"Lecturer in Sociology and Labor Educator, 12-months, Spring 2026"

Job Details

The University of Southern Maine (USM) invites applications for a fiscal year position (12-months) as a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Criminology and a Labor Educator for Charles A. Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education.

Position Overview

This unique joint appointment bridges the Scontras Center’s mission of labor education and community engagement with the Department of Sociology and Criminology’s tradition of critical, interdisciplinary scholarship. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in Sociology while also contributing to the development and delivery of labor education programs through the Scontras Center.

The teaching load will normally be two courses per semester, allowing dedicated time for Scontras Center responsibilities. Summer responsibilities will be devoted full-time to the Scontras Center.

Areas of Specialization

We seek an educator whose primary specialization lies in one or more of the following areas: political economy, labor history and studies, social movements, work and occupation, and labor and migration. We are seeking a scholar-activist whose teaching and scholarship are engaged with labor movements, workers’ organizations, and grassroots struggles for economic and social justice.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in sociology or a related discipline by time of appointment.
• At least two years of directly relevant experience working with or for unions, such as contract bargaining, organizing, or leadership development.
• Demonstrated excellence and innovation in undergraduate teaching.
• Commitment to student advising, mentoring, and community-engaged pedagogy.
• Collegial, team-oriented approach to academic and community collaboration.

Job Responsibilities:

Department of Sociology and Criminology

• Teach undergraduate courses in sociology and labor studies (2–2 load).
• Advise undergraduate students and contribute to curriculum development, especially within the Labor Studies minor.

Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education

Working under the direction of the Center’s Director and in collaboration with Center staff, responsibilities will include:

Teaching & Program Delivery:

• Co-develop and deliver certificate programs (e.g., Union Leadership, Labor Studies).
• Conduct special trainings and one-hour workshops for unions, worker centers, and other community organizations.

Curriculum Development:

• Collaborate with Center staff, faculty, and community stakeholders to design and refine labor education programs.

Scholarship & Professional Development:

• Engage in academic or applied research related to labor studies, with outputs that may include publications, applied reports, or curriculum resources.
• Participate in national labor and academic conferences.

Outreach & Service:

• Collaborate with unions, labor educators, and community groups to ensure program relevance.
• Assist with planning and participating in Scontras Center events.
• Contribute to college and university committees as appropriate.

About the Department of Sociology and Criminology

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers B.A. degrees in both disciplines. Formerly two separate departments, sociology and criminology are now one program continuing a shared tradition of critical, interdisciplinary, and global-comparative inquiry. Current and retired faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for work on abolition, drugs and society, sex work, gender and sexualities, green criminology, policing, social theory and surveillance. Our collective record of research productivity exceeds the expectations of a regional public university, and our faculty are deeply engaged with communities beyond the academy. We especially welcome applicants whose scholarship is rooted in, and accountable to, grassroots movements for collective liberation.

Both programs offer a liberal arts education grounded in the analysis of how social structures shape human behavior. We understand the liberal arts not as a static canon, but as a vital framework for interpreting and changing the world. Our rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum invites students to examine power, inequality, and collective struggle across time and place. In doing so, we prepare students to think critically, act ethically, and imagine alternatives to the intersecting crises of our era—ecological devastation, extreme inequality, rising authoritarianism, and systemic violence. We seek a colleague who will contribute to this mission by fostering the intellectual capacities our students need to build a more just and sustainable world.

About the Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education

The Charles A. Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education is a statewide hub for labor education, leadership development, and worker empowerment. Building on a long tradition of worker education in Maine, the Center delivers certificate programs, union leadership trainings, and community workshops that strengthen the labor movement and broaden democratic participation.

About the University

The University of Southern Maine is a vibrant academic community located in the greater Portland, Maine area, including campuses in Portland, Gorham, Lewiston, and online. USM is part of the University of Maine System and offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing hands-on learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a highly engaged student-centered learning environment, USM is a steward of higher education, helping drive the economic, cultural, and civic life in the communities where our campuses are located and beyond. USM is committed to providing expanded access to high-quality education that elevates economic opportunity and contributes significantly to the vitality of a diverse society. To learn more, please review the About Our University page.

The University of Southern Maine fosters a welcoming and supportive campus environment that respects and appreciates varied perspectives, enhancing teaching, learning, personal growth, and overall institutional achievement. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our dedication to academic excellence and the enrichment of our community.

We are dedicated to our Service Promise, Student Focused Every Day and seek a team member who embraces this commitment and upholds our core values of Respect & Care, Integrity, Equity, and Responsiveness.

The targeted starting date for this position can be as soon as January 1, 2026 and will pay a base salary of $71,828 plus benefits, including vacation days. When hired, candidates must reside within commutable distances from the USM campuses. This requirement is essential for the ability to participate in supporting and building upon our university culture of "student focused every day" and allows for regular participation in on-campus activities, meetings, and fulfills the responsibilities of the role effectively. The University of Southern Maine provides highly competitive benefits that include health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; a tuition waiver program for employees and tuition discounts for spouses and eligible dependents; a 403(b)-retirement plan with 10% employer contribution; and more. To learn more, please review the Benefits Information Summary.

How to Apply:

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button or visit USM Careers and submit the following materials:

• Comprehensive letter of interest which includes
  • Your interest in USM and this position.
  • Your teaching philosophy, relevant experience, and undergraduate courses you could teach/develop, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness.
  • Your research interests, accomplishments, and future goals.
  • How your teaching and research will contribute to the university’s commitment to building a team of leaders, faculty, and student experiences.
• Resume/curriculum vitae, which fully describes your qualifications and experiences with specific reference to the required qualifications.
• Names and contact information for at least three professional references.

We will begin reviewing candidate packages immediately. To ensure full consideration, materials should be submitted by November 10, 2025. Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate. At this time, the University of Southern Maine is unable to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.