Research Chairs

Position Title / Rank: Kinross Chair in Environmental Governance

College: University of Guelph-Humber; College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

Department: TBD (Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology)

Deadline: January 2, 2018

Please reference AD #17-67

Position Description:

The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph invites applications for the third Kinross Chair in Environmental Governance.

Funded by a generous endowment from the Kinross Gold Corporation, the Chair in Environmental Governance will be held by an established contributor to the governance of the environment and natural resources in Canada or abroad. The Kinross Chair will bring extensive experience, professional expertise, Indigenous knowledge, and/or scholarly excellence to campus for a residence of four to six months in the fall of 2018. During this time the successful candidate will share existing understanding, and develop opportunities for further knowledge creation with faculty and students. Unlike traditional Chairs, this is a unique Knowledge Exchange Chair, developed with the intent of bringing high profile experts to the University and enriching intellectual conversations both on and off campus.

Rationale

The term governance refers to the processes and actions through which societies and organizations operate. In the past, the responsibility for environmental governance in Canada and elsewhere resided largely with governments. However, new actors are increasingly taking on this role, from citizens and communities, to non-governmental organizations and businesses. This has led to a growing demand in the public and private sectors, as well as in civil society, for people with the knowledge and experience needed to develop and implement policies, campaigns, strategies, and other governance tools to contribute to greater environmental well-being and sustainability. While curriculum around the phenomenon of environmental governance is quickly emerging, students and faculty have much to learn from practitioners who regularly contribute to the contemporary governance of the environment and natural resources.

Linking to a groundbreaking interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts major in Environmental Governance and the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute, the Kinross Chair will provide leadership around the processes of, and mechanisms involved in, environmental governance, the challenges and innovations in the field, and emerging societal concerns.

Focus of the Chair

For the third offering of the Kinross Chair, applications addressing any thematic areas related to environmental governance are welcome, as long as they reflect contemporary or, even better, emerging practice. Diverse perspectives, including critical ones, are encouraged.

Required expertise

Candidates for the Chair will be recognized Indigenous leaders, public servants, NGO leaders, business executives, or applied academics. Most importantly, they will be thoughtful innovators and skilled communicators who have successfully bridged knowledge, policy, and practice.

Activities 

The Chair holder will participate in a wide range of activities on and off campus, including: offering seminars and workshops for students, faculty, and the general University community; presenting high profile public talks; enabling experiential learning opportunities; mentoring students; and leading the development of collaborative research projects. He or she will collaborate with campus partners and share innovative ideas with external partners, including policymakers, businesses, and NGOs.

Expected outcomes 

Most significantly, it is expected that the on-campus presence of an innovator in the practice of environmental governance will produce novel understandings of governance processes and mechanisms among students, faculty, and the wider University community. In addition, opportunities for mentoring and networking will undoubtedly emerge for students who work with the Chair holder. It is also expected that longer term relations will be established with faculty –for ongoing knowledge exchange and collaborative knowledge creation with the Chair holder and with his or her networks. Finally, it is anticipated that the many and varied activities of the Chair holder, especially public engagement, will enhance the public profile of emerging environmental governance issues.

Logistics

The Chair holder will be in residence at the University of Guelph for four to six months beginning in the fall of 2018. The Chair holder will be provided with a research assistant, office space, and other resources (e.g., email, library access) in a department in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology) that best corresponds with his or her interests and expertise. Prospective applicants should not feel limited to/by the current department offerings: multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives are most welcome.

The Chair holder may negotiate salary replacement to a maximum of $50,000. The Chair holder will also have access to a professional allowance to cover costs associated with chair-related activities, including travel and living expenses.

Applications

Deadline for applications: January 2, 2018

Interested persons are invited to contact Belinda Leach, or visit our page about the Kinross Chair in Environmental Governance, and/or our former Kinross Chairs in Environmental Governance page for further information. Those applying should submit a CV and a letter outlining their ideas for activities and anticipated outcomes to:

Belinda Leach
Associate Dean (Research) Office of the Dean
College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Room 105, Macdonald Institute
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.
Email: csahsadr@uoguelph.ca
Phone: 519 824 4120 ex. 52699
uoguelph.ca/csahs/kinrosschair

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University recognizes that applicants may have had obligations outside of work that have negatively impacted their record of achievements (e.g., parental, elder care, and/or medical). You are not required to disclose these obligations in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these obligations do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion (https://uoguel.ph/ox2p9) is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

If you require a medical accommodation during the recruitment or selection process, please contact Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674.