WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM
Kitchener, Ontario
Full-time Lecturer Limited Term Appointment
August 1, 2025 – July 30, 2026
The Faculty of Social Work (FSW) at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Kitchener location invites applications for a Limited Term Appointment (LTA) full-time faculty position in the area of micro-level social work practice commencing August 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, subject to budgetary approval. The teaching load for this position is six courses during the academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters). These courses will be taught at the graduate level and will be part of our on-campus MSW program, though the opportunity to teach online may also be available. This position is a full-time faculty position; therefore, in addition to teaching, there is an expectation that our colleague will contribute to the FSW community by serving on Faculty committees and other service areas within the FSW. There is no research or scholarship expectation associated with this position.
The FSW is located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We are working toward a stronger emphasis on decolonizing social work practice and education and hope the candidate will contribute to this journey.
The FSW offers professional social work programs at the bachelor’s (Brantford) and master’s levels and a research-focused doctoral program. We are devoted to excellence in research, creative and critical thinking, and reflexive practice. Our students learn through traditional and innovative teaching strategies. Our Indigenous Field of Study in the MSW program embraces Indigenous-based learning. We encourage students at all levels to become active citizens of an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We fulfill our mission by advancing multi-disciplinary and marginalized forms of knowledge. Our graduates are committed to constructively engaging and working toward transforming oppressive conditions and structures and promoting well-being in individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The MSW Program seeking a colleague who belongs to one or more racialized, ethnocultural groups and has lived experience of being racialized. This colleague will contribute to our courses related to micro-level practice and program development/refinement. Concerning micro-level practice courses, we are interested in applicants who have expertise in contemporary critical approaches to practice – approaches that reflect the FSW’s emphasis on anti-racism, integrative practices, empowerment, and social justice principles. Our curriculum emphasizes the integration of knowledge, theory, and practice within a framework that promotes the advancement of equity, inclusivity, reflexivity, and social justice, including the ways that lived experience of Indigenous identity, race, class, culture, gender, (dis)ability, sexual identity, and other social locations are produced and shaped by systemic, cultural, and interpersonal experiences and inequalities.
For more information about working at Laurier as well as the Faculty of Social Work, applicants are encouraged to visit the institution’s web pages:
https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-social-work/index.html; https://students.wlu.ca/programs/social-work/msw/course-offerings.html.
Responsibilities
• Primarily teach in the full-time MSW (on-campus) graduate program.
• Teach a maximum of six MSW courses as assigned by the Dean.
• Attend on-campus meetings, office hours and in-person teaching.
• Serve on Laurier FSW and MSW Committees assigned by the Dean.
• Participate in events hosted by the MSW program and the FSW.
Qualifications
The successful applicant will (1) hold a graduate degree, with at least one degree in social work, (2) have a minimum of five years of clinical practice experience with individuals, families and groups, (3) have clinical teaching experience in social work, in particular campus-based classes, though experience teaching online is also an asset, and 4) belong to one or more racialized, ethnocultural groups and has lived experience of being racialized. A completed or nearly completed PhD is also an asset.
Applicants for the position(s) are required to submit the following:
(1) a letter of application highlighting accomplishments and strengths in relation to the position description and requirements, as well as a list of MSW courses the applicant could teach given their teaching interests and expertise;
(2) their curriculum vitae;
(3) details (name, position title, organization) and contact information (telephone and email address) for two referees;
(4) a teaching dossier consisting of a 1-2 page teaching philosophy, two sample course syllabi (please note if developed by the applicant), three years of raw teaching evaluations, including contextual information (e.g., scale interpretation, average score at the candidate’s university), and any other evidence of teaching excellence the candidate wishes to supply; and
(5) a one-page statement about how the applicant’s personal identity(ies), commitment, and
actions seeking to promote DEI are reflected in their teaching/pedagogy, practice, and
service.
Submission
Submit the application package through this job portal by clicking on the APPLY NOW button (top right, bottom right). The full application package should also be sent to [email protected] no later than the deadline.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm (EST), May 15, 2025.
Diversity and creating a culture of inclusion is a key pillar of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Strategic Academic Plan and is one of Laurier’s core values. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any sexual identities and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programming at Laurier are welcome to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at [email protected]. Candidates from other equity seeking groups who would like to learn more about equity hand inclusive programming at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity and Accessibility at [email protected].
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships however, all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:
Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Members of designated groups must self-identify to be considered for employment equity. Candidates may self-identify, in confidence, to Yumna Al-Adeimi, Senior Administrative Officer at the Faculty of Social Work ([email protected]). Further information on the equity policy can be found at https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html .
Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC and NSERC definitions and guidelines. To obtain a copy of this job description in an accessible format, please contact Human Resources ([email protected]).
Wilfrid Laurier University
We acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay) and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. From the Haldimand Proclamation of Oct. 25, 1784 this territory is described as: “six miles deep from each side of the river (Grand River) beginning at Lake Erie and extending in the proportion to the Head of said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever.” The proclamation was signed by the British with their allies, the Six Nations, after the American Revolution. Despite being the largest reserve demographically in Canada, those nations now reside on less than five percent of this original territory.
Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university renowned for its learning environment and student-focused educational experience. As a comprehensive university with more than 19,000 students, Laurier has grown rapidly in research intensity while at the same time preserving its well-earned reputation for undergraduate and graduate teaching and learning excellence. With a multi-campus and multi-community culture, Laurier offers students an exceptional range and depth of more than 100 academic programs taught by award-winning lecturers across nine faculties.
The Faculty of Social Work (FSW) offers professional social work programs at the bachelor’s (Brantford) and master’s levels (Kitchener) and a research-focused doctoral program (Kitchener). We are devoted to excellence in research, creative and critical thinking, and reflexive practice. We encourage students at all levels to become active citizens of an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We fulfill our mission by advancing multi-disciplinary and marginalized forms of knowledge. Our graduates are committed to constructively engaging and working toward transforming oppressive conditions and structures and promoting well-being in individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The Faculty/School of Social Work wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. All nominations and applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the Search Committee and a short list of candidates shall be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the short list will be contacted.
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