Canine Training and Management Assistant Professor (Fall 2026 Start) - SUNY Cobleskill

State University of New York at Cobleskill•Cobleskill, NY

35d•$55,000 - $60,000

About The Position

The Canine Program, housed within the Behavioral and Health Studies Department at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech, seeks a talented and innovative faculty member to join our instructional team. The Canine Program enrolls over 200 students and offers hands-on coursework with dogs in our Bachelors of Technology in Canine Training and Management degree. This program has shown strong growth over the past several years, which has opened the opportunity for the addition of a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor of Canine Training and Management. Faculty, staff, and students in the Canine Program must adhere to, demonstrate, and encourage philosophies and training methods consistent with LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principles. Additionally, the program works with community-sourced dogs to deliver hands-on, experiential learning to students. These dogs are dropped off and picked up daily at our on-campus kennel, which is run by kennel managers and students throughout the day. The successful candidate may be required to teach courses including, but not limited to: Canine Training, Canine Detection, Canine Conservation Detection, Canine Area Search. The successful candidate will be strongly encouraged to create and teach courses related to their expertise and the growing needs of the students in the program and will have the opportunity to contribute to the future direction and curriculum of the program. There is an expectation to teach 24-26 contact hours per academic year. Teaching assignments may require teaching day, evening and/or Saturday classes as needed. Candidates should also be prepared to teach in a variety of modalities, including in-person, online, hybrid, and remote formats. In addition to teaching, responsibilities include academic advisement, committee participation, curricular activities, including career-focused microcredential curriculum development, and scholarly activities such as research, grantsmanship, scholarship, mentorship of undergraduate researchers, and professional development that supports excellence in teaching. Faculty are expected to participate in assessment and other quality improvement initiatives that benefit the college, our students, the community and the discipline.

Requirements

Master's degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, Psychology, Animal Behavior, Animal Science or related field
Three or more years of experience in canine training in any relevant capacity

Nice To Haves

PhD or advanced ABD in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, Psychology, Animal Behavior, Animal Science or related field
Five or more years of experience in canine training in any relevant capacity
Experience as a detection dog handler in any capacity
Experience in mentoring undergraduate students

Responsibilities

Teach courses including, but not limited to: Canine Training, Canine Detection, Canine Conservation Detection, Canine Area Search.
Create and teach courses related to their expertise and the growing needs of the students in the program
Contribute to the future direction and curriculum of the program.
Teach 24-26 contact hours per academic year.
Academic advisement
Committee participation
Curricular activities, including career-focused microcredential curriculum development
Scholarly activities such as research, grantsmanship, scholarship, mentorship of undergraduate researchers, and professional development that supports excellence in teaching.
Participate in assessment and other quality improvement initiatives