Tenure Stream, Assistant Professor—Early Childhood Education and Care: Equitable, Inclusive, and Sustainable Practices

Our Geography

Brock University's main campus is situated atop the Niagara Escarpment, within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, overlooking the city of St. Catharines, in the heart of Niagara wine country. The Niagara region is dotted with landmarks that recognize our nation's history and features breathtaking natural beauty and world-famous attractions. St. Catharines is home to vibrant arts and entertainment venues, and is a short drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo, New York. With one of the warmest climates in Canada, clean, safe communities, and surprisingly affordable real estate, Niagara is an exceptional location to call home.

What we Offer

Brock University offers competitive salary and benefits and ample support for research and sabbaticals. Research resources include; conference support, start-up funding, subscriptions to major databases and access to various research funding vehicles. For candidates considering relocation, moving expenses will be administered according to the Faculty Association Collective Agreement.

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Education at Brock University, with a proud history dating back to 1965, is home to nearly 33,000 alumni and currently serves a vibrant community of undergraduate and graduate students across its St. Catharines and Burlington campuses. Renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, the faculty offers a range of innovative programs. Our mission is to educate exceptional educators by fostering academic excellence, promoting experiential learning, and engaging meaningfully with Indigenous and community partners. Our faculty members are committed to scholarship, teaching, and service that foster anti-racist, decolonial, and sustainable communities—communities that affirm human and nonhuman onto-epistemological diversity and advance equity. In alignment with Brock University's strategic plan (2025-2030), this commitment is reflected in efforts to promote inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and decolonization across teaching, research, and community engagement (https://brocku.ca/strategic-plan/).

About the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Program

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (B.ECE) Honours program is a college-transfer undergraduate degree designed to support the continued growth and professionalization of early learning and care professionals committed to reflective, ethical, and evidence-informed practice. This online asynchronous program prepares educators to critically examine and reconceptualize conventional understandings of early learning and development, equipping them to engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives, challenge inequitable practices, and contribute to more just and sustainable early childhood education and care (ECEC) communities. The program is unique and heralded both within the university and nationally as a quality program that positions students with the skills and competencies needed to meet the escalating labour market demands within the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement system.

About the Position

The Department of Educational Studies invites applicants for a Tenure Track Appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning January 1st, 2027.

Area of Expertise

Within an ECEC context, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable practices encompass pedagogical approaches, policies, and early learning environments that promote equity, inclusion, social responsibility, cultural integrity, and environmental stewardship for children, families, educators, and communities. These practices uphold children's rights; value diverse identities, perspectives, and ways of knowing; address systemic inequities; and foster belonging, participation, and collective well-being. Examples of relevant areas of study may include: equity, social justice, and inclusion; environmental and sociocultural sustainability; broader structural, political, and community impact; ethics, futures, and intergenerational responsibility; anti-biased education and respect; agency, participation, and citizenship.

Responsibilities of this position include:

• Teaching in the ECE online asynchronous program including, but not limited to, one or more of the following areas: Indigenous Culture & ECE; Ethics, Policy & Care in ECE; ECE for Sustainability.
• Commitment to supporting the quality of the ECE program and Department of Educational Studies, including commitment to Indigenous practices and decolonial education; equity and inclusion; justice, ethics, and respect.
• Graduate and undergraduate student mentorship and
• Establishing and maintaining an innovative and productive research program in
• Service contributions to the department, the university, and ECEC

Qualifications

The Department of Educational Studies seeks candidates who are committed to equitable, inclusive, and sustainable practices in ECEC through research, teaching, and service.

Required:

• PhD (or ABD) or equivalent in Early Childhood Education or closely related field (e.g., Early Childhood Studies, Curriculum and Pedagogy in the Early Years, Educational Studies with a focus on Early Childhood) or equivalent Indigenous knowledges1, specializing in Early Childhood Education.
• Demonstrated commitment to the field of ECEC, advancing equitable, inclusive, and sustainable approaches, including, but not limited to, anti-oppression, decolonial, reconciliation, anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-transphobic, anti-xenophobic, gender equity, and socioeconomic justice through course design, research endeavours, and teaching approaches.
• Successful teaching experience in ECEC at the post-secondary
• Professional experience in ECEC settings, programs, or services (e.g., child care, pre-school, pre-kindergarten or kindergarten2, community programs, extended care programs for school-aged children, child and family services).
• Familiarity with the ECEC field's ongoing challenges and emerging directions in relation to research, theory, practice, and/or policy.

Preferred:

• Proficiency in inclusive, accessible, and effective course design and asynchronous digital pedagogy, with awareness of the implications of artificial intelligence for teaching and learning.
• Established connections with the local, national, and/or international ECEC community at the scholarly, governmental, and/or practice levels.
• An ECE Diploma, recognized professional ECE Certification or registration, or a comparable ECE-specific credential from another jurisdiction.

1 In determining a Ph.D. equivalency for Indigenous knowledge, consideration shall be given, but not limited to, the level of knowledge of the language and/or traditional customs including protocols, spirituality, traditions, practices, ceremonies, histories, and teachings of a particular group of Indigenous people or peoples. This knowledge may have been acquired through lived experience; active and lengthy participation in Indigenous forms of self-determination and governance, cultural structures, and processes; and a careful study and reflection of their philosophical underpinnings. In many cases, acquiring this knowledge will have involved studying with an Indigenous Elder or Traditional Knowledge Carrier/Keeper.

2 For experience obtained within kindergarten settings, the applicant must have practiced in an early childhood educator role.

What to Include in the Application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter (~3 pages) demonstrating the candidate's alignment with the posting.
• Teaching Dossier that includes:
  • a teaching statement (~2 pages) that articulates the candidate's philosophy, experience, and pedagogical approaches to preparing ethical ECEC professionals. The statement should demonstrate commitment to relational and culturally sustaining pedagogy, diverse Indigenous and non-dominant knowledge systems, and transformative practices that promote Indigenous knowledges, sovereignty and relationships and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; and
  • evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., sample course outlines and assessments, mentoring experiences, student and/or peer evaluations). We recognize that teaching evaluations are not necessarily indicative of one's teaching strengths and capacity. Therefore, candidates need not submit evaluations but ought to demonstrate teaching impact and effectiveness in academic and/or non-traditional educational contexts.
• Research Statement (~2 pages) describing the candidate's program of research, major contributions, and future research plans.
• Three Referees: Names and contact information for three academic referees (who will only be contacted for short-listed candidates).

All documents must be submitted in electronic format (a single well-organized PDF document is preferred) via the online application system (file maximum of 5MB per attachment upload).

The closing date for applications is November 13, 2026 at 12:01am. The final full day to apply is November 12, 2026. Inquiries should be directed to Wanda Burger, Executive Assistant, foedean@brocku.ca.

The target hiring range for this position is $100,000 to $118,000. The final salary will be determined based on relevant experience, internal equity and budget considerations.

This ad is for an existing position in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) bargaining unit. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

Applications can be submitted at the following link: https://brocku.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/brocku_careers/job/St-Catharines-Main-Campus/Assistant-Professor--Tenure-Track--Early-Childhood-Education-and-Care--Equitable--Inclusive--and-Sustainable-Practices_JR-1025406

Our Commitment

Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of employment equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who identify as women, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), Black, Disabled, racialized, and/or Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or otherwise sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+). Candidates are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify as a member of one or more designated groups by completing the Self-Identification Form and including it with their application.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employment Accommodation Policy https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Accommodation-Policy.pdf. Please advise: talent@brocku.ca to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We appreciate all applications received; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca