Job description

Los Angeles, CA

The Religious Studies Department at Occidental College seeks a full-time non-tenure track Assistant Professor/Instructor to teach 3 courses/semester (6 courses total) during the 2026-27 academic year.

We are seeking courses in religion in the Americas that will build on our existing offerings. Applicants should be prepared to teach introductory courses (such as, “Introduction to American Religion”), as well as courses already in our course catalog, courses of their own design, or a mixture of both. We are especially interested in applicants who can teach courses that meet the College’s core requirements, including Pre-1800, US Diversity, Global Connections, and Regional Focus.

“Visiting Professor” is a faculty category bargained between the College and the non-tenure track faculty union. Visiting faculty are hired to replace permanent faculty who are on leave and to meet other short-term curricular needs. Visiting faculty may engage in scholarly activities, but scholarship is not a responsibility of the position. There are no plans for this position to be renewable beyond AY2026-27.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Applicants must be trained in Religious Studies or a related field, with a focus on religion in the United States and/or the Americas
• Candidates must hold a PhD or be doctoral candidates at the ABD stage in Fall 2026
• Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching
• Record of/commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the College

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 1 year of experience teaching at the college-level (as instructor of record or teaching assistant) and record of pedagogical success

SALARY RANGE

EXPECTED SALARY RANGE (Nine-month appointment): $62,500-$67,500.

If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This position is included in the NonTenure Track Bargaining Unit, and the successful applicant employee, subject to the terms of the College’s Collective Bargaining will be a bargaining unit Agreement with SEIU Local 721.

Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding orrelated medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups that are underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is available that includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https: //www.oxy.edu/offices-services/humanresources/benefits-information.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources ([email protected]).

As a condition of hire for a staff position and for appointment to a faculty position, Occidental College requires that all candidates who have received a conditional offer of employment complete an application form (if they have not already done so) and consent to a background check. Satisfactory completion of a background check, along with pre-employment verifications and references are required as a condition of employment, but only as permitted by federal, state, and local law, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

How to apply

To be assured full consideration, your application materials must be received by midnight Eastern time (9:00 pm Pacific time) on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Applicants must submit a complete application package in Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/177852

A complete application includes all of the following:

• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, as well as the education, experience, and/or skills you possess that are relevant to the required and preferred qualifications listed above. In your cover letter, please also explain how your teaching and service align with the mission of Occidental College. (3 pages, 1.5 spaced max.)
• Curriculum Vitae
• A list of between four to six courses that you are prepared to teach, with one-paragraph descriptions each. (In your descriptions, you might include the main learning objectives, the topics covered, the units into which the course will be divided, student assignments, and any other distinguishing features of the course.)
• A teaching statement/philosophy that discusses your chief pedagogical goals and the pedagogical practices you employ to meet these goals, as well as your record of/commitment to creating and advancing equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body. (2 pages at 1.5 spaces max.)

If you have any questions about the position, the application materials, or the application instructions, please contact: Professor Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa at [email protected] or call 232 259-1354. If you have questions about Interfolio or the application process, please contact the Academic Support Administrator, Beatrice Gonzales, at [email protected].