Assistant Professor/Facilities Director - Anthropology - #001196

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 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 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; employee 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.

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Western Carolina University seeks to hire a 10-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor and Forensic Anthropology Facilities Director beginning August 2025.

The Assistant Professor/Facilities Director will teach a 2-2 course load and expedite day-to-day management of our Forensic Anthropology program's human decomposition facility ( FOREST), human identification laboratory, and documented skeletal collection. The Facilities Director will report to the Department Head but work closely with the Forensic Anthropology Program Director. The Facilities Director may have opportunities to earn additional pay via facilities-related continuing education programs, academic course offerings in the summer, a summer stipend for operating FOREST, and other grant-funded activities.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in forensic and biological anthropology as well as contribute to the university's Liberal Studies program by teaching introductory-level anthropology courses. They will work collaboratively with the Forensic Anthropology faculty as well as the other faculty in WCU's Anthropology, Sociology, and Forensic Science programs. Facilities Director responsibilities include:

* Managing forensic anthropology facilities equipment storage and laboratory space, including maintenance and upkeep, scheduling use, maintaining an inventory of all consumable supplies, particularly personal protection equipment ( PPE), remains processing, and ensuring that laboratory equipment is functional;

* Recruiting, organizing, and directing work-study students, volunteers, and researchers in forensic anthropology facility-related activities;

* Keeping records of student and other facilities volunteers;

* Managing the body donation program through correspondence with donors and their families from initial contact through body placement, responding in a timely manner to all correspondence via phone, email, or postal mail, and maintaining the archive of donor paperwork;

* Managing placement and recovery of donated bodies;

* Managing the collection of decomposition/taphonomic data for the forensic anthropology program and ensuring proper curation of that data;

* Managing use of the Western Carolina Human Identification Lab ( WCHIL) by providing access to collections, technology, and other resources;

* Monitoring space usage related to active research projects, and freezer usage;

* Developing and maintaining an accessible calendar for scheduling the forensic anthropology facilities;

* Providing periodic reports on appropriate facility-related information;

* Facilitating requests for access to the facilities and receiving donations to the facility or assuring that someone is available to complete these tasks;

* Overseeing and coordinating ongoing facility-related continuing education programs and researchers;

* Management of recovering, processing, and curating skeletal remains to build a comparative collection.

WCU embraces its role as a regionally engaged university and is designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a community engaged university. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to public engagement through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

A Ph.D. in Anthropology or a related discipline in hand at start of appointment is preferred, but ABD candidates will be considered with degree conferral by August 2025.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts from highest degree earned* and a list of three professional references with full contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Ben Steere, Department Head of Anthropology & Sociology, at basteere@email.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.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

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All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

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.

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