Canada Research Chair Tier 2: Indigenous Land Planning, Assistant/Associate Professor

School of Planning and Sustainability 

Faculty of Environment Tenure-Track/Tenure 

Posting #FACRC03-26 BW

In response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and in alignment with the strategic and academic plans of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), we invite applications for a full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty position and Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 in Indigenous Land Planning. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence in community-based scholarship and illustrate their potential to advance the foundations of Indigenous planning in Canada. Consistent with the Tri-Agency Policy on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation, the use of the term Indigenous within this job advertisement recognizes the distinct identity and legal standing of First Nations, Inuit or Métis people in Canada, as well as the diversity of Indigenous Peoples globally. 

The successful candidate would be appointed at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the School of Planning and Sustainability, in the Faculty of Environment. The faculty position is expected to commence July 1, 2027, and will be accompanied by a UNBC-supported nomination to the CRC program for the position of a SSHRC Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Indigenous Land Planning. The proposal and nomination for the CRC position will be submitted in late 2027 or early 2028, and the CRC is anticipated to start on July 1, 2028. Although applicants for this position must be eligible to submit a CRC application, ongoing employment in the faculty position is not dependent on the success of the CRC application. Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and with potential to be renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. See the Canada Research Chairs program information guide for full details of the CRC nomination process and award value 

https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx#s1a. 

A successful candidate's profile should demonstrate the potential for research excellence leading to national and international recognition. Canada Research Chairs are expected to engage in innovative programs of research that advance knowledge in their field and help train the next generation of highly-qualified people through student supervision, mentoring and community relationship building. Candidates for this CRC position will be assessed based on demonstrated evidence of existing outstanding original research, clear recognition as an original researcher of world-class calibre, as a leader in their field, and as an outstanding teacher and mentor. 

About the Position 

The School of Planning and Sustainability has identified a need for holistic scholarship focusing on Indigenous resurgence through the stewardship of land and water relationships. We see a need for scholarship of resurgence where land and water relationships are connected to Indigenous regional and community governance and services. The successful candidate is expected to identify the relevance of their scholarship to the northern territories that UNBC serves. With their appointment in the School of Planning and Sustainability, the candidate will provide leadership to the First Nations Planning major. Indigenous pedagogy will ground the candidate’s teaching commitments as part of this major and the broader program in planning. 

As part of a collaborative community of instructors, the candidate’s teaching will contribute to the accredited program in planning. Instruction of graduate courses is available, and supervision of graduate students is expected.

For the duration of the CRC, the position will have a greater focus on research than typical faculty positions, such that the workload will be 60% research, 20% teaching, 20% service. The faculty position workload will normally be 40% research, 40% teaching, 20% service after the conclusion of the CRC position. This workload is expected to equate to teaching two courses (or the equivalent thereof) a year during the tenure of the of CRC position.

The hiring process for this position will follow the University’s Intentional Diversity Hiring Policy as a preferential hire. Any candidate meeting the position description and qualifications is encouraged to apply. As part of an employment equity initiative undertaken by the University and the School of Planning and Sustainability, applicants with Indigenous identity will be given preferential consideration for this position, although Indigenous identity is not a requirement for the position. In order to qualify for preferential consideration, Indigenous applicants are asked to self-identify by completing the Self-Identification Form as part of the recruitment process.

Applicants must be eligible to submit a CRC application, although ongoing employment in the faculty position is not dependent on a successful application. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the CRC program’s Tier 2 justification process. Please contact the UNBC Office of Research and Innovation for more information to ensure eligibility.

Qualifications

Per UNBC Faculty Association requirements for this position, the successful candidate must hold a PhD at the time of appointment or provide evidence that all degree requirements will be completed by May 1, 2027 to enable a competitive CRC application. For this position, the PhD must be in Planning or a related discipline such as First Nations studies, geography, sociology, community development, interdisciplinary areas, or similar. Candidates for the position must have demonstrated scholarship that works toward Indigenous resurgence through a planning lens such as the stewardship of land/water relationships, and/or Indigenous regional and community governance and services. The preferred candidate will have a record of community-engaged scholarship. We also prefer demonstrated relevance of the candidate’s past scholarship to the Northern territories that UNBC serves, demonstrated experience in creating experiential learning environments, and full membership or eligibility for candidate membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners. Candidates not meeting these preferred qualifications are still encouraged to apply.

