Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice, Retailing and Consumer Science

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on teaching in the Retailing and Consumer Science program, offering a unique opportunity to engage students through innovative courses and real-world experiences. With a commitment to improving quality of life, this position emphasizes professional development and service, allowing you to make a meaningful impact in the academic community. If you are passionate about retailing and education, this is your chance to inspire the next generation of professionals in a supportive and vibrant environment.

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition reduction for employees and family

Access to recreation and cultural activities

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 5+ years of industry experience in retailing or related fields required.
• Teaching experience at the college level preferred.

Responsibilities

• Teach 6 courses per academic year, focusing on retailing and consumer science.
• Develop online coursework and serve on academic committees as needed.

Skills

Retail strategies

Consumer behavior

Teaching skills

Assessment design

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in retailing, business, or marketing

Job description

Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice, Retailing and Consumer Science

Posting Number: req22512

Department: School of Human Ecology-RES

Location: Main Campus, 650 N. Park Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA

Position Highlights: The John and Doris Norton School of Human Ecology seeks an Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice to teach traditional and online courses in the Retailing and Consumer Science program (RCSC). This is a 9-month, full-time (1.0 FTE) appointment (non-tenure-eligible); additional summer teaching opportunities may be available. The position will involve 90% teaching and 10% service (approximately three classes per academic semester). This position is central to the teaching mission of the Norton School and involves teaching courses during fall and spring semesters as well as expectations of professional development and service.

The Norton School of Human Ecology remains a leader in its field, offering top-ranked programs in Retailing and Consumer Science, Human Development and Family Science, Fashion Industry's Science and Technology, and Personal and Family Financial Planning. Along with these academic programs, we also house influential research and outreach centers such as the Frances McClelland Institute, Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing, and Take-Charge Cats. Our mission remains the same - to improve quality of life from individuals and families to communities and organizations. From the business of fashion and consumer behavior to financial planning and human development, we explore human behavior and how it affects us every day. The Norton School of Human Ecology offers invaluable opportunities in and out of the classroom, engaging students in real-world experiences through innovative facilities and centers like the Lundgren Consumer Science Lab, Fashion Production Studio, and the Lang Laboratory for Child & Family Observation.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; sick leave and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Teach 6 (six) courses during the regular academic year (fall/spring semesters) with primary responsibility for the main campus RCSC program. Courses will be delivered via a variety of methods including face-to-face/in-person, fully online, and hybrid delivery. Courses and/or topics presently in need of staffing include, but are not limited to: retail business analysis, consumer behavior, data management, retail operations management, retail innovation, digital retailing, and supply chain management.
• As needed, develop and teach online coursework for various program initiatives (i.e., Arizona Online, Arizona Distance campuses, others) as directed by the Director of the School.
• Serve on academic committees, as needed.
• Provide additional service requirements to RCSC; for example, student club advising, and student project oversight.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of various retail strategies, operations, merchandising, consumer behavior and/or consumer decision-making processes.
• Ability to bring real-world retail experiences into the classroom, via case studies and simulations, as well as to create experiential learning opportunities.
• Ability to communicate clearly and engage with students.
• Ability to design assessments that measure theoretical knowledge or practical applications.
• Ability to align course content with program outcomes and workforce needs.
• Ability to create innovative learning environments using projects, partnerships, and simulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in retailing, business, marketing, or other related discipline.
• Five years or more of industry experience in retailing, business, or other related discipline with progressively increasing responsibilities and/or training of personnel, or significant teaching and student-mentoring experience in traditional classroom settings at a college or university level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant operational and strategic experience (five years or more with progressively increasing responsibilities) in a retail or business setting which may include supply chain management, store/operations management, marketing, product development, merchandising, or others.
• Experience with designing and delivering university-level instruction in an engaging manner using student-centered learning strategies. Examples of such strategies include promotion of student engagement in and out-of-class, shared responsibility of instruction, creation of inquiry-based/discovery-oriented curriculum, and encouragement of a community of learning.
• Experience in online course design and delivery.

Rank: To be Determined

FLSA: Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Job FTE: 1.0

Work Calendar: Academic

Job Category: Faculty

Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay: $85,000 - $95,000 (DOE)

Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Contact Information for Candidates: Sheila Kressler-Crowley
[e-mail]

Open Date: 4/17/2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter