Researcher in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development
Company Name Vancouver Island University Company Location British Columbia, Canada
Job description
Work where you matter. Vancouver Island University is an amazing place of opportunity and we invite applications for an exceptional, emerging researcher to assume the position of BC Regional Innovation Chair (BCRIC) in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development.
Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Management, this endowed innovation chair position, established in 2008 and approved through the BC Innovation Council, provides a unique opportunity for an innovative leader who is acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to demonstrate world-class research leadership.
VIU is a special purpose teaching university with a complementary research agenda and a mandate to support the well-being of the people of Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia by promoting a high quality of life for their communities through commitment to student success, community engagement and associated scholarship.
The institution values, promotes and facilitates respectful engagement and the co-creation of knowledge with indigenous communities. This position aligns with two research strengths in the strategic research plan including: 1) resilience of island, coastal and rural regions and 2) entrepreneurship, innovation and social change.
The mandate of the BCRIC is to provide leadership, innovation and support for the aspirations of rural, remote and aboriginal communities throughout the province of BC with respect to tourism development.
The Chair provides this support by leading research projects, engaging in partnerships and collaboration on initiatives, providing evidence and input on policy and program development, identifying and mobilizing innovative solutions to pressing rural challenges, and developing capacity in rural development, sustainability and tourism in the rural BC ecosystem.
The BCRIC will work across disciplines at VIU and develop and maintain a strong network of researchers across BC, Canada and in the international context. An advisory committee, comprised of members from external stakeholders from government, industry and university will support the successful BCRIC to identify research opportunities and provide ongoing guidance on initiatives. The Chair is expected to actively recruit, train and supervise undergraduate and graduate researchers to cultivate research capacity.
Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Management, this position provides 75% of time to achieve the research mandate of the Chair and 25% (equivalent to 2 courses of approximately 34 students) for teaching within the Faculty of Management, primarily in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Recreation and Tourism Management. It is envisioned that this Chair will also contribute to VIU Master's degrees, particularly to the Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management, or to the development of new Master's degrees as appropriate within the Academic Plan, and other inter- or multi-disciplinary initiatives.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Faculty at VIU have developed close relationships with several community and industry partners. Depending on the area of the candidates research focus, opportunities to collaborate exist within the Faculty of Management and across the institution. Significant opportunities exist for collaboration the network of scholars in the World Leisure Center of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation and with the Canada Research Chair in Wellbeing, Sustainability and Resilient Communities, both of which are situated in the Faculty of Management. VIU has Elders-in-Residence to facilitate relationship building with local First Nations communities. The department of Recreation and Tourism offers a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree and a Masters of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management. These programs provide opportunities for research collaboration with over 250 undergraduate and graduate students.
The qualifications for BCRIC in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development include a doctoral degree from an appropriately accredited institution (ABD may be considered in combination with extensive practical experience) and a demonstrated excellence and leadership in sustainable tourism development in rural areas.
Our BCRIC in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development will demonstrate a proven track record in:
- Assembling and leading research projects and teams,
- Designing and using of relevant, innovative and important research approaches and outputs,
- Obtaining and managing external funding (Tri-Council, government and industry contracts) in the Post-secondary environment,
- Mobilizing knowledge to academic and non-academic audiences with impact,
- Building relationships and working effectively with communities/government/industry locally, regionally, and provincially,
- Developing or working with research networks and engaging in collaborative research initiatives,
- Providing leadership in relevant professional organizations and provincial or national recognition for her/his body of work.
- Teaching at the post-secondary level and supervision of graduate students.
- Training students in research and have the potential to attract excellent students and future researchers as well as research funding.
View the full job description online and apply by January 31, 2018:
