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Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) is a multi-campus university renowned for its extraordinary learning environment and highly personalized educational experience. As a comprehensive university with more than 19,000 students, Laurier has grown rapidly in research intensity while at the same time preserving our well-earned reputation for excellent undergraduate teaching and learning. With a multi-campus and multi-community culture, Laurier offers students an exceptional range of more than 100 academic programs. As a leader in higher education for more than a century, Laurier has offered students a transformative experience, an ethos that is offered in Laurier’s intention to inspire lives of leadership and purpose.

Laurier’s campuses and locations are on the Haldimand Tract, within the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. A short 2.5-hour drive of 18 First Nations communities, including the Six Nations of the Grand River— the most populous First Nation in Canada — and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford both have large urban Indigenous populations. There are 12 Métis councils within a 3-hour radius. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their right to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming, research, and co-curricular activities. Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge through diverse ongoing initiatives, programs, funding events, and positions, including the university’s Indigenous Student Centres, its Centre for Indigegogy, the Indigenous Knowledge Fund, Indigenous Education Week and the annual Indigenous Research Symposium. Laurier welcomes a regular stream of Visiting Elders and has an Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, not to mention a growing number of Indigenous faculty, students, and staff.

About the Campus

The Brantford Campus is interwoven into Brantford’s downtown core with more than 3000 undergraduate and graduate students, over 80 full-time faculty, and 18 different programs across four different faculties. Laurier’s Brantford campus is home to numerous research centres such as the Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa. The City of Brantford is approximately a one-hour drive along the QEW and Hwy. 403 from Toronto and the Niagara region and boasts a healthy arts and culture scene, world-class trails system for walking and biking, and a strong slate of festivals and events.

About the Position

Faculty and department/area: Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program

Position location: Brantford, with program courses offered in Brantford

Area of specializations: Open

Rank/s of the position: Open

Type of position: Tenure track 

Faculty/departement/program description: The FSW offers professional social work programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, and a research-focused doctoral program. We are devoted to excellence in research, creative and critical thinking, and reflexive practice. Our students learn through traditional and innovative teaching strategies. We encourage students at all levels to become active citizens of an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We fulfill our mission by advancing multi-disciplinary and marginalized forms of knowledge. Our graduates are committed to constructively engaging and working toward transforming oppressive conditions and structures, and promoting well-being in individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

The BSW program supports approximately 350 full-time students and 8 full-time faculty, including many community-based part-time instructors. It is a generalist program preparing students for a variety of practice contexts. Our curriculum emphasizes familiarity with micro, mezzo, and macro practices with individuals, families, and communities by examining various critical issues such as health, gender & sexuality, migration and forced displacement, poverty, violence, disability, and child welfare. Established in 2012, our program is approaching its 10-year anniversary, and we are eager to welcome a colleague who can contribute to the continued growth and development of our program, as well as the broader FSW.

Position summary: The BSW program invites applications from scholars with knowledge and experience in Indigenous wholistic practice who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit (FNMI) or Indigenous. Personal and professional experience applying critical and wholistic perspectives on structural, organizational and community practice, decolonial practice, and Indigenist research are assets. We are particularly interested in a scholar who is informed by their own Indigenous knowledge, have strong roots, connection, and engagement with their community, and bring this cultural knowledge to teaching, research, and service within the University.

Qualifications: The area of expertise for this position is open. As an emerging scholar, the candidate will provide evidence of their record of research and demonstrate how their substantive area would support and compliment a generalist BSW program, and ideally, how their research might also contribute to Indigenous research methodologies, community-engaged approaches, reflexivity, relational accountability, and decolonizing research practices. The scholar will also provide evidence of micro or macro practice experience with FNMI Indigenous peoples, and this work should represent a meaningful amount of time (2-3 years minimum) and engagement in practice. We welcome a scholar who is interested and open to supervising and/or mentoring undergraduate and graduate students engaged in research. In addition to pursuing their research program, the candidate will be expected to teach our senior required course Reconciliation and Indigenous-Social Work Relations, with a diversity of other teaching opportunities available, including a senior elective course Wholistic Healing.

The successful candidate will (1) hold a PhD or be near completion (ABD) with a clear plan for defense, 2) hold at least one degree in social work or near completion, (3) have a minimum of 3-4 years practice experience, (4) have teaching experience in social work with demonstrated record of excellence, and 5) candidates should have a program of research as evidenced by a record of publication and funding appropriate for the rank.

Deciding to Become a Candidate

The following is a list of the steps we anticipate in the recruitment process for this position. We would also like to bring to your attention several key issues we would recommend you consider as you navigate the search process.

How to Apply

Candidates who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) are encouraged to apply by including the following in their application. Please note that additional materials may be requested through the review process as required by the home department.

• a letter of intent including the candidate’s research and teaching interest and where this best aligns with Laurier’s areas of priority;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a 1-2 page statement on teaching philosophy, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as course syllabus/description, a peer teaching review and student/participant feedback).
• a 1-2 page research plan outlining the candidate’s prospective or in-progress research for the next three to five years, including two sample publications, reports or other scholarly outputs (whether in-progress or complete)
• 2 sample publications, scholarly outputs or writing samples
• Names and contact information of three referees.
• Indigenous Identity Fraud/Theft has been a significant issue highlighted in the media, and we will be taking steps to confirm Indigenous Identity as part of the recruitment and selection process. The process used to confirm identity is being developed in consultation with the Indigenous Initiatives office.

Applications can be addressed to Mike Young, Executive Search Associate and submitted electronically to wlucohort@boyden.com. Applications will continue to be collected and evaluated until all of the Inclusive Excellence cohort positions are filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply once interested as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Wilfrid Laurier University is committed to employment equity and values diversity. Laurier welcomes applications from qualified members of the equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships; however, all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:

• Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
• No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with Tri-Council definitions and guidelines.

Laurier strives to make our application process accessible and provides accommodations for both applicants and employees as outlined in Policy 8.7. https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.7-employment-accommodation-policy.html. If you require assistance applying for this position, to obtain a copy of this job description in an accessible format, or would like to discuss accessibility and accommodations during the recruitment process please email equity@wlu.ca.