Sessional Instructor – Environmental Science

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) is a community of learning grounded in scholarship and academic freedom, preparing students to be independent thinkers, ethical leaders and citizens for the common good. CUE is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for work, study, and living. We actively promote dignity for all, rejecting action and language that are harmful to mutual respect.

CUE is situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood. Supporting a student body of over 3,000, we are known for our small class sizes and excellence in teaching. These features, and our diverse student population, provide an excellent opportunity for engaging with students in a sustained and nurturing way unique within the Canadian university system. CUE is an institution that values research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and management.

The Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental & Physical Sciences invites applications for a Sessional Instructor for the following course, for the 2026-2027 academic year:

Fall; August 27, 2026-December 18, 2026

Calendar course description: The formation, classification, composition, and conservation of soils with an emphasis on the soils of Alberta. Chemical and physical properties affecting plant growth and nutrition are studied.

Schedule:

ENSC 220AL (Lab) Thursday (14:00 - 16:50) 3 hours/week

ENSC 220CL (Lab) Thursday (09:25 - 12:15) 3 hours/week

Calendar course description: The course covers creation, analysis, and visualization of geolocated data that can enhance our understanding of the world and help us make decisions informed by spatially distributed information. Practical skills with Geographic Information System 'GIS' software to manipulate and analyze digital geospatial data, including vector and raster layers. Understanding global navigation satellite systems like GPS and remote sensing techniques and utilizing environmental data for spatial analyses.

Schedule:

ENSC 270A (Lecture) Monday (14:00 - 16:50) 3 hours/week

ENSC 270B (Lecture) Wednesday (14:00 - 16:50) 3 hours/week

Winter; January 4, 2027-April 26, 2027

Calendar course description: This course introduces the basic principles of phase I and phase II environmental site assessments 'ESAs', environmental audits 'EA' and environmental impact assessment 'EIA'. The course will also cover applicable contaminant remediation guidelines for sites under various land uses, provincial and federal lands. The environmental impact assessment component will include legislation at federal and provincial levels, biophysical impact assessments and cumulative effects assessments. Case studies of Phase I and Phase II ESAs, and EIAs will be examined.

Schedule:

ENSC 373AL (Lab) Tuesday (12:35 - 13:50) 1.5 hours/week

Course descriptions can also be found at the following link: https://concordia.ab.ca/student-services/registrar/academic-calendar/2026-2027/14-0-course-descriptions/

Note: Where the course schedule has been set, Sessional Instructors must be able to accommodate the day, and time noted for the respective course.

Please note, these opportunities are available to begin August 27, 2026.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Chair, Department of Environmental & Physical Sciences, the Sessional Instructor’s responsibilities include:

• Prepare and deliver weekly instructional lectures, assignments, and examinations relevant to the course taught;
• grade assignments and exams;
• provide constructive feedback to students, including effective individualized strategies to support student success;
• maintain regular office hours;
• work collegially as a team member with the Department and Faculty leadership, Lab Instructors, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral or master’s degree or equivalent in Earth Science, Environmental Science or a related field is required;
• excellent communication skills, both oral and written is required;
• demonstrated empathetic approach to the instructional needs and concerns of students, is required;
• proficiency with Google Email and Apps, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is preferred;
• for candidates applying to teach ENSC 270: proficiency with GIS software, ideally QGIS is preferred;
• post-secondary teaching effectiveness as demonstrated through student evaluations would be an asset;
• experience using a learning management system, such as Moodle, and familiarity with educational technologies, with an aptitude to learn other software as required, would be an asset; and
• ability to pass a clean criminal record check is required.

Interest and Applications:

For further information, interested individuals may contact Dr. Makan Golizeh, Chair, Environmental & Physical Sciences at makan.golizeh@concordia.ab.ca.

Application Packages should include:

• Curriculum vitae and cover letter.
• Official transcripts of graduate-level courses and designation confirmation.
• Letter describing teaching philosophy.
• Recent teaching evaluations, if available.
• Names and contact information of three academic and/or professional employment references.

The successful candidate must be able to pass a satisfactory Criminal Records Check and must be eligible to work in Canada.

Closing Date: Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Concordia University of Edmonton encourages applications from members of racialized groups, visible minorities, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, women, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and others who may support a diversity of perspectives at CUE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.