Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Economics

About the Position:

Thompson Rivers University is located on the traditional lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwépemc'ulucw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. Our region also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.

In affirmation of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics (TRU Gaglardi) at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is committed to inclusivity and moving decisively with our Indigenizing initiatives.  The Department of Economics welcomes applications for a tenure-track position in the broad area of Indigenous Economics.  Fields of interest may include First Nations Economic Development; Land, Resource and Environmental Management; Sustainability; Tax Administration; Infrastructure Management; etc.  The appointment may be in either the research, teaching, and service (tripartite) stream or in the teaching and service (bipartite) stream, and the rank is open and may be at the assistant, associate or professor level.  The preferred starting date is July 1, 2023. 

A key priority of this position is the development and delivery of educational programs and/or community-based research that supports Indigenous People in building capacity for their communities.  In addition, the successful candidate will have opportunities to teach and/or contribute to undergraduate courses in areas such as Indigenous economics and graduate courses within the Department’s Masters-level programs in Environmental Economics and Management and the School’s MBA program.  The external service and community commitments associated with the position are recognized as a priority.  Providing leadership in Indigenization and guidance to Indigenous students is especially desirable.  Similarly, cross-disciplinary, or interdisciplinary capabilities within and beyond TRU Gaglardi would be an asset.  

Diverse Career Paths and Support:

The creation of knowledge and broadening of influence can take many forms and can be measured according to a variety of scholarly and/or professional standards, including through the diverse modes of communication and ways of knowledge of Indigenous Peoples.  Consequently, the Department recognizes excellence across a broad spectrum of educational, professional and research practices and outputs.  Further, the Department of Economics and TRU Gaglardi are committed to the professional development of faculty members in the pursuit of their diverse career paths. 

About the Department of Economics

The Department of Economics is one of five departments in the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics. We are a supportive and collegial team, with sixteen full-time faculty members.  The Department offers a wide range of programs including:

• A Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management and a Master of Environmental Economics
• Majors in Economics within both the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees.
• Post Baccalaureate Diplomas in Economics and in Economics and Political Science
• Minors in Economics and in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development

In addition, we deliver core courses to all BBA, post baccalaureate and Master of Business Administration (MBA) students.

About the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics

With over 3000 on-campus students, the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics is the largest business school in the interior of British Columbia, offering undergraduate, post baccalaureate and graduate programs in business and economics including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM), Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM). SoBE is also Thompson Rivers University’s largest faculty. What makes SoBE unique is that, even with its size, it maintains a collaborative environment, with support provided to assist professors with both research and teaching. 

About Thompson Rivers University

With over 25,000 on-campus and online students and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in eight diverse faculties, TRU celebrates academic excellence and excels at providing exceptional experiential learning opportunities. TRU delivers graduate and undergraduate programs in Business, Law, Nursing, Education and Social Work, Arts and Science. Our students and faculty reflect the local, national, and global community. TRU provides a rich and engaging student-centred environment where students and faculty know each other by name.  TRU strives to create inclusive and rewarding student experiences, both on and off campus.

New Indigenous scholars will become part of a very active and engaged Indigenous community at Thompson Rivers University.  To learn more about TRU’s Indigenous community, please visit: https://www.tru.ca/indigenous.html.

What TRU Offers

TRU offers competitive salary, benefits and a defined benefit pension plan, personal development funds and sabbaticals outlined by the TRUFA collective agreement. SoBE and TRU provide researchers the opportunity to apply to a variety of research funding sources available. TRU’s classes and offices are located on a spectacular campus with panoramic views of the Thompson Rivers and surrounding mountains. Nestled between hiking trails of Kenna Cartwright Park and within walking distance of downtown, TRU offers a country-in-the-city feeling that is unlike other universities.

Welcome to the BC Interior

Thompson Rivers University is located in Kamloops, British Columbia. Life in the sunny interior of British Columbia provides immediate access to some of the most incredible outdoor experiences Canada has to offer ranging from winter sports at Sun Peaks, to some of Canada’s best mountain biking and hiking trails, walking distance from TRU. Located between the coastal and Rocky Mountains, Kamloops is within a 30-minute drive from hundreds of beautiful freshwater lakes, and only three and a half hours from Vancouver. With a relatively mild winter and spectacularly warm and dry summers, Kamloops offers a high quality of life. While the city is still small with less than 100,000 inhabitants, it is served by an airport, a hospital, a university, a WHL hockey team and yet still maintains a small-town feel where one rarely commutes longer than 10 minutes. It is a safe community to raise a family and maintains reasonable housing prices.  To learn more about living in Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University please visit our Web Site. https://www.tru.ca/careers/living-kamloops.html

Applicants should have an appropriate mix of academic, Indigenous-community, and professional credentials and experience.  While an earned doctorate in Economics or a related disciplinary or interdisciplinary field would be an asset, we also welcome other highly qualified applicants with greater emphasis on community and/or professional accomplishments.  Connections and experience working within Indigenous communities in Canada is a requirement.  Teaching experience is also valuable with evidence of strong teaching skills.

Applicants

In recognition of the mandate of this position in Indigenous economics, qualified candidates who identify as Indigenous or Indigenous allies and who do work within Indigenous communities are encouraged to apply. 

TRU is committed to building and fostering an inclusive environment and increasing the diversity of its faculty.  We welcome applications from persons with accessibility needs and from persons of any sexual and gender identity.  The position is open to qualified internal and external applicants. As per Canadian immigration requirements, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

Application Process

Assessment of applications will begin on March 31, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Indigenous community-based letters of reference
• Statement of community-based educational work and/or research interests
• Examples of community-based work including instructional resources, reports, conference papers, publications, etc.
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Teaching evaluations if applicable

Short-listed applicants will be requested to provide

• At least three academic references or letters of reference
• A copy of transcripts at the time of an interview or preferably before

Applications can be made online, and inquiries can be directed to the attention of:
Dr. Jim Gaisford, Professor and Chair
Department of Economics
Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics
Thompson Rivers University
Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C8
Email: jgaisford@tru.ca