Associate Professor in LAEP & Associate Director of NLI

North Carolina State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement Programs

Disability Plans

Life Insurance

Accident Plan

Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs

12 Holidays Each Year

Tuition and Academic Assistance

Job summary

NC State University seeks a full-time, tenure‑track/tenured Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning (LAEP) and Associate Director of the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI). The role splits 50/50 between LAEP teaching/research and NLI leadership, developing a robust research portfolio, mentoring doctoral students, and expanding partnerships.

The candidate will lead design studios, support LAAB accreditation efforts, and manage NLI programs and staff while pursuing

Qualifications

• A professional degree in Landscape Architecture or closely related field.
• Experience teaching design studios across scales aligned with LAAB criteria.
• Proven ability to mentor graduate students.
• Doctoral degree related to NLI focus areas; environment and behavior preferred.
• Knowledge of environment/behavior and children and family contexts.
• Record of obtaining competitive extramural funding.
• Peer‑reviewed publications and academic impact.
• Prior academic leadership and administration experience.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in LAEP and contribute to departmental committees.
• Advise doctoral students and build external partnerships.
• Manage NLI staff and secure external funding.
• Oversee and expand NLI certificate programs.
• Supervise NLI student assistants and early career researchers.
• Support recruitment, mentoring, and retention of student assistants.
• Meet Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure expectations (SFR).

Skills

Studio teaching

LAAB criteria

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Research funding

Mentorship

Education

Doctoral degree

Job description

Posting Information

• Posting Number – PG194985EP
• Internal Recruitment – No
• Working Title – Associate Professor in LAEP & Associate Director of NLI
• Anticipated Hiring Range – Commensurate based on experience
• Work Schedule – Varies depending on project timelines and semester schedules. Evenings/weekends may be needed occasionally.
• Job Location – Raleigh, NC
• Department – Landscape Architecture

The Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning at NC State University is a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture education, with a strong track record of ASLA national recognition-including 12 national student awards since 2020 and, most recently, a 2026 Honor Award in Urban Design for the Tlatelolco, Mexico City study on environmental and cultural resilience.

Housed within a STEM-designated, LAAB-accredited MLA program, LAEP integrates design, ecology, and environmental planning from a global, cross-contextual, and cross cultural perspective, addressing environmental stewardship amid rapid urbanization. Faculty study and design landscapes across both international and regional territories, leading international workshops on urban design, habitat protection, and coastal resilience, and advancing this work through distinctive labs: The Just Lab, connecting landscape practice with African and Indigenous communities and the ancestral ties linking North Carolina to the African continent; the Natural Learning Initiative, creating nature-based environments to support healthy child development and community well-being in diverse and disadvantaged communities; and the Coastal Dynamics Design Lab, addressing coastal resilience through applied design along the North Carolina coast.

The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) is an interdisciplinary, cross-sector research, education, design programming, and communications lab at the College of Design, NC State University. NLI aims to create state-of-the-art environments that support healthy human development and a healthy biosphere by engaging children and families with nature in the spaces of daily life, particularly in disadvantaged, diverse communities.

To achieve this goal, NLI tracks trends, research findings, and emerging approaches and disseminates information to guide innovative, nature-based design solutions, combined with education programs and public events such as design institutes, conferences, and distance education courses.

The NLI team designs and implements original research studies and post-occupancy evaluations, producing findings that inform guidelines, toolkits, publications, and media disseminated via NLI's website, YouTube channel, and downloadable resources.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

The successful candidate, a full-time tenure-track/tenured Associate Professor in a 9-month faculty appointment, will dedicate 50% of their efforts to the LAEP department, including teaching courses and contributing to departmental committees. The other 50% will be allocated to NLI, focusing on developing a robust research agenda, advising doctoral students, continuing certificate programs, building partnerships and collaborations, managing NLI staff, and securing external funding.

LAEP Associate Professor Duties (50% Effort)

• Teaching (30%): Teach on studio and one seminar/lecture course per academic year. The candidate should be able to teach design studios across scales in the MLA curriculum and address LAAB accreditation professional criteria. Courses taught may include research methods, landscape architecture history, urban theory, digital media, grading, or construction technology.
• Service and Governance, including curriculum advising (20%): Contribute to standard departmental committees, participate in accreditation (LAAB), advise LAEP students, and act as a full member of the LAEP Department Voting Faculty (DVF).
• Evaluation & Reporting: To reflect 50/50 nature of this joint appointment, the candidate will hold equal reporting lines to both units. The LAEP Department Head will evaluate teaching and departmental service, while the Associate Dean of Research will oversee NLI responsibilities.

NLI Duties (under the Associate Professor role) (50% Effort)

• Research & Grants: Act as PI/Co-PI to identify and secure competitive extramural funding through grants, contracts, and sponsorships.
• Mentorship & Partnerships: Advise doctoral students whose research aligns with NLI focus areas, while also building and sustaining external partnerships, including Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Technical Assistance (TA) States.

Duties as NLI Associate Director (Administrative Supplement)

• Program & Staff Management: Oversee and continue expanding NLI certificate programs, and manage dedicated NLI staff to ensure smooth daily operations.

Supervisory duties: Direct supervision and management of dedicated NLI staff to ensure smooth daily operations, as well as supervision of NLI student assistants.

Other Responsibilities

Maintain recruitment, training, mentoring, and retention of student assistance from LAEP, other design disciplines, and elsewhere on campus. Fulfill Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) expectations, which will be equitably weighted in the Statement of Faculty Responsibilities (SFR).

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• A professional degree in Landscape Architecture of a closely related design discipline.
• Demonstrated experience teaching design studios across scales and courses that support LAAB accreditation professional criteria (e.g., research methods, landscape history, urban theory, grading).
• Demonstrated success in teaching and mentoring students at the graduate level.
• Hold a doctoral degree in a field related to NLI focus areas, preferably environment and behavior.
• A focus on environmental and behavior with knowledge of children and family environments.
• A proven record of obtaining competitive extramural funding.
• Evidence of academic impact, including an established record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Prior academic leadership and administrative experience.

Other Required Qualifications

• Ability to teach in a studio setting
• Ability to apply current NLI research tools and measures.
• Ability to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Demonstrated success in managing projects and/or multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hold a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree.
• Experience as an instructor, practitioner, and researcher.
• Prior academic leadership and administrative experience, including the duration of that experience.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

• Job Open Date – 10/21/2026
• Anticipated Close Date – 11/18/2026; if posting is still active we are accepting and reviewing applications.
• Special Instructions to Applicants – Applicants are required to submit:
  1. Letter of Intent (LOI) describing qualifications and interests, may be submitted under "Cover Letter."
  2. CV (Curriculum Vitae)
  3. Digital portfolio or portfolio link via online application. *Note: digital portfolios and research publications may be submitted as "Other Documents."
  4. List of references and their contact information

Do not submit these materials via email. Email inquiries and nominations to the search committee co-chair, Dr. Nilda Cosco, at [e-mail]

Position Details

• Position Number – 00112392
• Position Type – Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty
• Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) – 1.0
• Appointment – 9 Month Recurring
• Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather – Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
• Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events – Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
• Department ID – 120401 - Landscape Architecture

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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