Faculty of Fine Arts- Assistant Professor (Music Department)

University of Lethbridge; Lethbridge; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university in Lethbridge is seeking an Assistant Professor in the Music Department specializing in audio engineering and popular music production. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses and contribute to graduate programming. They should have expertise in recording and production across diverse genres, along with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This is an opportunity to engage with a vibrant musical community and develop impactful research and teaching practices. Salary range is CAD 79,522 to 94,000.

Qualifications

• Graduate level education (Masters or Doctoral degree) in relevant field.
• Record of professional experience in the music industry.
• Successful experience as a teacher or mentor to students, emerging artists, or adult learners.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative department and Faculty culture.

Responsibilities

• Teach and develop undergraduate courses in audio engineering, popular music production, and critical listening practices.
• Contribute to graduate programming through teaching and student mentorship.
• Develop and conduct a program of creative practice and/or scholarly research.
• Lead outreach and engagement activities to serve IBPOC students and communities.

Job description

Faculty of Fine Arts- Assistant Professor (Music Department)

Job Title Faculty of Fine Arts- Assistant Professor (Music Department)

About the University

At the University of Lethbridge, we speak in perspectives.

We are located in the heart of traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory in southern Alberta with campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary. ULethbridge is more than a place to learn — it’s a place to build a career and make a lasting impact. We are one of Canada’s top universities and leading research institutions with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. We are an inclusive university that values diverse experiences and backgrounds. Our people are our greatest strength, and we are dedicated to fostering growth and success for all of our people.

Together, we transform lives and communities.

Rank

Assistant Professor Music: Audio Engineering and Popular Music Production

The Department of Music at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for an Assistant Professor, to begin 1 July 2026. The successful candidate will have expertise in popular music recording and audio production, including genres such as hip hop, R&B, EDM, or other areas of Black or Indigenous music. They will teach students in the Digital Audio Arts program, as well as a broad range of students enrolled in introductory or general interest courses. The successful candidate will develop an original and impactful program of research and/or creative practice and will contribute to the department through work with students, on committees, and in the community.

The University of Lethbridge is strongly committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. This is demonstrated by its ongoing work, relationships, and connections with the Blackfoot Confederacy. The University strives to provide access and opportunity to historically excluded groups identified under the Employment Equity Act. In accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, selection for the position will be limited to Indigenous/Aboriginal People and racialized persons/persons of colour. Candidates will be asked to self‑identify as part of the application process.

Salary range: $79,522 to $94,000

The successful candidate will:

• Teach and develop undergraduate courses in audio engineering, popular music production, critical listening practices, and other areas of the Music program or within the Faculty of Fine Arts, as relevant to the Department’s needs and to the candidate’s experience, expertise, and interests.
• Contribute to graduate programming through teaching, committee participation or supervision, and/or student mentorship and training.
• Develop and conduct a program of creative practice and/or scholarly research, as appropriate to the Assistant Professor rank and as required for future tenure and promotion in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
• Contribute in a meaningful and collaborative way to department, Faculty, and University service and collegial governance, through participation in committees and other activities.
• Lead outreach, recruitment, and/or engagement activities to serve IBPOC students, community members, and/or artists.

Qualification Note

The search committee recognizes that racialized and Indigenous people have been historically under‑represented in graduate education and in many areas of industry, and is open to a variety of forms of evidence demonstrating that a candidate meets the below requirements, including but not limited to educational experiences, volunteer positions, and work in other artistic or professional contexts.

Qualifications

• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient training and expertise to fulfill all position requirements listed above. This might be demonstrated through graduate level education (Masters or Doctoral degree), industry‑based training, mentorship/apprenticeship experiences, and other experiences outlined by the candidate.
• A record of professional experience in the music industry.
• Ability to develop and teach undergraduate‑level courses in popular music production, audio engineering, and critical listening practices. The successful candidate will also develop curriculum that reflects their research/creative expertise, industry/disciplinary developments and changes, and/or department needs. The department is currently revising its curriculum, course offerings, and learning outcomes across all programs and areas of study; the successful candidate will be expected to participate in curriculum development work within the department.
• Interest in contributing to graduate studies, through teaching, committee participation or supervision, and/or student mentorship and training.
• Successful experience as a teacher or mentor to students, emerging artists, or adult learners.
• Ability to teach a diverse student body, incorporating equity‑informed pedagogical approaches in their teaching, and a demonstrated commitment to growth as a teacher.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative department and Faculty culture through respect, collegiality, and professional communication.
• Ability to develop and lead outreach, recruitment, and engagement activities that build positive relationships with IBPOC students and communities, with a demonstrated history of positive collaboration or contributions to Indigenous and/or equity‑deserving communities.
• Ability to articulate a feasible and significant creative practice and/or research plan.
• Preference will be given to candidates who meet all the above criteria and can also contribute to one or more of the following areas: live sound engineering, popular music studies, radio production, music industry practices, marketing, streaming platforms, networked audio, video game audio, film scoring, immersive audio, songwriting, and/or music education.

About the Academic Unit

The Music Department at the University of Lethbridge is central to a vibrant musical community that extends beyond its doors and into the surrounding community. The department includes 17 full‑time academic staff whose reputations extend across Canada and beyond. We offer several programs, including a BMus in Digital Audio Arts, a BMus in Music, and a MMus degree. Our state‑of‑the‑art facilities include two professional recording studios, a renovated 201‑seat, acoustically‑tuned recital hall, and a 450‑seat proscenium theatre.

The Music Department is part of the Faculty of Fine Arts, which also includes Art, Drama, and New Media departments, as well as a Multidisciplinary BFA program. The Faculty of Fine Arts includes two Canada Research Chairs: one in Indigenous Music, Culture, and Politics (Music) and one in Digital Extremism (New Media). The Faculty is committed to collaborative, community‑oriented scholarship and research‑creation.

In 2024, the Faculty of Fine Arts was gifted the Blackfoot name Piiksinaasin, which means Manifesting Beauty, by Dr. Leroy Little Bear. The name represents the Faculty of Fine Arts as a place where students create, explore and research, transforming the world around them through creative practice and critical thinking. The name reflects the Faculty’s long‑standing support of Indigenous arts and creative initiatives and exemplifies the work done to advance reconciliation and decolonization. For more information about the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music programs, please visit our website: https://www.ulethbridge.ca/fine-arts/study/music.

Application Process

Interested individuals should submit an application that includes:

• A letter of interest that addresses how the candidate meets listed qualifications, outlines their approach to teaching or mentorship, describes their research or creative practice plans, and describes their experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization;
• A portfolio of recent recordings;
• Names and email addresses for three qualified referees who can address their teaching and research/creative practice qualifications. Referees will be contacted for reference letters for shortlisted candidates.

Candidates may be asked to provide additional materials for the search committee’s consideration.

Applications must be received by January 31, 2026. Please contact Dr. Bryn Hughes, Chair of Music ([e-mail]) with any questions related to this opportunity.

Please address application documents to:
Dr. Heather Davis‑Fisch, Dean
Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

The University of Lethbridge invites applications from all qualified candidates; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given preference.

The University of Lethbridge is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free work environment, including through all aspects of the hiring process. If you require support during the hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] so that accommodations can be put in place to support you. All private information received in relation to your request for support will be kept confidential, only information required to facilitate the accommodation will be shared with the selection committee.

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Portfolio
• References
• Letter of Application

Optional Documents

• Additional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• In accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, selection for the position will be limited to Indigenous/Aboriginal People and racialized persons/persons of colour. Your answer to this question will be held in confidence by Human Resources, and only shared confidentially with the search committee. Do you identify as an Indigenous/Aboriginal Person, or a racialized person/person of colour?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I prefer not to respond at this time