Tenure Track Position in Advanced Digital Technologies in Urban Planning
FCS, Urban & Regional Plann.
| Posted: | November 2, 2026 |
| Deadline to Apply: | Tuesday, December 15, 2026 |
Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples, the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) in the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor effective July 1, 2027, subject to final budgetary approval.
The primary research interest of the successful candidate should be the application and integration of advanced digital technologies (ADT) in Urban and Regional Planning. Candidates should demonstrate a critical engagement and thoughtful application of emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, digital twins, and machine learning methods) and/or advanced data analytics, in exploring and providing solutions to contemporary urban and regional planning and policy issues and processes. We invite candidates whose research focuses on one or more of the following areas in Planning: Urban Policy, Regional Planning, Urban Design, Healthy Communities, and Connected Cities or Communities. We specifically welcome candidates who clearly demonstrate a commitment to the ethical use of data and emerging technologies to advance sustainable and equitable communities. Candidates who work with Indigenous or equity-deserving communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, scholarly research or creative activity and service duties while maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. Teaching duties will entail teaching core and elective courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervision of graduate students and/or curriculum development, including in the areas of (advanced) Statistics, Planning Analysis, Urban Design and/or Urban Analytics. The successful candidate will pursue a strong and forward-looking research program or creative activity that is externally funded and that produces high quality, impactful, policy-relevant results.
Candidates should have an accredited degree in Urban and/or Regional Planning and must hold a doctoral (PhD) degree in Planning or a closely related field by the appointment date. Candidates who are all-but-dissertation (ABD) and are able to demonstrate that they are very close to completion (with a set completion date) may also be considered. To support our School’s continued accreditation success, it is expected that the person who is hired for this position will achieve full membership as a registered professional planner (RPP) or demonstrate significant progress toward completing the prior learning assessment process (PLAR, for candidates without an accredited planning degree), with the Ontario Professional Planning Institute during their probationary period.
In addition, the successful candidate must present evidence of:
- Strong emerging scholarly research and/or creative activity that is current, innovative and impactful as evidenced by, but not limited to, peer-reviewed publications, working papers, public policy contributions, presentations at academic conferences, community engagement and professional work, success in securing grants, research related awards, and other writing or creative production that contributes to the visibility and prominence of the discipline;.
- Demonstrated potential for teaching excellence at all levels of the undergraduate and graduate curriculums, as evidenced by a teaching dossier that includes a teaching philosophy statement, experience with course and curriculum review and/or development, examples of best practices in inclusive pedagogy, including the effective use of classroom technology and any experience with experiential learning, sample syllabi related to the position’s focus areas, strong teaching evaluations, teaching awards, and other relevant achievements in teaching;
- Demonstrated commitment to our values of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) as it pertains to service, teaching, and scholarly research or creative activities, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population; and,
- An ability and willingness to contribute to the life of the School of Urban and Regional Planning and the University through collegial service.
Our committee recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions.
At Toronto Metropolitan University, we believe that diversity of knowledge, worldviews and experiences that come from membership in different groups is fundamental to innovation, teaching and scholarship and that our students are best served by faculty who reflect the diversity of TMU’s student body and the community in which TMU is situated. To ensure representation of the excellent talent in Canada, we are particularly interested in applications from members of historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups including: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America*, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. ?
* Applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit peoples, or Indigenous peoples of North America ?will be invited to complete an affirmation process at TMU. This process involves candidates providing relevant documentation to support the claim of Indigenous identity and participating in discussions with the University’s Indigenous Human Resources Lead in order to share relevant information about their lived experience.
This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) [www.tfanet.ca]. Visit us at www.torontomu.ca/faculty-affairs to view the TFA collective agreement and a summary of TFA benefits. The minimum salary for the Assistant Professor rank is $106,774.00 per annum. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.
Working at TMU
Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, TMU offers over 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning. Distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum and a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city building, reflected in its award-winning architecture.
At the intersection of mind and action, TMU is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Our new academic plan, Transformative Futures, offers an exciting roadmap towards our ongoing pursuit of academic excellence and to addressing the complex and evolving challenges of our time.
At the heart of TMU’s remarkable achievements and its ambitious aspirations are its students, faculty and staff. Committed to a people-first culture, the university prides itself on offering exceptional benefits and perks, celebrating the achievements of its faculty and staff and maintaining its unwavering commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, including its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, confronting Anti-Black Racism and accessibility for persons with disabilities. TMU’s growing reputation and global reach—reflected in its performance across select national and international rankings—support its mission to address real-world challenges, attract top talent and strengthen impact across teaching, research and innovation. Among its many recognitions include being ranked number one on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity. We invite you to explore employment at TMU as well as our community of diverse faculty and staff networks.
Connect with us on LinkedIn for the latest news and opportunities at TMU.
School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP)
SURP is a significant contributor to Planning education in Canada with our professionally accredited undergraduate and Master’s programs. We are well-known for the quality of our applied approach to Planning education – especially our studio-based, experiential learning and career-ready focus – and 500+ excellent students from diverse backgrounds and geographies. We have 16 full-time faculty members. As we approach our 60th anniversary in 2029, and over these five decades, we have developed strong and diverse community and professional partnerships to create important teaching and research opportunities. We have a large, loyal and engaged alumni network.
At SURP, we highly value teaching, learning and research that unfolds in partnership with communities, governments, and private sector firms to deliver positive outcomes for more equitable, sustainable, and livable communities. Our experiential learning approach grounds planning education in working with communities, not for them. Our School prides itself on the excellence of its research and on the quality of its teaching. The School is also actively engaged in advancing anti-racism and anti-discrimination work in planning education, including centering equity and racial justice in our curriculum, student recruitment and retention, hiring practices, and approaches to community engagement. We are interested in candidates who will contribute to our existing teaching and research strengths through academic and professional excellence, diverse lived experiences, and innovative perspectives.
Visit us on Twitter (@TMUsurp) and LinkedIn for updates on our research, teaching and community-engagement activities.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking on “Start Application Process” to begin. Applications, consisting of the following, must be received by Friday, December 15th, 2026:
- a letter of application;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a statement of research interests and future research agenda;
- two examples of scholarly, creative or professional work;
- a teaching dossier and results of teaching evaluations when available; and
- names of three individuals who may be contacted for references (no need to provide letters of reference at the time of application).
Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority, in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations.
Contacts
Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to the DHC Chair Dr. Raktim Mitra at raktim.mitra@torontomu.ca.
For any confidential accommodation needs in order to participate in the recruitment and selection process and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Faculty Recruitment Portal, please contact vpfa@torontomu.ca.
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