Assistant/Associate Professor, Sport and Event Management

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 90,948 - 114,720; Full time

Job summary

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, seeks a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Sport and Event Management in the Experience Industry Management Department, starting August 2027. The appointment is full-time, academic-year, with rank and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will contribute to teaching, research, and service across tourism, hospitality, sport, and events, while advancing interdisciplinary scholarship in

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in sport management, event planning and management, recreation, parks, and tourism administration, or a closely related field.
• Strong teaching ability and collaboration.
• Proficiency in written and oral English.
• Potential or proven ability to secure external funding and publish research.
• Commitment to student-centered learning, inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Teach core undergraduate courses in sport and event management.
• Develop online and hybrid courses.
• Supervise interns and undergraduate research projects; advise students.
• Engage in scholarly activities such as research, grant writing, publications, and presentations.
• Service on departmental, college, and university committees; participate in professional development.
• Provide service to local, state, national, international, and related professional organizations.

Education

Ph.D. in sport management or closely related field

Job description

Position Overview

The Experience Industry Management Department in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, is seeking a full‑time, academic‑year, tenure‑track Assistant/Associate Professor of Sport and Event Management, starting approximately August 12, 2027. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will contribute broadly to the experience industry—tourism, events, hospitality, sport, recreation, and emerging experience‑based sectors—and to sport and event management. The role provides cross‑pollination opportunities across degree emphasis areas of tourism, hospitality, destination marketing, recreation, and experience design, emphasizing interdisciplinary scholarship that expands applied research capacity in the Experience Innovation Lab and advances both theoretical frameworks and applied practices in sport event strategy, logistics, sustainability, and community impact.

The position offers an exciting opportunity to shape how students learn to design, deliver, and evaluate meaningful experiences broadly in the experience industry and through sport and events.

Teaching Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach core undergraduate courses in the Department and courses in sport and event management. Potential courses include:

• Introduction to Sport Management
• Community Relations and Sports‑Based Youth Development
• Sport Marketing and the Fan Experience
• Strategic Event Planning
• Strategic Event Implementation
• Experiential Marketing Strategies for Experience Industry Management
• Interpreting Experience Industry Data Analytics
• Introduction to the Experience Industry
• Senior Project in the Experience Industry
• Assessment & Evaluation in the Experience Industry

Additional Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, supervision of interns, undergraduate research projects, student career advising, participation in scholarly activities such as research, grant writing, publications, and presentations, service on departmental, college, and university committees, and instructional‑related student professional development activities. The candidate is also expected to provide service to local, state, national, international, and related professional organizations.

Salary Ranges

• Assistant Professor: \$90,948 - \$105,156
• Associate Professor: \$105,492 - \$114,720

Equal Opportunity Statement

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment in accordance with California law and federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in sport management, event planning and management, recreation, parks, and tourism administration, or a closely related field. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate will be awarded prior to the start of the appointment.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, effective communication, interpersonal skills, and ability to work collaboratively as a team player.
• Proficiency in written and oral use of the English language.
• Potential or proven ability to secure external funding and publish research.
• Commitment to student‑centered learning, curriculum development, and inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience in sport and/or event management organizations, especially those with research or applied experience with mega‑events such as the Super Bowl, World Cup, and the Olympic Games.
• Ability to develop and teach online and hybrid courses.
• Experience collaborating on research with faculty across the College, University, and industry.
• Collaborative, applied, and innovative research background with industry partnerships.

Special Conditions

The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083.

Background Check

Following a conditional offer, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed before the candidate may start. Failure to comply may result in withdrawal of the offer.

About the Department

The Experience Industry Management Department offers a B.S. in Experience and Event Management and a minor in Event Planning and Experience Management. Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions, the Department focuses on Event Planning and Management, Tourism, Hospitality and Destination Management, and Sport and Recreation Management, fostering leaders and innovators in industries that promote healthy lifestyles and memorable experiences.

Work Schedule

Under a possible transition to semester‑based year‑round operations, full‑time academic‑year faculty may be assigned to teach in two consecutive semesters (Fall/Spring, Spring/Summer, or Summer/Fall). Faculty may also be eligible to teach the third semester for additional compensation, subject to departmental needs and University policy.