Position Type: Faculty Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Urban Planning and Community Development
Date opened: January 15, 2024
Applications close: February 15, 2024
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, tenurable Associate Professor/Professor of 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, and a well-thought-out teaching strategy along with exceptional teaching evaluations. Finally, a record of successful collaborative research 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 is strongly desired.
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, worker cooperatives, blue/green enterprises, public/private development partnerships, community/university development partnerships, micro-lending and credit union ventures, and 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 develop small area retail studies, various types of competitive analyses, and pro formas essential to the formulation of successful business plans and development strategies. Finally, they will also be asked to prepare students in the development of competitive philanthropic, governmental, corporate, and public/private 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 designed to expand employment, entrepreneurial, and business development opportunities for residents of chronically distressed communities.
Application instructions:
Members of underrepresented groups and those dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are strongly encouraged to apply for this position which is aligned with UMass Boston’s status as a Minority Serving Institution and an anti-racist University.
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’s Community Economic Development Search Committee, materials should be submitted, via the UMB Employment Portal, by Friday, February 15, 2024, by 12:00 am (EST).
For More Information
Please contact Antonio Raciti, Associate Professor and Community Economic Development Faculty Search Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Community Development, School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston at: Antonio.raciti@umb.edu or 617-287-3393.
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.