Environmental Social Science (Tenure Track Faculty, MES)

Evergreen State College; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Evergreen's Graduate Program on the Environment seeks a faculty member to illuminate the social dimensions of environmental issues and guide graduate students in MES. The tenure-track position emphasizes interdisciplinary teamwork, qualitative and quantitative methods, and mentoring diverse thesis work.

Evening teaching and extensive thesis advising are central to the role, with occasional undergraduate contributions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Social Science, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• Undergraduate or graduate teaching experience in the environmental social sciences.
• Ability to teach research design, quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Ability to mentor graduate students in thesis research and writing.

Responsibilities

• Teach foundational material and advanced topics within the environmental social sciences, including ecological/environmental economics and environmental policy.
• Teach in interdisciplinary teams with natural scientists at the graduate level.
• Help students develop their academic writing skills.
• Help students develop quantitative and/or qualitative research skills.
• Mentor thesis students in diverse research projects in the environmental social sciences.

Skills

Teaching experience

Research design knowledge

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Mentoring graduate students

Education

Ph.D. in Social Science, Environmental Studies, or related field

Tools

Geographical Information Systems

Job description

Position Title

Environmental Social Science (Tenure Track Faculty, MES)

Job Summary

This is a full-time regular* faculty position starting in the fall quarter of the 2027-28 academic year.

Evergreen's Graduate Program on the Environment seeks a faculty colleague to help students understand the social dimensions of environmental issues. We anticipate that successful candidates will come from disciplines such as sociology, geography, anthropology, economics, political ecology, public policy, or interdisciplinary environmental studies. We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in the economic, social, cultural, health, or policy dimensions of environmental studies. The ability to teach social science methodologies (qualitative and/or quantitative) to students with diverse backgrounds in both the natural and social sciences is more important than the specific area of expertise. The ideal candidate will have the ability to help students develop an empirically grounded and/or systemic analysis of historical causes, current patterns, and policy solutions to environmental problems. Expertise in tribal community responses to environmental issues and Indigenous ecological knowledge systems would be especially helpful. The Evergreen Master of Environmental Studies program organizes its curriculum through interdisciplinary courses, with faculty teams collaborating across disciplines to design and teach an integrated graduate-level curriculum. The ideal candidate has the ability and passion to integrate the study of social and natural sciences through study and application of real-world issues.

1. teach foundational material and advanced topics within the environmental social sciences, which might include areas such as ecological/environmental economics, environmental policy, sustainable development, common pool resource governance, Indigenous ecological knowledge systems, tribal natural resource management, environmental health, political ecology, environmental justice, or social movements for the environment;


2. teach in interdisciplinary teams with natural scientists at the graduate level;


3. help students develop their academic writing skills;


4. help students develop quantitative research skills in environmental social sciences;


5. help students develop other analytical and methodological tools employed in the environmental social sciences, which might include research design, survey design and analysis, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, mixed methods, and/or Geographical Information Systems;


6. mentor thesis students in diverse research projects in the environmental social sciences.

The position is a regular continuing faculty member dedicated to graduate students, with primary teaching responsibilities in-person in the evening and substantial responsibilities for advising thesis research. Faculty in this position are invited to rotate occasionally into the undergraduate daytime curriculum to contribute to the Environmental Studies Path.

*Regular is equivalent to tenure-track at other colleges. A complete description of the continuing contract and conversion process can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, article 11.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Employment-based visa sponsorship may be considered depending on the candidate's current immigration status; however, the College is unable, at this time, to sponsor new H1B petitions that could potentially incur the $100,000 fee announced in September 2025.

Job Expectations

Evergreen uses narrative evaluations in lieu of grades, and full-time faculty are generally responsible for evaluating 15 students per quarter in MES courses. Faculty are also responsible for advising students in their respective area(s) of expertise regarding skill development, career opportunities, and thesis research projects. MES faculty are expected to participate in College and MES program governance.

Our students, faculty and staff create learning communities to understand environmental problems and solutions. We teach our students to develop quantitative and technical skills, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, value diversity and equity, and work collaboratively to address environmental challenges.

All requirements for the position must be completed at the time of hire. Salary for all positions is based on experience and degrees (see Salary Grid for more information).

A complete list of faculty responsibilities is in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Social Science, Environmental Studies, or related field;


• Undergraduate or graduate teaching experience in the environmental social sciences;


• Ability to teach research design, quantitative and/or qualitative research methods;


• Ability to mentor graduate students in thesis research and writing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate training in interdisciplinary research;


• Experience or demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary team-teaching;


• Research or teaching experience in multiple areas of desired expertise;


• Expertise in tribal community responses to environmental issues and/or Indigenous ecological knowledge systems.

Conditions of Employment

* As a condition of employment, persons hired must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of beginning work. Prior to an official offer of employment, a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct form must be submitted to the college per RCW 28B.112.080. The college will contact current and past employers to verify this information. Applicants who provide inaccurate information in their declaration will be disqualified and, if the inaccuracies are discovered after the applicant has been hired, it shall be grounds for termination.

About Evergreen

Evergreen is an innovative, public, liberal arts college emphasizing integrated interdisciplinary study and collaborative team-teaching throughout the undergraduate curriculum and in three graduate programs. Teaching is the central work of the faculty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Successful teaching at Evergreen requires broad-ranging intellectual curiosity, the ability to formulate interdisciplinary questions, and the pedagogical skills to support our diverse student population.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. For more information regarding Evergreen's non-discrimination policies or to report discrimination, please visit the Affinity Action and Equal Opportunity webpage at www.evergreen.edu/equalopportunity or contact the Affinity Action and Equal Opportunity Officer at [phone], Room 3102 Library Building, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505.

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Salary Information

$53,966-$111,485 ($84,853 at median EY of 20 for recent faculty hires). Faculty membership is unranked with salary determined on a non-competitive, open scale based on earned degrees and years of relevant experience.

Posting Details

Number of Vacancies: 1

Location: Olympia

Start Date: Fall 2027

Open Date: 09/21/2026

Review Start Date: Review of completed applications will begin on November 6, 2026. The posting may close at any time after that.

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting: https://evergreen.peopleadmin.com/postings/4681