Seeking Expressions of Interest: IG Leadership Team, Start Date August 1, 2021

Intersections of Gender (IG) is one of five Signature Areas of Research and Teaching at the University of Alberta. We are inviting expressions of interest from continuing faculty members at the University of Alberta to become part of the leadership team at IG (start date August 1, 2021). Please see below for descriptions of the duties of the current position as well as required qualifications. Continuing faculty at the University of Alberta interested in being considered for this position are invited to submit a letter of interest together with their CV to the selection committee by July 12, 2021 via email to intersectionsofgender@ualberta.ca. Please include the subject line “Call for Interest - ‘Your Name’.”

Intersections of Gender foregrounds an intersectional approach to knowledge production that connects researchers and teachers from across all fields and Faculties at the University of Alberta. Drawing on the concept of intersectionality as articulated by Black feminists, IG centres multi-factoral and minoritized, particularly racialized and feminist, approaches to scholarship and pedagogy. We support scholars and students whose work is informed by insights developed in fields such as Indigenous studies, critical race studies, queer theory, feminist theory, post-colonial studies, transgender theory, and disability studies. IG thus amplifies approaches to knowledge production across the university that intervene in the reproductions of settler colonialism, anti-Indigeneity, anti-Black racism, heteropatriarchy, transphobia, ableism, classism, and homophobia - ideological infrastructures with long histories and variable articulations that reach into our present moment almost daily and often violently. The work of IG-aligned scholars has never been more urgent and is central to the UofA’s mission to operate “for the public good.” It is precisely in the context of knowledge production and mobilization at a university like ours that we have the opportunity to challenge, rather than accept as given, the inequitable, sometimes pernicious, structures of belonging, knowing, and relating that define our social, learning, and research worlds.  

Intersections of Gender welcomes expressions of interest from colleagues who are keen to provide leadership in keeping with the intersectional commitments articulated above. 

In keeping with university policy, IG broadly aligns itself with the University of Alberta’s commitment to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. And, we particularly encourage  expressions of interest from women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply. 

The successful candidate(s) will be partially seconded to the Signature Area for the duration of the appointment. The term of appointment being offered is between two and three years.  

We have linked to position descriptions of both the Director and Associate Director below in order that you may understand the roles and responsibilities that have thus far governed the leadership work of the Signature Area. There are, however, possibilities for change and fresh ideas from new members of the leadership team. 

IG is open, for instance, to arrangements that could include co-leadership (where leadership is shared equally) or leadership team proposals from colleagues who share a vision they would like to implement together for the Signature Area. The current director is willing to continue on as a member of the leadership team, but is also prepared to transition to a co-leadership model, to step back into an Associate Director role, or to step away entirely to allow a new leadership team to emerge. If you have questions about any of these options, feel free to contact IG Director, Nat Hurley to discuss them (nhurley@ualberta.ca). Please indicate your preference of leadership model and the position for which you are applying in this model in your letter of application.

A Note on the Strategic Plan and 2021-22 planning: While the Signature Area has considerable room for the pursuit of the new team’s research vision (as indicated above), it seems also fair to alert prospective candidates that a 5-year plan for IG was developed and approved at the SA’s inception. A 2021-22 plan and budget have also been approved, though there is room for adjustments to align with new leadership’s ideas. The strategic plan is entering year 3 and requires that the leadership team attend to matters of governance and infrastructure-building. (If you would like to review the business plan documents in advance of applying, please contact intersectionsofgender@ualberta.ca and we can share it with you.) In addition to continuing to build research capacity in intersectional methodologies and gender+-based analysis, the team’s responsibilities will include formalizing the IG governance structure, fundraising, and continuing the ongoing partnerships that have been established locally, nationally, and internationally.

For this description and the current position outlines, please click here.