Apply now Job no: 520644
Position Type: Faculty Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Urban Planning and Community Development
Date opened: 18 Sep 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 12/8/23
General Summary:
The Department of Urban Planning and Community Development (UPCD) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) seeks to hire a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Community Economic Development to serve as its lead researcher, instructor, and advisor in local economic development planning. Successful candidates must have an earned doctorate in urban planning (a professional planning degree is also preferred), a strong publication record in leading economic development or related planning journals, a history of successful external funding activity, a strong publication record in leading transportation and related planning journals, a well-thought out teaching strategy and exceptional teaching evaluations if experienced), and a record of successful collaboration with community-based organizations, trade unions, local business associations and local/state/federal agencies committed to advancing innovative forms of community-based enterprise, workforce development and green and blue jobs initiatives in economically distressed communities.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be expected to implement an ambitious research agenda focused on policies and plans aimed at expanding economic opportunity for residents of economically challenged and historically underinvested communities within our region. The Department is especially interested in candidates whose planning scholarship and practice focuses on resident-led, community-based, economic development initiatives, such as: small business incubators, cooperative businesses, green/blue enterprises, public/private development partnerships, community/university development partnerships, micro-lending and credit unions/community development finance institutions.
Successful candidates will teach undergraduate and graduate level courses that prepare students to analyze a wide range of economic, financial, and land use data to identify workforce and business development opportunities in economically distressed communities, especially those in the rapidly expanding “green and blue economies”. They will also teach students how to execute small area retail studies, various types of competitive analyses, and pro formas essential to the formulation of successful business plans and development strategies. They will also be asked to prepare students in the development of competitive philanthropic, government, and public/private funding proposals critical to successful local economic development in low-resource communities.
In addition, they will be expected to work with local entrepreneurs and businesses, community-based development organizations, business improvement districts, industry associations, labor unions, area lenders and funders, as well as municipal, regional, state and federal planners and policy makers to formulate economic development plans that expand employment, entrepreneurial, and business development opportunities for residents of chronically distressed communities.
Application instructions:
Interested individuals can initiate the application process by visiting the UMB’s Career Portal at: https://employmentopportunities.umb.edu/boston/en-us/listing/
After completing the University’s basic employment application, candidates can upload the following documents:
- Cover letter
- Research and Teaching Statement
- CV
- Complete contact information for three academic references
Application Deadline
For maximum consideration by UPCD Economic Development Search Committee, materials should be submitted, via the UMB Employment Portal, by Friday, December 8, 2023 by 12:00 am (EST).
For More Information
Contact Richard Hung, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Community Development, School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston at Richard.hung@umb.edu or 617-287-7378.
UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the ADA/504 Coordinator Andrea Haas or 617-287-5148.