Assistant Professor in Political Science

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The Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph invites applications from Black or Indigenous scholars for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level.  The anticipated start date for this appointment is July 1, 2025, or another mutually agreed-upon date in 2025.

The Department seeks qualified applicants with teaching and research interests in politics related to justice, ethics, equality, or policy (in a local/national or international/comparative context). The Department is open to a diverse range of theoretical and methodological perspectives.  The successful candidate will contribute to the Justice and Legal Studies (JLS) and/or Criminal Justice and Public Policy (CJPP) programs.  Preference will be given to candidates who can teach existing courses in the programs–such as (but not limited to) Justice and Legal Studies (JLS*1000); Political Theory (POLS*2000); Governing Criminal Justice (POLS*3300); Rights and Liberties (POLS*4740); Law and Politics (POLS*4050); or Global Law and Courts (POLS*4040)–while potentially expanding the scope of JLS, CJPP, or Political Science.   

Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates who have a PhD or ABD in Political Science though candidates with a PhD or ABD in cognate disciplines will be considered. 

The University of Guelph seeks qualified individuals who identify as Black and/or Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit, Métis, Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian). Applicants who self-identify as a Racialized person on the Applicant Tracking Questionnaire will be asked to confirm they self-identify as persons of Black African and/or Caribbean descent through a confidential follow-up process facilitated by Academic Equity and Anti-Racism. Applicants who self-identify as an Indigenous person on the Applicant Tracking Questionnaire will be asked to confirm their Indigenous citizenship and/or ancestral and kinship connections to a recognized and inherent First Nation, Inuit or Métis (some to include Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian) nation, community, treaty, land claim, territory or region through a confidential follow-up process facilitated by Diversity and Human Rights and Indigenous Initiatives.  

The Department Political Science offers undergraduate BA degrees in Political Science and Justice and Legal Studies and graduate MA and PhD degrees in Political Science. We also offer, in collaboration with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, a BA and MA in Criminal Justice and Public Policy. The Department participates in other interdisciplinary programs such as Development Studies and One Health. 

The Department of Political Science values diversity and inclusivity and is committed to developing and maintaining a culture that is positive, collegial, and respectful of all members.  This is consistent with the College’s values of “Equality, inclusion, and respect for all those we serve within our communities and globally.” 
College of Social & Applied Human Sciences  (https://csahs.uoguelph.ca/)

The University of Guelph resides on the traditional lands and territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbours and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward hiringnearme.org It Comes into View (https://indigenous.uoguelph.ca/strategy), the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of over 144,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our University community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.

Application Process

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant. SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

Interested applicants who are not currently employees of the University of Guelph should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #1185) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

(1) a cover letter;
(2) a curriculum vitae;
(3) a brief statement of research (2 pages maximum)
(4) and a teaching dossier that contains a brief statement of teaching philosophy (1 page maximum) and evidence of teaching effectiveness (sample course outlines and assessments, student and/or peer evaluations and so on)

Applications should be addressed to the attention of:

Dr. Troy Riddell
Chair
Department of Political Science
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

Questions about this position or the application process may be directed to Dr. Troy Riddell, Chair, Department of Political Science at pols.chair@uoguelph.ca.

Assessment of applications will begin on March 28, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.  

Applications should be submitted by April 28, 2025.

APPLY ONLINE – Assistant Professor in Political Science (https://bit.ly/4hSsqrq)

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA – https://ugfa.ca/). 

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time (https://www.uoguelph.ca/president/strategic-plan/#strategic-priorities-2), our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.” 

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. 

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position. 

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness (https://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/about-hr/occupational-health-and-wellness) or contact OHW at ohw@uoguelph.ca. 

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