"Assistant Professor in Human-Environmental Relations (Indigenous Scholar)"

The Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) invites applications from qualified Indigenous scholars from Turtle Island/North America (including First Nations, Métis and Inuit) for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of human-environmental relations, to begin July 1, 2026, subject to budgetary approval. The Waterloo campus will be the primary location for this position; however, teaching responsibilities may include instruction at the Milton and Brantford campuses via in-person or virtual delivery.

Anticipated Salary Range: $90,000 to $140,000. Actual salary to be commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

Applicants are expected to possess a PhD or be close to completing one, in geography, environmental studies, resource management, or other relevant fields or disciplines, at the time of appointment. The successful applicant will be expected to complete Laurier’s Indigenous identity verification process.

The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in Indigenous Geographies of human-environmental relations, or a related field, with demonstrated commitment to Indigenous scholarship, community engaged research, and participatory scholarship. The ideal candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision and will be experienced in teaching courses focused on the human-environment interface, environment and society, natural resource management, environmental impact assessment, Indigenous Environmental Knowledges, and/or critical resource geographies. The candidate will bring to their teaching their lived experience, a combination of Indigenous and Western approaches, and will develop new courses to refresh the department’s course offering. Candidates able to use Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous pedagogies in their teaching and learning approaches are encouraged to apply.

We seek a colleague with demonstrated and/or clear potential to develop an independent, internationally recognized and robust research program, which could include (but is not limited to) fields such as environment and development, environmental management, ecological conservation, policy, planning and/or governance, and community engaged scholarship or Indigenous methodologies, and will create research opportunities for graduate students with strong links to Indigenous communities. The candidate’s research would ideally align with Laurier’s 2025-2030 Strategic Research Plan, which includes a focus on decolonizing practices, fostering equitable relationships between non-Indigenous and Indigenous communities, and promoting Indigenous knowledge, methodologies and perspectives that contribute to the broader goal of reconciliation and mutual understanding.

In collaboration with departmental colleagues, the successful candidate will play an important role in shaping the future direction of the department. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to working across sub-disciplinary boundaries, creating a culture of inclusion, and engaging in community service and professional development. The successful candidate is also expected to contribute service to the University and academic community, and to scholarly and/or professional activities.

How to Apply

To apply, applicants should submit:

• cover letter summarizing their qualifications for the position
• Detailed curriculum vitae
• teaching dossier outlining teaching philosophy, experience, interests, and example syllabi
• 2-page statement of current and prospective research objectives
• copies of up to three scholarly publications and a short statement (max. 350 words) describing the impact of these contributions
• Contact details (name, address, phone, email) of three academic referees willing to provide letters of recommendation (referees will be contacted only for applicants who may potentially be interviewed)

Application packages should be combined into a single PDF document addressed to:

Dr. Robert McLeman
Chair, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University
Email to GESAdmin@wlu.ca.

Applicants should clearly identify that they are applying for the Indigenous Scholar position in the subject line of their email.

Deadline for submission is April 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST.