Assistant Professor, Empowerment, Equity, and Ethics in Early Childhood Education

Assistant Professor, Empowerment, Equity, and Ethics in Early Childhood Education (Probationary, Tenure Track)

About Brock University  

The Brock University experience is second to none in Canada. Located in historic Niagara region, Brock offers all the benefits of a young and modern university in a safe, community-minded city, with beautiful natural surroundings. With over 18,000 students and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in seven diverse Faculties, Brock excels at providing exceptional experiential learning opportunities and highly rated student and campus life experiences. 

Our Geography 

Brock University’s main campus is situated atop the Niagara Escarpment, within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, overlooking the city of St. Catharines, in the heart of Niagara wine country. The Niagara region is dotted with landmarks that recognize our nation’s history and features breathtaking natural beauty and world-famous attractions. St. Catharines is home to vibrant arts and entertainment venues, and is a short drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo, New York. With one of the warmest climates in Canada, clean, safe communities, and surprisingly affordable real estate, Niagara is an exceptional location to call home. 

What we Offer  

Brock University offers competitive salary and benefits and ample support for research and sabbaticals. Research resources include; conference support, start-up funding, subscriptions to major databases and access to various research funding vehicles.  For candidates considering relocation, moving expenses will be administered according to the Faculty Association Collective Agreement.

About the Department

The Department of Educational Studies is housed within the Faculty of Education. In our department, we see learning as a force of positive change that builds civil, progressive societies. Our department houses multiple programs (i.e, Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Teacher Education, Indigenous Adult Education, Master of Education, Joint PhD Educational Studies, etc.), that are built on principles that respect differences, advance social justice, and expand global and community awareness. We strive to create a learning environment where our students gain the skills they need to have maximum impact on the lives of their students and the communities they serve after they graduate. They explore critical issues in education and have garnered national and international attention. We’re leaders in emerging technology that advances teaching and student learning in the classroom.

In an effort to create an accessible, collaborative, and inspirational learning environment, we offer programs at our two campuses (St. Catharines and Burlington), at various sites throughout Ontario, and online.

About the Position  

In the Faculty of Education, the successful candidate will be expected to teach within the online and asynchronous Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (B.ECE) Honours degree program.

The Faculty of Education invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Educational Studies, teaching within the online and asynchronous Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (B.ECE) Honours degree program at the rank of Assistant Professor. The appointment, subject to budgetary approval, will commence July 1, 2026.

Required Qualifications

The following qualifications are required for this position:

• Hold a PhD in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field (e.g., Child, Youth & Family Studies, Child Development, & Human Development, etc.), or in an equity-related social science discipline grounded in early years populations (e.g., Equity Studies, Social Justice Education, Sociology of Education, Critical Studies in Education, etc.). Applicants may also be doctoral candidates nearing completion and in final stages (see Note 1) or hold Ph.D. equivalency for Indigenous knowledge (see Note 2)

• Note 1: While we welcome applications from doctoral candidates who are nearing completion, the successful applicant must have completed a doctoral degree in a relevant field by the start date of the appointment (July 1, 2026).
• Note 2: In determining a Ph.D. equivalency for Indigenous knowledge, consideration shall be given, but not limited to, the level of knowledge of the language and/or traditional customs including protocols, spirituality, traditions, practices, ceremonies, histories, and teachings of a particular group of Indigenous people or Peoples. This knowledge may have been acquired through lived experience; active and lengthy participation in Indigenous forms of self-determination and governance, cultural structures, and processes; and/or a careful study and reflection of their philosophical underpinnings. In many cases, acquiring this knowledge will have involved studying with an Indigenous Elder(s) or Traditional Knowledge Carrier/Keeper(s).
• Professional experience in Early Childhood Education (birth-eight years).
• Demonstrated commitment to ensuring decolonizing, reconciliation, anti-racist, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, social and ecological justice issues within ECE through course design, research endeavours, and/or teaching approaches.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding and ability to theorize, develop pedagogies, and mobilize knowledge of critical and contemporary issues around equity, social justice, structural power, ethics, and respect within ECE (e.g., racism, xenophobia, colonialism, reconciliation, gender equity, and other social oppression in society).
• Research and/or teaching specializations in this area of Empowerment, Equity, and Ethics in Early Childhood Education. This can include, but is not limited to: bias and discrimination; Indigenous Peoples and cultures in the context of early childhood education; access to quality education and care; equity in curriculum and pedagogy; cultural responsiveness and respect; ethical responsibility of educators to children, families, and community; the role of policy in promoting ethical and equitable practices; combatting structural power issues; AI use in the context of ECE; equitable technology, ethics and data privacy, etc.
• Teaching experience at the post-secondary level.
• Evidence of potential to contribute to academic knowledge and research mobilization within the field of ECE.

Preferred Qualifications

The preferred candidate will have demonstrated:

• Proficiency in delivering instruction in online, asynchronous environments.
• Extensive knowledge of research, theories, practices, and national and international policies underpinning ECE
• Commitment to advancing the field of ECE through the promotion of innovative research, theories, and practices.
• Connections with local, national, and/or international ECE communities at the scholarly, governmental, and/or industry levels.

To Apply

Applicants are required to submit the following files:

• This completed narrative style CV template in .pdf format link found here: Narrative CV Template
• A writing sample related to your teaching and/or research in .pdf format
• Names and contact information (email address, phone number) for three references in .pdf format. Only references of shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Files are to be submitted via the Workday online application system (Note: file maximum of 5MB per attachment upload) by the closing date.

The closing date for applications is March 12, 2026 at 12:01am. The final full day to apply is March 11, 2026. Inquiries should be directed to Wanda Burger, Executive Assistant, foedean@brocku.ca.

The target hiring range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 per annum. The final salary will be determined based on relevant experience, internal equity and budget considerations.

This ad is for an existing position in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) bargaining unit. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. 

Applications can be submitted at the following link: https://brocku.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/brocku_careers/job/St-Catharines-Main-Campus/Assistant-Professor–Empowerment–Equity–and-Ethics-in-Early-Childhood-Education–Probationary–Tenure-Track-_JR-1022788

Our Commitment

Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of employment equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. Women, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) peoples, Black people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) persons are encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a designated group as part of their application. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should fill out the Self-Identification Form and include the completed form with their application.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employment Accommodation Policy https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Accommodation-Policy.pdf. Please advise: talent@brocku.ca  to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We appreciate all applications received; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca

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