Tenure-Track Faculty Position, Indigenous Studies Department

McMaster University’s Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications from Indigenous candidates for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Indigenous Studies Department, located on the main university campus to begin on July 1, 2024.

Applicants with an area of specialization in Indigenous Gender, Indigenous Governance, or climate change/environment are preferred.   

The successful applicant must have or be very near completion of a PhD in Indigenous Studies, or a related discipline, by the time of the appointment.  The applicant must also demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching and community-engaged research and a willingness and ability to contribute to the department’s collegial and collaborative intellectual community as well as university-wide inclusive excellence goals and priorities.  Research excellence will be reflected in successful mentoring of graduate students and particularly doctoral students, extramural grant acquisition and publication in high quality peer-reviewed journals.  The successful applicant will teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses.  They will also be expected to foster existing collaborations and initiate new ones within their departments and with other departments and faculties.  

The Indigenous Studies Program at McMaster has been offering undergraduate classes since 1992. With the official launch of the Indigenous Studies Department in July 2022, courses continue to build upon the legacy of emphasizing Indigenous knowledge and intellectual traditions from a diversity of Indigenous nations. These unique, grassroots perspectives allow all students from an array of cultural backgrounds to better understand the historical issues and contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous peoples, both locally and globally. The faculty and staff who work within the Indigenous Studies Department are dedicated to the success of our students by providing them with the education and awareness that will assist in the improvement of Indigenous communities and the wellness of Indigenous peoples. 

The McMaster Indigenous Studies department has one of the largest numbers of Indigenous faculty in the country. In addition to the number of Indigenous faculty in the department, the department has three (3) research chairs, including two (2) Canada Research Chairs and the Paul R. MacPherson Chair in Indigenous Studies, and the director of the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute. The faculty have strong research programs and are all currently part of Tri-Council funded research projects. The large number of research chairs and faculty research makes the department a leader in Indigenous Studies research locally, nationally, and internationally. Commencing in 2024, the Indigenous Studies Department, pending approval, will launch a new Master of Arts in Indigenous Studies, the first of its kind in southern Ontario. 

McMaster University is a globally renowned institution of higher learning and a research community committed to advancing human and societal health and well-being. McMaster has a vision to achieve international distinction for creativity, innovation, and excellence as a student-centred, research-intensive university.  McMaster’s Faculty of Social Sciences comprises over 130 faculty members advancing education and research in collaboration with one or more of the Faculty’s 13 schools, departments and program areas.  Its disciplines are preparing societal leaders to respond to economic, political and cultural shifts in Canada and abroad.  Discover more about the Faculty of Social Sciences and the City of Hamilton.    

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengths our research and teaching excellence.  In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.  

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of racialized communities (“visible minorities”), persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. 

We invite all applicants to complete a brief Diversity Survey as part of the application process.  It takes approximately two minutes to complete.  All questions are voluntary, with an option to decline to answer.  All information collected is confidential and will be used to support efforts to broaden the diversity of the applicant pool and to promote a fair, equitable and inclusive talent acquisition process.  Inquiries about the Diversity Survey may be directed to hr.empequity@mcmaster.ca. 

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the Office of the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at 905-525-9140 ext. 26156 or admstsoc@mcmaster.ca to communicate accommodation needs. 

How to Apply: 

Please submit the following materials through the University’s electronic portal: Careers - Human Resources (mcmaster.ca)[Job Opening #58289] to: 

Dr. Robert Innes, Chair
Indigenous Studies Department
1280 Main Street West
LRW 1811
Hamilton ON, LS8 4L8 

 · a letter of application together with a curriculum vitae describing the impact that career interruptions have had on research productivity, if applicable, research statement including a selection of research publications, and a statement on teaching interests and philosophy (including evidence of teaching effectiveness);  

· a brief statement describing the any contributions you have made or planned in relation to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion or inclusive excellence in teaching, research, or service within higher education, community-based or other profession settings (2-page maximum); 

· the names of at least three referees; letters of reference are not required and will not be reviewed at  the application stage; the Department will request letters of recommendation from referees at later stages of the search process. 

Review of applications will begin on December 5th, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. The effective date of appointment is negotiable, but July 1, 2024, is preferred.  All applicants will receive an online confirmation of receipt of their application; however, only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.  

Applicants will need to provide documentation that verifies their Indigenous identity claim.  

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.  To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizens.  Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:  

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada  

Direct any inquiries about this position to Dr. Robert Innes, Chair of the Indigenous Studies Department, rob.innes@mcmaster.ca. 

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