Senior Lecturer - Territorial Development, Land Use Planning, and Socio-ecological Transition

Location: Grenoble, France

Application deadline: 2026-04-02 16:00 (Europe/Paris)

Euraxess research field: Economic geography, Regional geography, Other, Territorial development, Territorial dynamics, Socio-ecological transition, Territorial engineering, Local action, Mixed methods, Systemic and multiscale analysis, Co-production of knowledge

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For more information:

Expected skills:

Applicants must show a strong interest in teaching as well as a high-level scientific record in accordance with UGA’s ambitions. They must identify with UGA’s values, that is, being open to the world, emphasising ethics and scientific integrity, showing an interest in teamwork and being committed to the community. They should also have a sense of responsibility, in particular with regard to environmental and social issues.

Context and educational objectives:

Educational expectations

The successful candidate will teach courses at the Institut d’Urbanisme et de Géographie Alpine, Grenoble Alpes University, both in the “Géographie et aménagement” bachelor's programme (common core and land use planning and territorial development track) and in the “Urbanisme et aménagement” master's programme (common core and IDATT track – Engineering for the development and planning of territories in transition).

The successful candidate will have a generalist profile in territorial development and land use planning, in line with the requirements of the 24th section of CNU (National University Council).

The successful candidate will have the theoretical knowledge, practical and methodological skills, and experience relating to local action and actors, enabling them to train bachelor's and master's students in territorial engineering from a socio-ecological transition perspective:

• Concepts and processes of territorial development, controversies in land use planning, local public policy and planning, particularly ecological planning
• Understanding informational dimensions of geographic tools: representations of territorial dynamics, stakeholders, and their networks. Mastery of mixed methods (qualitative, quantitative, and cartographic) will be an asset for facilitating workshops and teaching classes.
• Culture and practice of professional workshops.

A grasp of the changes in these fields of activity resulting from the socio-ecological transition is desirable.

The successful candidate will be able to teach a variety of courses (lectures, tutorials and workshops) on a range of topics related to: the territory and its actors, territorial development and economic geography, new ruralities, planning and transitions. Additionally, they will be expected to have the skills to address the evaluation of local public policies, to introduce students to research in regional planning and survey methods, as well as to teach courses related to socio-ecological transition. They will also participate in the supervision of apprentices and research dissertations.

In the short term, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to take on collective responsibilities in training courses.

Research project and scientific impact:

Scientific profile

In connection with the laboratory's project, the successful candidate will work in the fields of territorial development and land use planning, with a focus on socio-ecological transition issues. They are expected to be able to reflect on development policies and their controversies, on territorial dynamics and the interplay between different stakeholders, and to have knowledge of the frameworks and processes of action at various levels, from local to international. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the reflection on the co-production of knowledge with territorial stakeholders.

We are looking for a candidate capable of conducting multi-scale research, rather than a specialist in a particular type of space or geographical area. Understanding systemic and inter-territorial logics, from rural areas to metropolises, will be favoured. This quality is demonstrated by the candidate's interest in these issues, from a theoretical, methodological, and applied perspective. Candidates must pay particular attention to the diversity of ways in which research can be promoted to academic and non-academic audiences.

The successful candidate will use qualitative and quantitative methods, enabling them to integrate into multidisciplinary and comparative approaches, including from an international perspective.

They will contribute to the work of the Pacte social research centre in relation to socio-ecological transition, participating in dialogue between academic and non-academic stakeholders.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the quality and scope of their research, as well as their ability to engage in collective dynamics.

Information for candidates:

• Université Grenoble Alpes recruits on the basis of skills and makes use of all talents. It encourages applicants with disabilities to apply for teaching and research positions.
• Senior lecturers and professors are required to reside at the place where they perform their duties (Art. 5 of Decree No. 84-431 of June 6, 1984).

HRS4R certified and committed to an OTM-R (Open, Transparent, and Merit-based Recruitment) approach, the University of Grenoble Alpes recruits on the merits of candidates and in accordance with a transparent procedure.