Assistant Professor Of City & Regional Planning

The City and Regional Planning Department seeks a candidate with a demonstrated background in urban design and/or community-based learning, combined with professional experience in a planning related field. The candidate will contribute to providing an interdisciplinary professional planning education based on a learn-by-doing approach, community outreach, and applied research to help communities aspire for better, livable places. This faculty member will teach studios and lecture courses, contribute to service learning, specifically for the California Central Coast communities and region. We invite candidates whose work or research advances equity through urban design or community planning and who demonstrate potential as teacher-scholars in applied research. Areas of focus may include housing, gentrification, cultural preservation, public health, mobility, or hazard mitigation.

As the program prepares students for professional careers in meeting the needs of society the candidate shall demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas: urban design, community engagement, over-the-board and computer-assisted graphic communication, geospatial data analysis, data visualization, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
The College of Architecture & Environmental Design at Cal Poly is committed to building a diverse faculty of teacher-scholars who collaborate to provide a multidisciplinary and hands-on approach to student learning and applied research. We believe that individuals from diverse backgrounds strengthen our programs and positively impact student success. We encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for consideration.
Salary commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Anticipated hiring range: $89,000 – $94,000 per year.
The position start date is September 11, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
A Ph.D. in planning or closely related discipline such as architecture and landscape architecture is required. ABD candidates may be considered but must provide proof that doctorate was awarded before or by the start of appointment. The candidate must possess professional experience in the field of planning or urban design, have excellent oral and written communication skills and research/practice interests.
The candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively, work cooperatively with students, faculty, staff, and administrators from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, conduct themselves professionally, perform appropriate service functions at the department, college, and university level and have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to candidates with a degree in urban planning and teaching and experience in specific areas of program need.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The City and Regional Planning Department (CRP) promotes sustainable and diverse communities within cultural and human systems. We provide an interdisciplinary professional planning education based on a learn-by-doing approach, community outreach, and applied research to help communities aspire for better, livable places.
City & Regional Planning (CRP) at Cal Poly is an integral part of the nationally recognized five department College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is one of only five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation. It has approximately 21,000 undergraduate, 800 post-baccalaureate/graduate students. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master's universities in the western United States for 26 consecutive years. A primarily undergraduate university, Cal Poly offers academically focused students 65 baccalaureate degrees and 39 master's degrees. Operating on the quarter calendar system, Cal Poly takes pride in its "Learn by Doing" approach to teaching and learning, which has characterized Cal Poly since its founding. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University system, Cal Poly has a statewide mandate as a polytechnic university. Situated on 1,321 acres, 155 of which make up the campus core, Cal Poly is one of the largest land-holding universities in the nation and uses all of its land holdings in active support of its educational programs.
Cal Poly is located in historic San Luis Obispo, a city of 47,500, just twelve miles from the Pacific Ocean and midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's scenic Central Coast. With excellent public education resources, recreational facilities and an expanding dedication to the arts, the area is known for its scenic landscapes, extraordinary temperate climate, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from diverse backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates must attach (1) a cover letter (2) resume/curriculum vitae, (3) statement of approach to working with individuals from diverse backgrounds (4) statement of teaching philosophy, (5) research plan, (6) unofficial transcripts, and (7) syllabi examples and documentation of teaching excellence (optional). Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. Official transcripts will be required prior to appointment. Review of applications will begin December 9, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.