Assistant Professor of City & Regional Planning

Cal Poly • San Luis, CA

26d • $89,000 - $94,000

About The Position

The City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly seeks a full-time, academic year, tenure-track Assistant Professor with demonstrated expertise in housing policy, planning, and development, with a focus on affordability and equity. We welcome candidates whose teaching, research, and professional work address the critical challenges of housing access, affordability, and sustainability across diverse communities. We are particularly interested in candidates whose interdisciplinary approaches connect housing to related issues such as real estate development, transit-oriented development, climate resilience, community development, social justice, and neighborhood design. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, mentor students, and engage in community-based and applied research that advances affordable housing solutions at regional and national scales. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strength in some of the following areas: Housing policy and finance Community and neighborhood planning Form-based and spatial planning Real estate development and feasibility analysis Quantitative or qualitative research methods Geospatial analysis and data visualization Service learning and community engagement Teaching responsibilities include both studio (laboratory) and lecture courses. The faculty member will be expected to contribute to service learning, particularly through partnerships with Central California communities and the broader region.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. in planning or closely related discipline such as economics, public policy, real estate development, sociology, or geography is required. ABD candidates may be considered but must provide proof that doctorate was awarded before or by the start of appointment.
• The candidate must possess professional experience in the field of community planning and development, have excellent oral and written communication skills and research/practice interests.
• The candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively, work cooperatively with students, faculty, staff, and administrators from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, conduct themselves professionally, and perform appropriate service functions at the department, college, and university level.

Nice To Haves

• Preference will be given to candidates with a degree in urban planning and teaching and experience in specific areas of program need.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses
• Mentor students
• Engage in community-based and applied research that advances affordable housing solutions at regional and national scales
• Contribute to service learning, particularly through partnerships with Central California communities and the broader region.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees