Part-time Sessional Lecturer in Bachelor in Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) program Part-time

Part-time Sessional Lecturer in Bachelor in Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) Program

The Department of Forest Resources Management (Nicholas Charles Coops) at the UBC Vancouver campus is seeking to hire part-time sessional lecturers in the new Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) program. This is an interdisciplinary, four-year undergraduate program created to prepare students to design and implement comprehensive land stewardship systems that are grounded in Indigenous earth-based land ethics – systems that can operate in complex dynamic environmental systems, and inter-governmental environments to foster our next generation of land stewards.

The program includes innovative and diverse courses in areas such as Indigenous ways of knowing, ecology, law and governance, economics, communication, business management, research and data management methods, and community capacity building.

The majority of the courses in the program are multi-access — offered in-person and online — with mandatory in-person attendance for three field courses that occur at the beginning of years 1, 2 and 3.

The successful candidates will deliver core lectures in-person or online; coordinate with guest lecturers; organize and run lab sections if required; develop tests and assignments; mid-term exams, and grading; and hold office hours weekly.

In-person teaching would happen at UBC Vancouver campus; and online teaching would only be possible should the successful candidate reside in Canada during the duration of the course. For non-Canadian/Permanent residents, you will be responsible for ensuring that you are legally entitled, pursuant to Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC)'s requirements, to work at UBC.

TERM 1

ILS 100 – Indigenous Views of Landscapes (3 credits)

Introduction to Indigenous people's interpretation of landscape and worldview. Learning from knowledge keepers, the course covers culturally significant places, place names, ceremonies, berry picking, medicines, fishing, and hunting.

In-person offering – Sept to Dec 2026

ILS 102 – Community Engagement: Principles, Practices and Protocols (3 credits) – co-taught (50%)

Introduction to working and professionalism in cross-cultural contexts, with a focus on Indigenous governments and the importance of organizational values, cultural practices and protocols, consensus-based decision-making, principles of engagement, conflict resolution and political dynamics.

Multi-access offering Sept to Dec 2026

ILS 200 – Field Measurements (3 credits)

Introduction to different techniques commonly used in field surveys, including assessments of landforms, soils, vegetation patterns and cultural features. This is a one-week field school to be held in late Sept/early October at UBC Forestry's Malcolm Knapp Research Forest.

In-person offering – Late Sept to early Oct, 2026

ILS 300 – Interventions on the Land (3 credits)

Interventions on the land, drawing from Indigenous and western perspectives. Topics covered include problem diagnostics and the design and implementation of holistic interventions. This is a one-week field school to be held in late Sept/early October at UBC Forestry's Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) in Williams Lake.

In-person offering – Sept to early Oct, 2026

TERM 2

ILS 108 – Plant Identification and Dendrology (3 credits)

Introduction to structure, diversity and development of trees and other plants, drawing from Indigenous and western knowledge systems.

Multi-access offering – Jan to April, 2027

ILS 304 – Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management (3 credits)

Wildlife conservation and management principles from Indigenous and western perspectives. Topics include the nexus between wildlife populations and healthy environments and wildlife habitat and other landscape needs.

Multi-access offering – Jan to April, 2027

Applicants should apply via UBC Workday. Applications should include a cover letter, a CV and the names and email addresses of three employment references. Please indicate in your cover letter which courses you are applying for.

Review of applications will begin March 16th, 2026, and continue until the positions are filled.

Questions about the positions may be directed to Dr. Carlos Ormond, Program Director, Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship Carlos.ormond@ubc.ca.

All positions are subject to enrolment, funding and will be governed by UBC's Agreement on Conditions of Appointment for Sessional and Part-time Faculty Members.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process, we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates. Accessibility requests or other accommodations are available on request for all applicants. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact the Faculty of Forestry Associate Dean Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Hisham Zerriffi Hisham.Zerriffi@ubc.ca.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.