The Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus is recruiting an outstanding researcher in Natural Resources Governance. The successful candidate is expected to be eligible for a full-time appointment at UBC at the rank of Professor, or the rank of Associate Professor with a demonstrated trajectory toward promotion to Professor within one to two years of nomination.
The successful appointee will be nominated for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC). The CERC program, Canada’s highest research chair appointment, is designed to attract world-renowned researchers and their teams to Canada.
The appointment presents a unique opportunity for leading research focused on developing, implementing, and maintaining a research program in natural resources governance capable of advancing multiple sustainable development priorities. The successful applicant will establish a comprehensive research program with potential areas of research including non-state market-driven governance; global sustainability governance; transnational business regulation; corporate social responsibility; and public policy related to natural resources. They will be expected to build a research team; supervise graduate students; teach undergraduate/graduate courses; and obtain external research funding. They are also expected to play a central role in the creation of a new forest economics and policy centre at the Faculty of Forestry.
The UBC Faculty of Forestry is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. As part of ongoing and University-wide efforts, the Faculty of Forestry is committed to taking action towards meaningful reconciliation. The UBC Faculty of Forestry is one of the world’s leading academic institutions in forestry, conducting both national and international research, and providing undergraduate and graduate education encompassing Forest Resources Management, Forest Operations, Urban Forestry, Forest Science, Natural Resources Conservation, Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology, and Wood Products Processing. The successful applicant will be an essential part of the Faculty and contribute to the undergraduate and graduate programs. The Faculty of Forestry hosts several important research chairs, including Canada Research Chairs and Canada Excellence Research Chairs, who together comprise a cohort of leading international scholars in their respective fields.
The most established and influential global rankings, all consistently place UBC in the top five per cent of universities in the world. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE 2025) places UBC 41 in the world (2nd in Canada). The Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2024) places UBC 47 (2nd in Canada). The QS World University Rankings (QS 2025) places UBC 38 in the world (3rd In Canada). UBC is a renowned global centre for teaching, learning and research. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with the curiosity, drive and vision to shape a better world. Today, our students, faculty and staff come from around the world and our international research partnerships and publications enable us to collaborate on a global scale. UBC is proud to nurture and transform the lives of more than 70,000 students from Canada and 140+ countries around the world.
REQUIREMENTS
As a faculty member and CERC holder, the successful candidate will be expected to lead a strong, externally–funded research program, supervise postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, collaborate with other faculty members, and actively participate in service to the Department, University, and academic/scientific community.
In addition to the above, candidates must:
- Have a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, a UBC requirement.
- Be currently appointed as a full professor or associate professor, expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, candidates from outside the academic sector must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.
- Be internationally recognized as a leader of an interdisciplinary research program in natural resources governance.
- Have a strong commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic settings.
- Have a proven track record of co-creating research with partners from all sectors (academic, public, private, not-for-profit, philanthropic, and Indigenous Peoples and communities).
- Have demonstrated leadership in teaching that is creative and innovative.
- Have demonstrated experience communicating the impact of their research to the public.
The successful applicant will be nominated for a CERC, which if successful, will provide funding in the amount of $500,000 per year for eight years. The CERC nomination is subject to review and final approval by the CERC Secretariat. Upon receiving a CERC, an applicant is expected to maintain primary affiliation with the host institution for the duration of the award. Recruitment at UBC is conditional on securing CERC funding and the Faculty of Forestry will support the candidate in preparing the CERC application.
Program nominees are not restricted by their nationality or their country of residence. Non-Canadian Chairholders may work in Canada under the procedures outlined by Employment and Social Development Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In some cases, a work permit may be expedited.
UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID-19 impacts) can have on research achievement and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how career interruptions and personal circumstances have had an impact on their careers.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit a complete application via UBC Workday JR21414 by September 1, 2025.
The desired start date is July 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The selected candidate will be required to prepare a CERC Registration package by January 12, 2026, and a complete application package by UBC’s internal deadline of March 1, 2026.
Applications must include:
- a cover letter that briefly summarizes their skills as relevant to this position description;
- a detailed curriculum vitae;
- a research statement (2-3 pages);
- a statement of teaching philosophy with evidence of potential for effective teaching (1-2 pages);
- an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) statement (1-2 pages); and
- the names and contact information of three references.
The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 to $180,000 for associate level and $250,000 to $280,000 for full professor level. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to final budgetary approval. Competitive start-up packages, relocation, housing assistance will be provided. Additional infrastructure funds may be available subject to review.
The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, non-discriminatory, and accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. UBC is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. Within this hiring process, we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates.
If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca. Job applicants requiring confidential accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact Joanne.Dean@ubc.ca, Administrative Manager, Department of Forest Resources Management.
If you have specific questions about the application process, please contact the Chair of the Selection Committee c/o Joanne.Dean@ubc.ca.
UBC hires based on merit and is committed to employment equity. 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.
We encourage applicants to complete a voluntary employment equity survey (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cUvl7PKtt6aSW6W) in alignment with the institution’s commitment to creating an equitable and diverse environment that fosters academic excellence. Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a), 26(c), and 26(e) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Equity & Inclusion Office will collect data, and all responses