Lecturer in Political Ecology

Institutional mission:

SFS creates transformative study abroad experiences through teaching and field research. Our educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental issues faced by local communities. We contribute to generating sustainable solutions in the places where we live and work. SFS is part of a growing network of individuals and institutions committed to environmental protection.

Job Title 

• Professor of Political Ecology

Report to

• Center Director, Center for Amazonian Studies
• Dean, Office of Academic Affairs

Location

• Tarapoto, Peru

Period of Service

• August 1 to December 15, 2025

Compensation/Benefits

This is a four-and-a-half-month contract for educational services. The amount of the contract will depend on the candidate's experience. On-campus room and board are included as part of the benefits.

Position Summary 

The Center for Amazonian Studies, located in Tarapoto, Peru, is looking for an enthusiastic and team-based individual to teach in an interdisciplinary field study program aimed at undergraduate students from universities in the United States. The Faculty in Political Ecology will teach the fifty-hour course "Political Ecology of Peru" between September and December 2025. In addition, she will teach the "Directed Research" course together with two other professors and lead a research project related to Political Ecology with a small group of students.

The position will be in charge of classroom and field teaching. Courses should contain as much fieldwork as possible. Teachers are also integral members of the Centre's educational community. Faculty live, eat, and work on campus with students. This role does not follow the nine-to-five working model.

Additional responsibilities include participation in visits to local communities, student life, laboratory organization and equipment care and general maintenance of the Center.

We are especially interested in individuals with experience teaching a diverse student body and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence in a learning environment and in the Tarapoto community.

Center Emphasis:

The SFS Center for Amazonian Studies has a thematic focus on the complexity of this Andean-Amazonian region with its dramatic elevation gradient and diverse cultural elements.

This program seeks to understand the conflicts and synergies involved in the complexity of species and habitat conservation, as well as development processes. Students will gain a detailed knowledge of the richness of the Amazon region (biodiversity, social and cultural diversity, and ecosystem services) while exploring strategies to propose sustainable living alternatives in this highly productive and diverse region of South America.

Through our coursework and field exercises and directed research, students will analyze people's dependence on the environment, examine environmental and social media threats, and explore tools and strategies to mitigate these threats and promote well-being among communities. A strong component of this program is to examine the ecological patterns and processes that underpin the region's high diversity.

Institutional Position on Diversity and Inclusion:  

SFS was founded on the belief that caring for the planet is the responsibility of people around the world. Addressing complex global problems requires the active inclusion of stakeholders with different perspectives and identities. We recognize that in order to successfully address threats to our natural world, we must look beyond social constructs designed to divide us. Just as we value biodiversity in all its forms, we value and interact with a multitude of diverse perspectives and people in the countries where we work and the students and staff we serve.

Duties and responsibilities 

Teaching positions at SFS are different from many other university positions. Teachers are integral members of each school's model of community life. They work closely with the other faculty to teach an interdisciplinary program through education and field research. The days can be long and active. This position does not fit the nine-to-five working model. The position requires being at the height of high-quality, modern, experiential teaching on critical environmental issues within an interdisciplinary curriculum, and to participate fully in the implementation of the program's research agenda that addresses these issues. The publication of research results is critical. Each professor is expected to provide high-quality, research-based teaching and to guide students in their Directed Research projects defined in the research agenda of the Center for Amazonian Studies in Peru.

Teaching

• Be part of an interdisciplinary teaching team
• Teach the courses Political Ecology of Peru and Directed Research. The course description is attached to this document.
• Effectively plan and develop an interdisciplinary, quality, problem-based curriculum for university students from different disciplines and cultures.
• Organize classes and prepare course materials in a timely and professional manner
• Actively support and advise students on academic issues
• Prepare, administer, and grade assignments, short tests, midterms, and finals
• Supervise and guide a small group of students in directed research projects
• Keep the course portfolio organized
• Participate in the preparation of final reports, revisions of the academic manual, and other reports as required
• Maintain research equipment for field classes

Research

• Help design the program's research agenda and conduct research accordingly.
• Identify appropriate components of the program's research plan, suitable for students' DR projects that prioritize community needs and build on local knowledge networks.
• Prepare the presentation of research results for community stakeholders and wider scientific and non-scientific audiences, using accessible communication methods.
• Assist in the creation and implementation of the program's research policies, as well as in defining priorities and budgets as required
• Keeping data and records organized and following the reporting system in accordance with the institution's policies
• Represent SFS and present research results at local and international conferences (depending on budget)

Daily life at the Centre

• Work flexible hours and live downtown or near it with a small team of permanent staff and groups of U.S. college students. This position does not follow the nine-to-five working model.
• Contribute to the creation of a living learning community that includes diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, in which all students have the opportunity to thrive
• Actively teach and model the competencies, awareness, and knowledge skills necessary to work, interact, and learn meaningfully with others who may differ from oneself in identity and/or lived experience.
• Serve as "staff of the day" on a rotating basis
• Participate in planning activities prior to the start of the program and in review/analysis after students leave
• Participate in and lead part of the orientation and student re-entry components at the beginning and end of each session
• Participate in and occasionally lead community projects, Center maintenance projects, as well as social and field activities
• In cooperation with other staff members, facilitate the day-to-day coordination of interns as determined by the Director of the Centre
• As requested by the Center director, assist with other logistical, group management, and administrative tasks
• Work at all times to ensure good relations between SFS and the local community.
• Drive vehicles and boats as needed

Safety and Wellbeing

• Take responsibility as an individual and as a member of the teaching team and staff of the Centre for the safety of all participants in the programme
• Complete risk management plans in a timely manner for each field trip.
• Participate in the resolution of group management problems as well as student disciplinary matters
• Comply with, model, and enforce all SFS and program policies and procedures, including creating an inclusive living and learning environment for all members of the Center's community.
• Participate in the review of program management plans and risk assessment
• Know the Centre's emergency protocol, including the evacuation plan
• Participate in safety and field orientation sessions and submit safety reports for students and/or staff
• Complete incident reports when appropriate and contribute to security audits
• Adhere to and actively follow by example all SFS and Center policies and procedures and enforce them
• Ensure first aid certifications are kept up to date