidate may contribute to introductory courses in the undergraduate environmental management and science programs, as well as our sustainability certificate, including ENV100Y5 (The Environment) and field-based experiential courses, and may have the opportunity to develop upper-level courses related to environmental science. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to engage in undergraduate mentorship and help foster a vibrant intellectual atmosphere for our programs.

Preference will be given to candidates who have engaged with students both in and out of a course setting (for example, running seminars, workshops, and engaging with student‐run initiatives); have experience teaching field methods courses; have contributed to departmental administration (for example, through course coordination or by managing TAs).

HIRING SALARY RANGE

The salary range is CAD 128,000 – 167,000 per annum, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

ABOUT US

The Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/geography/) explores the complex relationships between people, places, and the environment through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates physical geography, human geography, geospatial data science, and environmental science and management. Students develop the knowledge and practical skills to understand and address environmental and societal challenges using fieldwork, geospatial technologies, research, and data analysis. Our faculty and students combine expertise across geographic disciplines and advanced geospatial methods to address real-world challenges. Through lab research, field courses, and internships, students gain hands-on experience while connecting academic study with professional practice. We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our people, academic programs, research, and commitment to experiential learning (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/geography/).

For more information on working at the University of Toronto, please visit https://www.utoronto.ca/research-innovation/working-at-uoft.

At UTM, we are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. With an enviably diverse student body, we especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour), and who have experience working with, teaching or mentoring diverse groups or students. Candidates must demonstrate, in their application materials, an ability to foster diversity on campus and within the curriculum or discipline, and must show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial environment. Candidates must submit a statement describing their contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities; efforts undertaken to develop inclusive pedagogies, collaboration, and engagement with underrepresented communities; and mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this statement, please contact the Department Chair, Laura Brown, at chair.utm.geography@utoronto.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. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• a cover letter;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a recent writing sample;
• a complete teaching dossier, including
  • a teaching statement (max 10 pages),
  • Equity, diversity, and inclusion statement (max 1 page)
  • sample course outlines and course materials (max 20 pages)
  • teaching evaluations (max 10 pages)
• the name and contact information of three references. At least one reference letter must primarily address the candidate’s teaching.

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. Submission guidelines and 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 the Department Chair, Laura Brown, at chair.utm.geography@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.

Organization

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. U of T's distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding students and academics from around the world.

U of T is committed to providing a learning experience that benefits from both a scale almost unparalleled in North America and from the close-knit learning communities made possible through its college system and academic divisions. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse regions, U of T's vibrant academic life is defined by a unique degree of cultural diversity in its learning community.The University is sustained environmentally by three green campuses, where renowned heritage buildings stand beside award-winning innovations in architectural design.

U of T is one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. U of T is one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers.

Are you looking for a challenging, meaningful career in a supportive and diverse environment? We offer challenging work within an open environment that celebrates diversity in all its forms. Our focus is on creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains excellent employees through a combination of competitive compensation, favourable working conditions, opportunities for career growth and development and a unique organizational culture.

Employees have access to:

• Excellent health and dental benefits;
• On-site support for training and career development;
• Flexible work arrangements;
• Childcare subsidy;
• Tuition waivers;
• Scholarships and/or tuition waivers for dependants;
• Generous paid time off;
• Support on equity and diversity issues;
• On-site child care;
• University Pension Plan;
• Subsidized athletic facility membership;
• World-renowned libraries;
• Confidential counselling services;
• Parking and TTC Metropasses;
• Employee and Family Assistance Plan;
• Continued health benefits for pensioners.

Work where the world comes to think. Work where the world comes to discover. Work where the world comes to learn. Opportunities exist for people from a wide range of backgrounds, ranging from recent graduates to experienced senior professionals.