Assistant Professor – Construction Management
Position Summary: The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction (CEC) at Western Carolina University invites applications for several Assistant Professor of Construction Management positions. https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/35492 Both January 2027 and August 2027 start dates would be considered. This is a nine (9) month, tenure-track position, with additional summer opportunities for research, teaching, and other professional endeavors.
Successful candidates will be expected to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, advise students, be involved in extra-curricular student engagement activities, develop a sustainable program of research and scholarship, and be engaged in university and professional service. Applicants must demonstrate potential for excellence in both teaching and service based on the Boyer Model of Scholarship with a primary focus supporting students in undergraduate research.
Candidates will be expected to teach across a broad range of construction management topics including, but not limited to construction materials and methods, estimating, scheduling, project management, construction codes and documents, sustainability, construction law, etc. This position is also expected to provide a considerable level of service to the Department, College, and University including student advising and mentoring, planning and leading outreach activities, organizing and mentoring student clubs and organizations, and other similar student and industry focused activities.
The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction houses on-campus undergraduate degree programs in Construction Management and Civil Engineering and an online non-thesis based graduate degree program in Construction Management. The College also has a Master of Engineering (MSE) and a Master of Engineering Technology (MSET) graduate program. Both the Construction Management and Civil Engineering programs are ABET accredited.
The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus
Minimum Qualifications: Possess an earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in construction management, construction engineering, civil engineering, architecture, architectural engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution by August 1, 2027.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred candidates will have one or more of the following:
1. Have a minimum of three (3) or more years of U.S. project-based construction industry experience.
2. Upper-level management experience in the construction industry.
3. Relevant professional registration and/or certifications (PE, CPC, PMP, PSP, etc.).
4. University-level teaching experience including online/distance education.
About WCU: Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided with a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies, and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employees may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.
Application Materials and Instructions: Application materials must be submitted online. https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/35492 Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Please include the following:
1. letter of application
2. current CV
3. statement of teaching and student engagement goals
4. statement of research and scholarship goals
5. list of three professional references with complete contact information
6. unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the master’s degree level and higher.*
For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Bruce Gehrig, Head of Department of Civil Engineering & Construction at ggehrig@wcu.edu
*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date, the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master’s degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master’s degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.
EOE: Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.