Associate Dean, Planning and Landscape Architecture

Position Description

Associate Dean, Planning and Landscape Architecture
University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is one of Canada’s top comprehensive research-intensive universities, with over 34,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 14 faculties, over 1,800 academic staff, and over 3,200 non-academic staff across 5 campuses.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (formerly the Faculty of Environmental Design) was founded in 1971 and offers graduate professional degrees in Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture as well as research degrees at the Masters and Doctoral levels.  Our over 300 students and 25 faculty members are committed to exploring the research frontiers of contemporary city building and preparing the next generation of critically engaged practitioners.  We apply the disruptive strategies of entrepreneurial thinking and social innovation to the design of buildings, communities, cities and landscapes.

In February 2019, the School opened a 25,000 sqft, satellite downtown storefront location adjacent to City Hall in the former public library building.  The City Building Design Lab (CBDLab) complements our four-storey building on campus.  The CBDLab is an advanced design-based research initiative that brings together graduate students, academics, building industry professionals, municipal policy makers, and the public to explore collaborative problem-based research in 21st Century city-building.

The design focused studio-based curriculums in our Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Planning programs explore current and emerging challenges with three-dimensional spatial thinking at the core of our pedagogy.  Our long tradition of interdisciplinary learning provides students with opportunities for interaction between programs.  The Master of Planning and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees build on the School’s long-established approach to sustainability, resilience, and social equity.  They are strategically positioned to engage with the critical sociocultural and ecological challenges of place-making, climate change and resilience in the built and natural environment of cities.  The two-year Master of Planning degree has an enrollment of 60 students.  The three-year Master of Landscape Architecture programs was launched in 2015 and has an enrollment of 45 students.  Both programs are accredited and have strong connections with our industry stakeholders.

Reporting to the Dean of the School, the Associate Dean (Planning and Landscape) is the academic head of the Planning and Landscape Architecture programs and is a member of the School’s Leadership Team working collaboratively on aspects involving academic, financial and development planning as well as identifying cross-program priorities, promotion and outreach activities.  The Associate Dean is responsible to provide leadership in professional education curriculum development, contribute to graduate teaching, and maintain strong relationships with both Provincial and National Professional Practitioner Associations and international partners.  A strong relationship builder and communicator, this progressive leader will foster a culture of collegiality and demonstrate a commitment to mentorship, interdisciplinary education and an impact driven research agenda while serving as the primary advocate and liaison for both of these professional programs.
The ideal candidate is a passionate academic with a vision for the future of city building and preparing the next generation of planning and landscape architecture professionals.  A professional graduate degree at the Masters level and extensive professional experience in either the public or private sector is required and a Doctoral degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture or a related field is preferred.

The successful candidate will have the academic qualifications commensurate with an appointment With Tenure at the rank of Associate Professor including demonstrated teaching effectiveness, recognized research achievement or equivalent professional accomplishment, and a reasonable record of service.  The Associate Dean is expected to contribute to studio teaching, engage in form-based planning and design research, and participate in local and global issues related to contemporary issues of planning and landscape architecture such as urban design, landscape design, reclamation, cultural landscapes, climate change adaptation, smart cities and artificial intelligence, and smart growth in the unique regional context of Calgary, Alberta and Western Canada.

This thoughtful individual must hold, or be eligible to hold, professional membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners.  Membership, or eligibility for membership, in the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects is also desirable.
This position is a 50/50 split between academic and administrative duties and the administrative appointment as Associate Dean is for a five-year period with the possibility of renewal.  During this time there is a reduced teaching expectation and a program of active research.  At the completion of the Associate Dean appointment, the candidate will continue to be a full-time tenured faculty member.

Through our Eyes High vision, we have fundamentally transformed the University of Calgary. We have raised our global profile, enhanced the quality of undergraduate and graduate education, promoted innovation and excellence in scholarly activity, and provided significant returns to the community and economy both locally and beyond. Eyes High 2017-2022 will leverage our momentum and aspirations to be recognized as a top 5 research university in Canada, with a strong focus on student experience, campus culture and entrepreneurial thinking.

Our location inspires us.  Calgary is ranked the fourth most livable city in the world by the Economist’s 2018 “Global Livability Index” and the gateway to the spectacular Rocky Mountains. Architectural landmarks such as the Peace Bridge, the Bow Tower, the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, the Central Library, and soon to be completed TELUS Sky, complement one of the most extensive urban cycling networks and natural park systems in Canada. Calgary is also Canada’s most enterprising city where entrepreneurs, experimenters, and rule breakers are not afraid to experiment with built form, innovative policies, and new concepts.  Calgary is a city of extraordinary community spirit; we come together and innovate for positive, integrated systemic improvement.

Our school is sited on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. The University of Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River; the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is “Moh’kins’tsis”, which we now call the city of Calgary.

Consistently rated by the United Nations as the world’s best country to live in, Canada is the world’s second largest country by total area and is one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations. The 10th largest advanced economy in the world, relying upon its abundant natural resources and sophisticated international trade networks, Canada ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education.

The University of Calgary’s comprehensive benefits and pension program is designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members through coverage for health, dental, life insurance, income protection for disability, and retirement income planning. To learn about our comprehensive benefits package please visit http://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/academic_benefits_pension.

The University of Calgary welcomes diversity and encourages applications from all qualified peoples, including women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Indigenous persons.

To explore this opportunity forward your cover letter, CV, research and/or practice portfolio to uofc@jssearch.ca.  The position will remain open until filled.