Job description
Twin Cities, MN
Job ID: 368108
About the Job
The Department of Geography, Society, and Environment at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, non-tenure track position at the rank of Lecturer (job code 9753) with the working title of Teaching Faculty of Spatial Data Science to begin teaching in the fall 2025.
We seek a dedicated educator in Geographic Information Science (GISc). We welcome applications from individuals working in any part of the field. We are especially interested in receiving applications from educators who complement our strengths in geovisualization and cartography; spatial analysis and modeling; and cyberinfrastructure and geospatial technologies. The primary role of this position is to provide high-quality GISc instruction with an emphasis on problem-based learning and active learning by teaching 5 courses per year. The ideal candidate will help provide vision and leadership for the professional Masters of GISc program, the first such program in the country, as well as for current and upcoming undergraduate GISc programs. In addition, this position includes dedicated time for professional development, public engagement, and service.
For qualifying candidates, this position has the option to include the secondary title of Associate Director of the GeoCommons. You will help develop and administer programming and activities for the GeoCommons, including building and maintaining collaborations between GeoCommons and units across the University system, as well as individuals and organizations working in GIS in Minnesota’s public, private, non-profit, and governmental sectors. Additional activities could include non-credit courses and workshops, digital badges, active learning modules, and research-driven learning experiences.
Responsibilities
80% Teaching:
- Provide high-quality instruction in GISc and GISc-related courses. This may include existing courses such as Intermediate Spatial Data Science Applied with ArcGIS, Advanced Spatial Data Science Applied with ArcGIS, Principles of Cartography, and Advanced Cartography and Geovisualization, as well as newly developed courses.
- Maintain and update course content and, if needed, develop new courses to meet programmatic needs and improve undergraduate and graduate student success in response to emerging developments in geospatial data and technologies.
- Create a supportive learning environment for a population of students with broad professional, personal, and academic interests.
- Work with teaching assistants assigned to your courses, guiding their efforts in supporting student learning.
20% Service and Professional Outreach
- Help contribute to planning, programming, and activities for the GeoCommons, our new collaborative hub for geospatial research, education, and public engagement.
- Collaborate with U-Spatial and other units to strengthen GISc across the university, including, for example, participating in the Esri Innovation Program (EIP).
- Advise students regarding both coursework and broader academic or career goals.
- Continue growth within the profession to enhance the Teaching Faculty’s own teaching, and also benefit the wider GISc community through interactions with students and colleagues and participation in state-level GIS activities, such as with the MN GIS/LIS Consortium.
Qualifications
Required:
- At the time of appointment, the candidate must:
- possess a MGIS, Masters, or PhD in GIScience, geography, or a related field;
- have a record of teaching, training, and/or student advising appropriate to career stage;
- demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with students, practitioners, and the public;
- be proficient with geospatial tools, including ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and other commercial and open source products in teaching and research settings;
- be proficient with programming languages (e.g., SQL, Python, JavaScript, R).
Preferred:
- Experience with spatial databases and/or enterprise GIS environments (e.g., PostGIS, ArcGIS Server).
- Experience with cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, Azure).
- Experience or strong interest in cutting-edge geospatial technologies, including robots, VR, drones, sensors, etc.
- Strong interest in linking undergraduate and graduate research to classroom experiences so as to promote student engagement in research.
- Interest and ability to conduct pedagogical research.
- Interest and ability to cooperate with colleagues to develop grant proposals to advance funding for instruction and scholarship of teaching and learning.
About the Department
The Department of Geography, Environment and Society at the University of Minnesota is a top-ranked, nationally and internationally recognized department that includes programs in Geography, Urban Studies, and Geographic Information Science. Studies in Geography offer an integrative perspective on the relations among social, political, economic, and physical phenomena in space and place, and provide a methodological emphasis in Geographic Information Science. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that focuses on the conceptual and analytical frameworks and specialized skills needed for professions focused on urban change or development in public agencies, non-profits, or private business, or for graduate study in urban planning, law, social welfare, public affairs, or the social and environmental sciences. The MGIS program, first of its type in the U.S., is a professional degree program that provides a comprehensive GIS degree that balances work in the theoretical/conceptual, technical, and application domains of GIS; delivers course work at times convenient for students employed full time; and emphasizes societal impacts of GIS technologies.
The Department provides up-to-date computing, cartography/GIS, and physical geography laboratories, support for tree-ring analysis, soil characterization, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and one of the nation’s finest libraries supporting all undergraduate, graduate, and professional research and training programs.
About the College of Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic units, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over 20 buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, more than 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.
CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: $90,000 – $110,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience
Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment, 9-month, Annual Renewable appointment to begin August 25, 2025
Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff
Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.
The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
- Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- University HSA contributions
- Disability and employer-paid life insurance
- Employee wellbeing program
- Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
- Financial counseling services
- Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
- Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area
While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.
Diversity
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu
Employment Requirements
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
About the U of M
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and CV/resume. We also ask that you provide a sample syllabus, lab, or workshop activity that demonstrates evidence of teaching/training experience. You may attach that document after you apply by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.
Please be advised: those applicants who are selected for further consideration will be asked for three professional letters of reference on short notice in May 2025.
Candidates will be evaluated according to:
- overall quality of their credentials as a scholar-educator;
- evidence of effective and relevant teaching with potential to lead curricular innovation in a dynamic and evolving GISc landscape;
- an example GISc teaching or training activity, such as a lab, workshop activity, or syllabus; and
- strength of recommendations.
For questions about the application process, please contact the department administrator, Glen Powell, at [email protected]. For questions about the position, contact Professor Eric Shook at [email protected]
Priority screening of applications will begin on May 12, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.
