Urban Economic Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Associate/Professor - Urban Planning and Policy
Hiring Department: Urban Planning and Policy
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1041907
Posting Close Date: 8/21/26
Salary: The budgeted salaryrange for the position is $120,000 to $160,000.
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
The Department of Urban Planning and Policy in the College of Urban Planning and PublicAffairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) plans to hire a tenuredfaculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. Candidatesmust have an earned PhD in urban planning or a closely related field and havean academic profile commensurate with a tenured faculty line. Successfulcandidates will teach a 2:2 load each academic year.
TheDepartment of Urban Planning and Policy currently offers an undergraduateprogram (B.A.) in Urban Studies, and three graduate degrees: the Master inUrban Planning and Policy (MUPP), the Master in City Design, and the Ph.D. inUrban Planning and Policy. Established 51 years ago and comprising fivespecializations - community development, economic development, environmentalplanning and policy, spatial planning, and urban transportation - our MUPPprogram is one of the largest planning programs in North America. The selectedcandidate will teach in the department's undergraduate and graduate programsand is expected to develop a research agenda that advances the department'smission to critically address contemporary urban challenges and reduce socialand spatial inequities.
TheCollege of Urban Planning and Public Affairs was created in 1995 as part ofUIC's Great Cities Initiative. In addition to UPP, the college houses theDepartment of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics, as well as sevenresearch centers: the Center for Urban Economic Development, the GovernmentFinance Research Center, the Great Cities Institute, the Institute for Policyand Civic Engagement, the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, theUrban Transportation Center, and the Voorhees Center for Neighborhood andCommunity Improvement.
Position Summary
We seek a scholarwhose research and teaching critically engages with community development andimmigration in U.S. urban regions. The successful candidate will contribute toadvancing equitable, community-engaged planning practices that support immigrantand migrant communities and address the social, spatial, and institutionalchallenges they face. We are particularly interested in candidates whose workfocuses on one or more of the following areas:
Community development and immigrant integration: Including immigrant-serving organizations, neighborhood-based initiatives, migrant civil society, mutual aid networks, and grassroots forms of community building and governance.
Housing, health, and social service interventions: Focusing on access to and delivery of housing, public health, and/or social services in immigrant communities, including innovative or community-led service models responding to inequality, informality, and precarity.
Informal economies and urban livelihoods: Including a focus on informal activities such as street vending, day labor, and other livelihood strategies, as well as planning and policy responses to support economic inclusion and worker protections.
Policing, enforcement, and community response: Including research on immigrant communities' interactions with systems of policing, immigration enforcement, and surveillance, as well as community-based strategies of resistance, protection, and advocacy.
Duties & Responsibilities

Teach in the department's graduate and undergraduate programs with a typical teaching load of 2:2 per academic year.

Develop a research program that makes an identifiable contribution to the study of urban planning, urban studies, or a related subfield.

Participate in departmental governance and conduct service and outreach that advances the mission of the department, the college, and the university.

Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in urban planning or a closely related field such as geography, public policy, or urban studies.
• Be eligible for appointment at the rank of tenured Associate Professor or Professor according to UIC norms.
• Evidence of significant scholarly contributions commensurate with a tenured faculty position.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching, including knowledge of inclusive and active teaching practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of contemporary urban planning, urban studies, or related subfields, including major trends and debates in history, theory, and practice. A focus on the U.S. is preferred, but we will also consider candidates with expertise in other world regions.
• A research profile that includes refereed publications in high-impact journals, presentations at national and international conferences and workshops, and success in securing competitive research funding.
• Demonstrated experience using innovative approaches to teaching in alternative formats including community-engaged studios, workshops, and capstones at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Experience in community-based, participatory, or advocacy research that addresses the needs of diverse, urban communities.
• Practical professional experience in the fields of urban planning and policy or subfields such as community development.

ApplicationProcedure
For fullconsideration, please apply by August 21, 2026 via the UIC application system:https://jobs.uic.edu (Job ID # 1041907). Acompleted on-line application and the following attachments are required forconsideration: a cover letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume, andcontact information including email addresses ofthree references. For questions about the position, please contact DepartmentHead Dr. Philip Ashton (pashton@uic.edu). Review of applications will beginon August 24, 2026 and will continueuntil the position is filled.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.