Director, Community Planning - Associate or Full Professor

Nipissing University

Director, Associate or Full Professor
Community Planning Program

The Community Planning Program in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Nipissing University is grounded in a longstanding institutional commitment to high-quality education tailored to the diverse needs of Northern Ontario. Newly established with Ministry approval in 2025, Nipissing University’s Community Planning program will equip future planners with the skills and knowledge needed to shape communities today and for generations to come. Designed with a focus on small to mid-sized communities, northern regions, and Indigenous communities, the program emphasizes sustainable and respectful planning practices that honor both people and the land. By integrating environmental considerations into every decision, graduates will bring forward-thinking perspectives and practical experience that are highly sought after in the planning profession.

This program will offer hands-on opportunities to bridge theory and practice through co-operative education (co-op) placements and a capstone project designed to transition students seamlessly from the classroom to the professional field. With a clear pathway toward professional planner designation, graduates will be equipped to tackle the unique challenges of northern, rural, and urban regions. Their expertise and experience in sustainable, community-focused planning will position them as leaders in addressing today’s complex issues and shaping resilient communities for generations to come.

We are looking for an inaugural Director (Associate or Full Professor Rank) in the Community Planning Program, whose teaching and research engage with the diverse and intersecting identities and issues experienced in Northern Ontario and Canadian contexts, to join our team immediately. The Director will serve in a pivotal role in developing the curriculum for the Community Planning program. The Director will lead the Community Planning program in meeting the accreditation standards established by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) for the planning profession in Canada, establishing the path to accreditation through the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). This accreditation will enable students to engage in their path towards their professional designation (Registered Professional Planner or RPP) across Canada (apart from Quebec).

This is a tenure-track or tenured appointment. As the planning field continues to respond to evolving social, environmental, economic, and regional challenges, we are particularly interested in candidates whose work and approach demonstrates a decolonizing focus, challenging dominant Western-centric frameworks and integrating Indigenous and marginalized perspectives into planning processes.

Our campus is located at 100 College Dr, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7. This is a permanent, full-time position of 35 hours/week. Based on the Collective Agreement, the annual salary for this role will range from $113,340 to $166,560 for Associate rank, and $137,482 to $202,462 for Full Professor rank, depending on level of experience, plus employee benefits and pension plan as per the collective agreement. The annual salary will correspond with qualifications and experience and will follow the Nipissing University Faculty Association (NUFA) Collective Agreement. The individual in this role will be required to work full-time from the main campus location listed above. The language of work for this position is English.

The main responsibilities of the positions include:
• Planning, organizing, and directing academic and operational activities of the academic unit in alignment with the institutional goals
• Providing academic leadership by mentoring faculty, supporting teaching and research excellence, and contributing to curriculum development
• Collaborating with the Dean and other administrators to ensure the effective functioning of the academic unit
• Facilitating collegial decision-making by organizing and leading regular academic unit meetings
• Representing the academic unit in internal committees and external administrative matters to advocate for its interests
• Teaching and evaluating students in assigned courses, and conducting research activities
• Ensuring effective communication within the unit and coordinating with other faculties and departments
• Participating in budget planning and administering the unit’s budget for programs, equipment, and support services
• Leading the development and approval process for curriculum revisions, academic regulations, and annual academic planning
• Supporting institutional program review and accreditation processes (e.g., IQAP) to ensure academic quality and compliance

You must have the following qualifications:
• PhD in Planning (or closely related discipline)
• Registered Professional Planner (or eligible for registration)
• Member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (or comparable organization)
• Associate or Full Professor rank
• Extensive experience teaching at the post-secondary level
• Completed research activities in planning
• Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, perspectives and reconciliation is preferred
• Experience working in Francophone communities is preferred

Applications can be emailed to careers@nipissingu.ca using the subject line “Director, (Associate or Full Professor Rank)”. Please provide a cover letter, a statement of teaching philosophy, a statement of research, a curriculum vitae, and the names and affiliations of three referees. These materials should be sent in one PDF document. Applicants who do not provide the above will not be considered. Applications must be submitted by 4:00pm Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 4:30pm. Review of applications will commence Friday, May 15, 2026, and will continue to be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.