"Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice (Open Rank) - Civil Engineering"

Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice (Open Rank) - Civil Engineering
Job Class Code: 10017
FLSA: Exempt
Posting Number: FRGV1895
Location: Brownsville, Texas
Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs
Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position: 3 years
Tenure Status: Non Tenure Track
FTE: 1

Scope of Job:
The Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites applications for an Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice (open rank) position, beginning Fall 2026, to support the department's continued growth and increasing student enrollment. The department currently serves over 850 undergraduate and graduate students and includes 18 full-time faculty members dedicated to delivering high-quality education, impactful research, and meaningful student engagement through its ABET-accredited programs. At present, the department only offers the first two years of lower-division undergraduate courses at the Brownsville campus. These positions are part of a strategic plan to expand to the delivery of the full four-year curriculum at the Brownsville Campus. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help lead this expansion. They will be responsible for teaching undergraduate courses across multiple civil engineering disciplines at the Brownsville campus. Additional responsibilities include advising and mentoring students, supporting outreach and recruitment initiatives, and building collaborations with local schools, community colleges, and industry partners. Applicants should possess substantial industry experience, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated commitment to practical, application-oriented teaching. Preferred qualifications include Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) licensure. UTRGV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to serving a diverse student population.

About UTRGV: UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website.

Department Background: The UTRGV Civil Engineering Department is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and high-quality education that prepares students for leadership roles in the civil engineering field. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), equipping students with the foundational and advanced knowledge necessary to excel in various civil engineering practices. Accredited by ABET, the programs ensure adherence to the highest standards of engineering education. The curriculum spans multiple civil engineering disciplines, including Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Water Resources, and Environmental Engineering. The department has experienced consistent growth in student enrollment, reflecting the rising demand for civil engineers in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond, with over 850 students currently enrolled. Fostering a collaborative learning environment, the department encourages hands-on experiences through internships, research projects, and involvement in professional organizations like the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). With a diverse faculty of over 18 full-time professors, the department emphasizes cutting-edge research in sustainable infrastructure, smart cities, climate change impacts, and advanced materials, providing students with opportunities to engage in real-world challenges through competitive research funding. For further information regarding the Civil Engineering Department, please visit our website at http://www.utrgv.edu/cive/.

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a minimum of a master's degree in civil engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution. Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years of teaching experience in a university or college setting or at least five (5) years of professional, industry-related experience in civil engineering practice. Applicants should demonstrate a strong connection between academic teaching and professional practice, showing the ability to integrate real-world engineering experience into classroom instruction. Candidates must also exhibit excellent oral and written communication skills, a commitment to high-quality undergraduate education, and the ability to mentor and advise students effectively. Candidates at the rank of Associate Professor in Practice must provide evidence of leadership experience appropriate to that level.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:
Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence by effectively incorporating practical, real-world industry experience into their courses. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate civil engineering courses across multiple sub-disciplines, including but not limited to land surveying, construction materials, structural analysis/design, water resources, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation, and construction engineering.

Preferred Qualification:
A Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) license is highly desirable. Candidates with significant practical industry experience and a strong record of effective teaching will be given preference. Applicants with a broad technical background and the ability to integrate emerging technologies into teaching and learning across the civil engineering curriculum are especially encouraged to apply. Experience with innovative instructional methods, such as experiential learning, project-based education, or technology-enhanced instruction, is advantageous. UTRGV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, distinguished by its high percentage of Hispanic students and its strong commitment to bilingual and culturally responsive education.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
License or Certification Required?: No
Number of Vacancies: 2
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026

EEO Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date: 11/03/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All applications must be submitted via the UTRGV application portal at https://careers.utrgv.edu. Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first time, please complete all biographical information including address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Security sensitive: All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

Additional Information:
UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Please Note:
Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

To apply, visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/49214