Assistant Professor - Higher Education Governance and Policy

Date Posted: 10/27/2026
Closing Date: 12/17/2026, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 50472
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Department: Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in higher education governance and policy. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must have earned a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in Higher Education or a closely related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching in higher education governance and policy. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance existing strengths in LHAE’s Higher Education program. Candidates must demonstrate research excellence in higher education, with expertise in governance, evidenced by an established or emerging program of relevant research. Areas of expertise must include one or more of the following:

• Federal and provincial government regulation, oversight, and sectoral coordination
• Institutional governance, governing boards, board-administration relations
• Higher education policy actors, stakeholder groups, and regulatory bodies
• Indigenous postsecondary governance, policy, and institutions

Expertise in Canadian higher education and/or comparative higher education policy will be considered assets.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated through a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications that meet high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (including the required materials outlined below), and strong letters of reference.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. In addition, the successful candidate will be assigned a teaching and service load which includes teaching in the Higher Education program (including Governance in Higher Education, Politics of Higher Education, and related courses), supervising and mentoring master’s and doctoral students, and contributing to the scholarly community and service work of the program, the Department, OISE, and the University as a whole.

HIRING SALARY RANGE

The expected salary range is $120,000 to $160,000 CAD per annum, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

ABOUT US

The Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education offers graduate programs in Educational Leadership and Policy, Higher Education and Adult Education and Community Development. For more information, please visit the web pages of LHAE at http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/lhae.

The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education has, for more than a century, made major contributions to advancing education, human development and professional practice around the world. OISE is consistently ranked among the top 10 institutions in the world for the subject of Education by the QS World University Rankings. With a network of approximately 100,000 alumni, over 3,000 students, 4 graduate departments, and 18 research centres, ours is an intellectually rich and supportive community, guided by the highest standards of scholarship and a commitment to equity and social justice. For more information, please visit OISE’s website at https://www.oise.utoronto.ca.

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest and most research-intensive university and the only Canadian university to be ranked among the top 25 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse cities, the University of Toronto's vibrant academic life is enhanced by the cultural diversity of its own and surrounding community.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by Thursday, December 17, 2026, 11:59pm EST.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. Applicants must submit the following materials:

1. a cover letter;
2. a current curriculum vitae;
3. a research statement outlining current and future research interests;
4. three recent or forthcoming publications;
5. a teaching dossier, including

• • a teaching statement,
  • sample course materials, and
  • representative teaching evaluations; and

1. the name and contact information of three references

The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee within 48 hours of an application being submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. Submission guidelines and details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact [email protected].

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

Indigenous Substantiation
The University of Toronto has implemented a process to substantiate Indigenous Membership/Citizenship/Enrolment for those candidates who identify as Indigenous. For more information regarding the University's Indigenous Substantiation Process, please refer to: Indigenous Substantiation Website.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected].