Part Time Urban Planning Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Title:
Associate Professor of Practice
Appointment Type:
Faculty
Job Description:
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
The Department of Urban Planning and Development at Iowa State University invites applications for the position of Associate Professor of Practice to teach community-focused undergraduate and graduate studio courses. The initial appointment for this position will be one semester with a start date of January 1, 2027, and ending on May 15, 2027. Additional teaching opportunities may be available based on departmental needs and the candidate's interests.
This is a part-time position.
Planning studios are professional experiences in the curriculum. Working in partnership with external clients, students function as a professional planning consulting team to address real-world planning topics. The instructor guides students through all phases of the planning process, including project design, applied research, stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, development of planning recommendations, and preparation of professional planning products. The studios emphasize experiential learning, collaboration, project management, professional ethics, and client communication.
The candidate will be expected to contribute meaningfully to the department's teaching mission. We are looking for individuals with strong communication skills who share our commitment to fostering excellence. Additional expectations are:

• Develop and oversee a client-based planning project in collaboration with a community partner.
• Mentor students through applied planning research, community engagement, plan development, and professional presentations.
• Supervise student project teams and foster a collaborative studio environment.
• Coordinate meetings, field visits, and communication with community partners and stakeholders.
• Evaluate student performance and provide timely feedback on individual and team work.
• Produce a high-quality professional planning product that meets client expectations and supports student learning outcomes.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in urban planning, or a closely related field.
• 10 or more years of professional planning experience in public, private, or nonprofit practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• AICP certification
• Demonstrated knowledge of planning processes, public engagement, and project management.
• Expertise in one or more planning practice areas such as comprehensive planning, housing, economic development, sustainability, resilience, transportation, land use, or community development.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and community partners.

Department/Program & College Description:
About the Department of Urban Planning and Development
The Department of Urban Planning and Development is one of only 16 accredited undergraduate planning programs in the United States, and we have an outstanding faculty who are committed to excellence in the teaching of planning at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Through the department's degree programs, students develop the skills and experience to become practicing planning professionals. Some of the major areas of expertise include:

• land-use planning and zoning
• environmental planning
• transportation planning
• site planning
• urban design

In addition, our students regularly work with communities in Iowa to understand the issues and challenges and how planners play a role in addressing them. We also undertake high-quality research on behalf of federal and state government, business, the nonprofit sector, and other funding agencies, all of which feed into the courses we teach to give our students a well-rounded foundation for their future careers.
Department Unit/Website:
For more information about our department's design program, see https://www.design.iastate.edu/academics/departments/upd/
Proposed Start Date:
January 1, 2027
Proposed End Date or Length of Term:
May 15, 2027
Number of Months Employed Per Year:
09 Month Work Period
Time Type:
Part time
Application Instructions:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to receive full consideration, applications should be received by October 1, 2026. All interested, qualified persons must apply for this position online at http://jobs.iastate.edu to Job Requisition Number R19836.
The following documents are required to be submitted in PDF format:
1) Letter of application that briefly discusses how the candidate meets each of the preferred qualifications.
2) Curriculum Vitae
3) Contact information for three references, including name, their position, email address, phone number, and other pertinent information
Direct questions to Biswa Das, Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Development, at bdas@iastate.edu.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date:
August 24, 2026
Posting Close Date:
Job Requisition Number:
R19836
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.