UNBC recognizes that life circumstances related to health (and/or disability), administrative, family, cultural or community responsibilities, socio-economic context, COVID-19, the introduction of research security measures or other factors are often part of life and are likely to have an impact on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We invite all applicants to provide an optional career interruption statement. These impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Employment Equity

The University of Northern British Columbia is fully committed to creating and maintaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment that is accessible to all. We are devoted to ensuring a welcoming, safe, and inclusive campus free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. This commitment is woven into our motto and mission. In the Dakelh language, UNBC’s motto ‘En Cha Huná translates to “he/she/they also live” and means respect for all living things. Through the respect for all living things, we are able to grow and learn better together, each bringing our own unique individual differences and contributions to inspire leaders for tomorrow by influencing the world today.

Employment equity requires that we remove barriers and overcome both direct and indirect discrimination. In this way, the pool of excellent candidates increases substantially. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

About the University and its Community

Since its founding in 1990, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has emerged as one of Canada’s best small research-intensive universities, with a passion for teaching, discovery, people, and the North. UNBC’s excellence is derived from community-inspired research, hands-on learning, and alumni who are leading change around the world.

Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have walked gently on the diverse traditional territories where the University of Northern British Columbia community is grateful to live, work, learn, and play. We are committed to building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous peoples, we acknowledge their traditional lands, and we thank them for their hospitality. UNBC’s largest campus in Prince George is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, in the spectacular landscape near the geographic centre of beautiful British Columbia.

UNBC’s three regional campuses are located in Quesnel, Fort St. John, and Terrace. The South-Central campus in Quesnel is situated on the traditional territory of the Lhtako Dené (Red Bluff Band), Nazko, Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation (Kluskus Band), and Esdilagh First Nations (formerly Alexandria Band). Lhtako, Nazko, and Lhoosk’uz are Dakelh First Nations, and Esdilagh is a member of the Tsilhqot’in Nation. The Peace River-Liard campus in Fort St. John is situated on the traditional territory of the Doig River, Blueberry River and Halfway River First Nations. They are the Dunne-Za people. The Northwest campus in Terrace is situated on traditional Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) territory of the Kitsumkalum and Kitselas First Nations. It includes a satellite campus in the coastal community of Prince Rupert.

UNBC consistently ranks in the top three in its category in the annual Maclean’s university rankings. UNBC also recently placed among the top five per cent of higher education institutions worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

With a diverse student population, the University is friendly, inclusive, and supportive. Prince George is a city of ~74,000 people with impressive cultural, educational, and recreational amenities. For more information about living and working in Prince George, please refer to http://www.unbc.ca/experience and https://moveupprincegeorge.ca. Make your mark with this leading post-secondary institution.

Salary

The salary for this position will be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant qualifications and experience as per the UNBC Faculty Association Collective Agreement. The annual salary range for this position is expected to be from $ 93,398 to $166,018.

The position comes with an additional salary stipend for the duration that the CRC is held.

Please refer to the link below to the Collective Agreement (Article 48) for more compensation information:

https://www.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/sections/human-resources/facultyassociationcollectiveagreementjuly12023-june302025-revised.pdf

To Apply

Applicants should create an applicant profile and apply to this position by uploading and submitting the following documents:

• cover letter indicating potential contributions to the Program;
• curriculum vitae;
• a brief statement of teaching approaches and research program;
• the names and addresses of three references (including telephone and email information); and
• the Statement of Eligibility to Work in Canada form, which can be found here:https://www2.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/sections/human-resources/statementofemploymenteligibilityjan0520221.pdf.

Voluntary Form:

• the Self-Identification from, which can be found here:

https://www.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/sections/human-resources/unbcself-idreviseddec2022-fillable.pdf

Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact UNBC Health & Wellbeing at employeewellbeing@unbc.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.

Inquiries: Dr. Mark Groulx – Acting Chair, School of Planning and Sustainability

mark.groulx@unbc.ca

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Northern British Columbia is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

We thank all applicants for their interest in UNBC; however, only those applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted.

This position is subject to budgetary approval.

Applications will be accepted till 4:30pm on January 15, 2027.

Date: October 30, 2026