"Open Rank Lecturer in Writing & Language Studies (Professional and Technical Writing)/College of Liberal Arts"

Open Rank Lecturer in Writing & Language Studies (Professional and Technical Writing)/College of Liberal Arts

Job Class Code: 10050
FLSA: Exempt
Posting Number: FRGV1866
Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs
Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position: 3 years
Tenure Status: Non Tenure Track
FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job:
We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's student body and community as an Open Rank Lecturer of Professional and Technical Writing in the Department of Writing & Language Studies beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. We invite applications from candidates with expertise in professional writing and/or technical communication. Expected duties include teaching in the English major and professional writing minor, with potential teaching opportunities in the English M.A. (pending qualification to teach at the graduate level), along with service to the department, university, field, and/or community.

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. 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/College Background
The Department of Writing & Language Studies at UTRGV has a core mission-engagement. We have the largest department in the College of Liberal Arts, and every day our faculty work to put students at the center of our jobs. With experiential learning opportunities that immerse students in living research, we're looking at how language and writing make things happen in the world. With many award-winning teachers and programs, we're building classroom spaces that buzz with collaboration and communication. And with energetic researchers and community partners in all our areas (Linguistics, Rhetoric & Composition, Professional & Technical Writing, Asian Studies, English as a Second Language, French, and more), we are creating new knowledge with our colleagues and our students. Our degrees and minors may have traditional names, but our department is building a new identity we'd love to explore with you. We're multilingual, we're invested in social impact, and we're designing innovative worlds through writing and language.

Minimum Qualifications:
The qualifications to be considered as a Lecturer of Professional and Technical Writing are (1) a PhD from an accredited institution in Professional Writing and/or Technical Communication, Rhetoric & Composition, Writing Studies, English, or related field (ABDs may be considered, but a conferred doctorate by August 31st, 2026 is required for appointment); (2) significant coursework in professional writing and/ or technical communication; and (3) evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in teaching.
This position is open rank, with rank dependent on the candidate's qualifications. The candidate's rank will be determined by the following criteria:
Lecturer I | 0-2 years full-time teaching experience
Lecturer II | 2-4 years full-time college teaching experience
Lecturer III | 4-6 years full-time college teaching experience
Sr. Lecturer | > 6 years of full-time college teaching experience

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:
Graduate coursework in professional writing and/or technical communication; graduate coursework in rhetoric and composition and/or writing studies.

Preferred Qualification:
(1) Expertise in professional writing and/or technical communication and pedagogy; (2) the ability to teach in a variety of classrooms, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online synchronous or asynchronous; (3) prior teaching experience at the post-secondary level, such as First Year Writing, but preferably upper division Writing and/or Professional Writing, or Technical Communication courses; and (4) a scholarly publication within the last five years.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
License or Certification Required?: No
Number of Vacancies: 1
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: 09/25/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants:
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. 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/48734