Assistant/Associate Teaching Professor, Forest ecology and Management
JOB DESCRIPTION:
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.
The Department of Natural Resource Sciences (NRS) invites applications (https://www.tru.ca/science/programs/nrs.html) for a tenure track position in the area of forest ecology and management who will support our steps toward our degree being an accredited program recognized by Forest Professional BC and the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada. The Department is seeking to hire a motivated candidate for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant/associate teaching professor (Bipartite). Responsibilities include: 1) contributing to the teaching and mission of the NRS Department at the undergraduate level; 2) developing and teaching courses focused on forest management; 3) assist in the development and initiation of an accredited concentration in the Bachelor of Natural Resource Science; and 4) participate in Departmental, Faculty and University committees.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: We are seeking an exceptional candidate who specializes in forest management or related area. The ideal candidate will have a PhD degree in forest management.
The candidate must: 1) have the ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate level; 2) have a graduate degree in forest ecology and management; 3) have the ability to communicate effectively with students, Indigenous groups, professionals, and the general public. 4) be a registered professional forester or be in the position to apply to be a registered professional forester.
Preferred qualifications include: experience teaching courses in forest ecology and management; training in resource management including experience interacting with natural resource agencies and diverse stakeholders.
Preference will also be given to applicants whose expertise complements that of other faculty in the Department.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES (NRS): NRS is housed within the Faculty of Science. The Department has fourteen fulltime faculty. At present, four of those faculty are research chairs, while the remaining ten are research and teaching faculty. Four of the faculty are retiring in 2026. The Department offers programming in:
- Bachelor of Natural Resource Science (BNRS)
- Certificate in Wildfire Science
- Certificate in Regenerative Agriculture
- Diploma in Regenerative Agriculture
- Masters of Science - Environmental Sciences
The department has proposed creating two concentrations in the BNRS degree (proposed start date Fall 2026): wildfire science and ecosystem management. The goal of the concentrations are to have graduates meet the requirements to be a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) (wildfire concentration) from the Forest Professionals of British Columbia, a Registered Professional Biologist from the College of Applied Biology (ecosystem management concentration) and a Professional Agrologist, from the Association of BC Professional Agrologists (both concentrations). Students graduating with the current BNRS degree meet the educational requirements to become a Registered Professional Biologist and a Professional Agrologist. Current graduates are also eligible to apply (via the Allied Science Forester in Training) to become an RPF.
Kamloops is a wonderful location to teach and conduct research in the field of natural resource sciences. Kamloops has 200 lakes within an hour of the campus, world-class rainbow trout fishing and salmon runs, and the regional offices of provincial and federal agencies. Field trips are easy to organize due to the proximity of forests, grasslands and lakes. In addition, TRU has the Wells Gray education and research centre research/teaching facility near Clearwater, BC (https://www.tru.ca/science/research/wells-gray-education-and-research-centre.html).
Please include an application letter, CV, a teaching dossier or similar record of teaching experience and names of at least three references.
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.
