Assistant Professor - Urban Planning

AACTE Connect360; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 99,500; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts Boston is seeking a full-time Assistant Professor in Urban Planning to start September 1, 2026. The ideal candidate will specialize in areas such as climate resilience and environmental justice while contributing to the environmental planning concentration.

The role will involve teaching, research, and community engagement, with responsibilities including course instruction and establishing a collaborative research program. Competitive salary range from $80,000 to $99,500 annually.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in urban planning or related fields.
• Publication record and evidence of funding activity.
• Clear pedagogical philosophy.

Responsibilities

• Teach core and specialized courses in Community Development.
• Establish an active and collaborative research program.
• Engage in inter- and transdisciplinary teams.

Skills

Climate resilience

Environmental justice

Green infrastructure

Disaster planning

Health equity

Education

Doctorate in urban planning or closely related fields

Job description

The Department of Urban Planning and Community Development (UPCD) in the School for the Environment (SFE) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB) seeks candidates for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position to begin September 1, 2026. We invite scholars who can contribute to our environmental planning concentration, specializing in the interconnectedness of environmental and public health in cities and coastal areas. Candidates with expertise in areas such as climate resilience, environmental justice, green infrastructure, disaster planning, or health equity are especially encouraged to apply. We are committed to sustainability, equity, and community engagement, and we seek scholars who share these values and can incorporate them into their scholarship, teaching, and service.

The School for the Environment

SFE’s mission is to examine and explore diverse challenges in the natural, built, and social environments and their intersections. Using transdisciplinary and equity‑informed approaches to research, teaching, and action, we expand environmental knowledge and understanding and create cutting‑edge solutions to environmental and social problems in Boston and beyond. SFE pursues its environmental health and justice research, teaching, and outreach agenda designed to enhance the problem‑solving capacity of local communities and institutions. The preferred candidate should be able to work within and complement the activities and interests of the core and affiliate faculty. We particularly welcome community‑based participatory research approaches, as well as candidates who employ methodologies for transdisciplinary problem‑solving. SFE faculty support undergraduate (community development, environmental science, environmental studies, and sustainability), master’s (urban planning and community development), and PhD (environmental sciences, and marine science and technology) programs. We expect the successful candidate to interact strongly with SFE faculty and students. The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate across departments and engage with community‑based organizations, planning agencies, and public health institutions in Greater Boston and beyond.

Candidates must have a doctorate in urban planning or closely related fields, a publication record, evidence of procurement and/or external funding activity, and a clear pedagogical philosophy. The ideal candidate should be able to and/or be interested in collaborating in inter‑ and transdisciplinary teams, engaging with diverse stakeholders, and integrating multiple disciplines to study complex urban planning, community development, and environmental issues. This collaborative approach is integral to our mission, and we value each team member’s unique perspectives and expertise. The ideal candidate should be capable of instructing core and specialized courses for our Bachelor of Arts program in Community Development and our Master of Science program in Urban Planning and Community Development. They will be expected to establish an active, collaborative, and influential research program, and seek external funding to implement their research.

How to Apply

Interested individuals can initiate the application by the portal and upload the following:

• Cover letter (2 page maximum)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Statement
• Teaching Statement
• Contact information of three academic references

Application Deadline

Materials should be submitted by Sunday, November 30, 2025, for maximum consideration by the UPCD Search Committee.

For More Information

Contact Lorena M. Estrada‑Martínez, Search Committee Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Community Development, School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, at [e-mail].

UMass Boston expects to pay within an approximate range between $80,000 and $99,500 for this position. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment. Exceptional candidates may be considered for salaries above the published range to ensure competitiveness within the academic market.

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 [e-mail] or 617-287-5150.

Applications close: