Assistant Professor: Sustainable Community Economic Development and Planning, UC Davis, USA

Regional Studies; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Human Ecology at the University of California, Davis invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Community and Regional Development focused on community economic development and planning that addresses pressing problems and opportunities.

The appointee will join the California Agricultural Experiment Station and will teach a three-course load per year, mentor students, and build a funded research program.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in a field related to urban, rural, and/or regional planning.
• Experience as a practitioner and/or the capacity to teach professional skills in sustainable community economic development.
• Post doctoral experience preferred.
• Evidence of leadership and organizational skills relevant to the development of a successful research, teaching and outreach program.
• Evidence of scholarship during graduate and post-graduate activities.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain extramural funding for research activities.
• Ability to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses and present information to scientific audiences.
• Interest and commitment to outreach and public engagement programming.

Responsibilities

• Teach a typical courseload of three courses per year (usually 2 undergraduate + 1 graduate every other year).
• Develop and maintain a competitively-funded research program in community economic development.
• Mentor undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. students.
• Collaborate with Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors and with policy/public stakeholders.

Skills

Community development

Leadership

Communication

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $106,800 – $130,700 (annual). “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Next review date: Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The Department of Human Ecology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Development who focuses on community economic development and planning in areas that respond to pressing problems and opportunities (e.g., poverty, inequality, prospects for sustainable economies). Key areas of research could include, but are not limited to, equitable and collaborative economic models, cooperatives, regenerative and climate responsive economies, affordable housing, and climate smart/green technologies. Seeking applicants with applied research and/or professional experience collaborating with diverse government, business, and civic community organizations to maximize public impact of their research. Research focused on domestic and/or global contexts is welcome.

This is an academic year (9-month), tenure track Assistant Professor position that includes an appointment in the California Agricultural Experiment Station (AES). Faculty members who hold an AES appointment have a responsibility to conduct research and outreach relevant to the mission of the California AES. Participation in outreach programs and performance of university service are also expected.

The appointee is expected to establish a competitively-funded research program (as described above) to address critical or emerging issues that can facilitate or hinder sustainable and equitable economic development and planning in communities. The appointee will be responsible for teaching a typical courseload of three courses per year (usually alternating between 2 and 3 undergraduate plus 1 graduate course every other year). At either level, courses will reflect a combination of core courses and specialized topical courses. Examples include: CRD 1 (The Community), CRD 164 (Community Change Organizations), CRD 156 (Community Economic Development), CRD 172 (Social Inequality: Issues and Innovation), or CRD 171 (Housing and Social Policy) at the undergraduate level; CRD 240 (Theories of Community Development), CRD 245 (Political Economy of Community Development), CRD 250 (Community Development in Practice); GEO 200DN (Methods of Socio-Spatial Analysis in Geography) at the graduate level. Along with teaching, the appointee will engage in mentoring, advising, and curricular development at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Participation in and development of public outreach and/or community engagement programs, and performance of departmental and university service is expected in this position. This position is expected to collaborate with Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors, partners in allied industries or other appropriate policy and public stakeholders.

This recruitment is conducted at the assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the assistant rank, regardless of the proposed appointee’s qualifications.

Initial review of applications will be conducted using anonymized versions of the Statement of Research Accomplishments and Interests. Applications demonstrating sufficient potential based on this review will be advanced to full review.

Availability of Space and Resources
Office and laboratory space will be provided by the Department of Human Ecology in Hart Hall on the UC Davis central campus.

Start-up funding will be provided based on the programmatic needs of the successful candidate.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application) Ph.D. or equivalent in a fields of urban, rural, and/or regional planning, community development, human geography, sociology, public policy/ administration, applied economics, international development, social work at the time of appointment.

• Experience as a practitioner and/or the capacity to teach professional skills in fields related to sustainable community economic development
• Post doctoral experience preferred.
• Evidence of leadership and organizational skills relevant to the development of a successful research, teaching and outreach program in the discipline of Community and Regional Development.
• Evidence of scholarship during graduate and post-graduate activities.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to obtain extramural support for research activities.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses and to present information to scientific audiences.
• Demonstrated ability or potential and interest to mentor undergraduate, masters. and Ph.D. students.
• Evidence of communication skills and collegiality consistent with effective departmental, campus and professional citizenship.
• Interest, understanding, and commitment to the objectives of a land-grant university and the Agricultural Experiment Station including mission-oriented research and a substantive outreach engagement programming.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V. that includes a publication list.
• Up to Three Publications: Publication #1
• Publication #2 (Optional)
• Publication #3 (Optional)
• Transcripts – Transcripts are required if the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree (Optional)
• Statement of Research Accomplishments and Future Research Plans Relevant to Community Economic Development and Planning in Areas that Respond to Pressing Problems and Opportunities
• Statement of Teaching Accomplishments and Philosophy
• Authorization to Release Information Form – This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form .
• Cover Letter (Optional)

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM – 035: Affimative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, “Authorization to Release Information” into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check .

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement , and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400 .

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice . There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings . UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come .

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.