Description

Applications are collected by WWU's PageUp System. View the full job posting and apply here.

WWU invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in Planning Law and Land Use Regulations beginning Fall 2026. The Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy and the College of the Environment support Western’s mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, and those with the ability to be sensitive to and inclusive of students with marginalized identities and backgrounds.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach Land Use Law, Regulations, Quantitative and Spatial Analysis Methods in Planning, planning studios, and Environmental Impact Assessment, as well as appropriate special topics courses. The position requires a demonstrable foundation in urban studies and planning, and the ability to teach and mentor students in applied client-based planning projects. We welcome candidates with teaching and research interests in one or more of the following areas: housing, climate adaptation and resilience, environmental justice, tribal and Indigenous planning, transportation, and/or rural and regional development. The position also emphasizes working, teaching, and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an active research program involving undergraduate and graduate students.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to shaping the future of UEPP’s undergraduate and graduate curricula and programs. The candidate should demonstrate a commitment to excellence through teaching, applied research, and service with a focus on transformative social change and supporting equity and justice for all.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

* a PhD in urban planning, JD in land use law, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution (if ABD, all degree requirements must be complete by June 15th of the first year of employment)

* expertise in planning and zoning laws, land use regulations, and related quantitative and spatial planning methods (e.g., research methods, data analysis and mapping, data communication and presentation, comparative statistics)

* high-quality scholarship in the field of urban planning

* record of or demonstrable ability for high-quality and inclusive teaching in one or more of the following areas: urban planning studio, housing, climate adaptation and resilience, tribal and Indigenous planning, transportation, and/or rural and regional development

* ability to work effectively with diverse students and colleagues, including a demonstrated ability and commitment to cultivating learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities and backgrounds

Preferred Qualifications

* demonstrable ability to manage field practicum logistics and planning, including with community partner organizations or other entities

* demonstrable ability to work with governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations through planning projects and research

* demonstrable experience and/or interest in collaborating with local community-based organizations and other organizations representing Washington’s Indigenous, immigrant, and/or minority communities

* research and/or teaching that intersects land use law and zoning regulations with one or more of the following areas: housing, climate adaptation and resilience, Tribal and Indigenous planning, transportation, and/or rural and regional development

* demonstrable commitment to establishing a vigorous research program involving undergraduate and graduate students; the focus of an individual's research specialization is open to relevant areas of urban planning

* demonstrable ability to work across a range of scales from the neighborhood to the region and globally

* skill in experiential and critical pedagogies suitable to classroom and/or field settings

* certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners or interest in obtaining certification

Applications are collected by WWU's PageUp System. View the full job posting and apply here.