Assistant/Associate Professor – Construction Management

• 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The College of Engineering and Technology (cet.wcu.edu) at Western Carolina University (WCU) is growing! The University has received substantial support from the North Carolina legislature to expand engineering to meet the rapidly growing needs of the region and state. Our engineering and construction management programs feature project-based learning embedded throughout the curricula, preparing our students for professional practice and advanced study. Industry engagement is a hallmark of our programs, and we pride ourselves on having faculty with significant industry experience. Our culture embraces faculty-student interaction through experiences such as undergraduate research. We are committed to changing the lives of our students and their families through a transformative experience at our main rural campus setting in the mountains of western North Carolina, and at sites in Asheville and across western NC. The college's programs are instrumental to the economic vitality of the region and are advancing the university to be one of the nation's premier regional comprehensive institutions. We are creating leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs with the foundation and skills needed for transformative careers in engineering, construction, and beyond.

The Kimmel School of Construction Management (KSCM) invites applications for an Assistant/Associate Professor of Construction Management. Both January 2027 and August 2027 start dates would be considered. This is a nine (9) month, tenure-track position, with additional summer opportunities for research, teaching, and other professional endeavors. Successful candidates will be expected to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, advise students, be involved in extra-curricular student engagement activities, develop a sustainable program of research and scholarship, and be engaged in university and professional service. Faculty pursue scholarship and research with external partners and with clients through our nationally recognized Rapid Center. Applied research that engages students, especially undergraduate students, is a hallmark of our program.

The Kimmel School of Construction Management houses both an on-campus undergraduate degree program and an online non-thesis based graduate degree program in Construction Management. The undergraduate Construction Management program is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Commission (ANSAC) of ABET. The Master of Construction Management program has been recognized as the No. 1 online program for 2025 by Best College Reviews.

Successful candidates will be expected to support the University's external engagement mission and our Quality Enhancement Program (QEP). Applicants are encouraged to visit the WCU website www.wcu.edu to learn more about WCU and details regarding the QEP.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position

Candidates will be expected to teach across a broad range of construction management topics including, but not limited to construction materials and methods, construction surveying, estimating, scheduling, project management, construction codes and documents, sustainability, construction law, etc. Applicants must demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching, service and scholarship. WCU has adopted the Boyer Model of Scholarship with a primary focus on supporting students in undergraduate research. Candidates should have a strong commitment to contribute to the intellectual and practical lives of students and other stakeholders of the School, College, University, and Construction Industry.

Minimum Qualifications

Possess an earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in construction management, construction engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, architecture, architectural engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution by August 1, 2026.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates will have one or more of the following:

1. Have a minimum of three (3) or more years of U.S. project-based construction industry experience.
2. Upper-level management experience in the construction industry.
3. Relevant professional registration and/or certifications (PE, CPC, PMP, PSP, etc.).
4. University-level teaching experience including online/distance education.

Position Type

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

1. letter of application
2. current CV
3. statement of teaching and student engagement goals
4. statement of research and scholarship goals
5. list of three professional references with complete contact information
6. unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the master's degree level and higher.

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Bruce Gehrig, Director of the Kimmel School of Construction Management at ggehrig@wcu.edu

All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/34798