Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 in Community-based Entrepreneurship and Innovation | University of Saskatchewan

Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan is pleased to invite applications for a tenure-track, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair appointment in Community-based Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Canada Research Chair (CRC) Program is the flagship of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development.  

Community-based entrepreneurship and innovation is at the forefront of understanding the evolving dynamics of value creation in our global society that is pushing the boundaries of academic inquiry and elevating Canada’s socio-economic fabric, global standing, and commitment to shaping future thought leaders. In Saskatchewan, the construct of “communities” has largely encompassed urban, rural, remote, and Indigenous areas. A growing recognition of the importance of community-based entrepreneurship and innovation is fostering sustainable economic and societal growth around the world. This Canada Research Chair will advance understanding of community-based entrepreneurship, leading to better decision-making, policy formulation, and innovative solutions to pressing local, national, and global problems. Important insights will translate into enhanced economic and societal wellbeing, driving improvements in the quality of life for Canadians. As nations grapple with global challenges in relation to sustainability, equity, and social development, the research conducted by the CRC in community-based entrepreneurship offers an avenue to distinguish Canada on the global stage while attracting innovation, international collaborations, investments and talent. 

The primary aim of this CRC is to develop world-leading programs of research and to establish a robust graduate program in community-based business studies. The Chair will lead entrepreneurial thought and action at University of Saskatchewan and integrate meaningful collaborations with communities to advance impactful entrepreneurship research and knowledge creation. The Chairholder will have access to the Business Research Integration Group at Edwards, or BRIDGE, knowledge centre, which will help create connections between researchers, industry and community partners while facilitating knowledge creation, translation, and mobilization. Other opportunities include possible collaborations with any one of University of Saskatchewan’s nine Signature Areas of Research, and/or one of its many research centres, including but not limited to the Canadian Centre for the Study of Cooperatives, the kihci-okâwîmâw askiy (Great Mother Earth) Knowledge Centre and the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS).

The successful candidate will lead a research program examining the crucial role community-based entrepreneurship and innovation play as they contribute to sustainable economic and societal growth worldwide and across rural, remote, and Indigenous areas in Saskatchewan.

Researchers at Edwards are transforming business scholarship through socially impactful research and meaningful collaborations. Please visit our Edwards research website for information on our faculty and their research as well as our new BRIDGE Knowledge Centre. 

Qualifications

Candidates must hold or be very near completion of a doctoral degree in entrepreneurship, management, or another relevant field and must demonstrate the potential for excellence, creativity, and leadership in research as demonstrated through their accomplishments to date.

Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have less than 10 years of experience as an active researcher in their field at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process.  Please consult the CRC website for eligibility details or contact the Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives (RASI) unit for more information (rasi.support@usask.ca).  The impact of leaves (e.g., maternity leave, leave due to illness) will be carefully considered when reviewing the candidate’s record of research achievement.

The successful applicant will be appointed as a tenure-track or tenured faculty member at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the Edwards School of Business and will be nominated for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair.

This position also includes a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a dental, health and extended vision care plan; pension plan, life insurance (compulsory and voluntary), academic long-term disability, sick leave, travel insurance, death benefits, an employee assistance program, a professional expense allowance, and a flexible health and wellness spending program.

The University of Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s top 15 research-intensive universities. Its main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis and in Saskatoon, a city on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River known for its quality of life, diverse and thriving economic base, vibrant arts community, and full range of leisure opportunities. 

The Edwards School of Business has an undergraduate business program with approximately 2,500 engaged and talented students.  We also have an expanding set of graduate programs, including a new research-based M.Sc. in Management, an MBA program and a Masters of Professional Accounting program. 

In addition to a vibrant research culture, we are committed to excellent teaching. Our students go on to work in industry or start businesses and remain connected to the school via an active alumni network.  As faculty, we take great pride in their accomplishments, and we are looking for someone with a special ability to impact students. Candidates should be passionate about a career in teaching at the university level. 

The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. The University of Saskatchewan is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a city with a diverse and thriving economic base, a vibrant arts community and a full range of leisure opportunities. The University has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarly activities and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to over 25,000 students.

How to Apply 

Applications must be made using the University’s online application portal.  Complete applications should include:

• a cover letter and curriculum vitae
• a research statement and a three-page outline of planned research activities for the 5-year term of the CRC
• a teaching statement
• one sample of an unpublished work-in-progress
• the names and contact information of three references. 

Applicants must discuss how they incorporate principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in their research and teaching statements.

Review of applications will start October 1, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025, but is negotiable.

The University of Saskatchewan is committed to supporting employees in need of accommodation in an employment context. For more information on the University of Saskatchewan’s accommodation policy, please contact Abdur Rehman Ahmad, Talent & EDI Consultant, abdur.ahmad@usask.ca. 

The University of Saskatchewan and Edwards School of Business are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace. Recruitment will be guided by the Canada Research Chairs Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Practices, and only qualified candidates who are members of the designated equity seeking groups (women and gender equity-seeking groups, racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities) are eligible to apply. 

For questions related to this position or the selection process, please contact Dr. Lee Swanson, CRC Search Committee Academic Lead at marketing.search@edwards.usask.ca.  

Date Posted: August 1, 2024