Career Center

The Department of Asian Studies at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure -track Assistant Professor in Japanese Studies with an appointment to begin in the Fall semester 2024.

Position

The Department of Asian Studies at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Japanese Studies with a focus on Japanese language, literature, and culture. We seek candidates who have a strong commitment to teaching all levels of Japanese language, as well as a broad range of Japanese literature and culture courses. The time period and literary genre of specialization are open. The successful candidate will contribute to our interdisciplinary Asian Studies major and minor, as well as Japanese Studies major and minor and Group Language major. We especially welcome applicants who will work with us to make Asian Studies meaningful and engaging to our diverse students. 

Specific courses that you will teach include Japanese language and literature-in-translation courses. The normal teaching load is five courses per academic year. You will direct the Japanese major and mentor and advise Japanese majors and senior thesis projects. You will also be responsible for producing scholarship commensurate with the requirements for tenure. The Department of Asian Studies is a growing department with new faculty and an increasing number of students. We have a strong commitment to diversity and equity, having just completed a two-year series of workshops to rethink the teaching of Asian Studies at the College, and we are looking for someone to join us in this work. You will be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader college and disciplinary communities. 

Expected Salary Range: $84,500-$96,000

The Department and College

The Department of Asian Studies has three majors and minors: Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, and Japanese Studies. We have faculty housed in the department as well as advisory and affiliated teaching faculty from ten different disciplines or departments on campus. Thanks to growing student interest, we are increasing the first year of Japanese to two sections. We have a vibrant study abroad program, with most of our majors and many minors studying in Asia.

Occidental is a small, residential, liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California. Occidental faculty are committed teacher-scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, carry out research and creative work, and provide departmental, college-wide, and external service. Los Angeles County has the largest population of Asian descent in the US, including the second largest population of Japanese descent, creating invaluable opportunities for community projects and involvement. 

Required Qualifications

• applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Japanese language and literature or related field  by the start of employment, but we will also consider doctoral candidates in the ABD stage

• native or near-native fluency in both Japanese and English

• experience or demonstrated potential to develop and teach courses in Japanese language at all levels, as well as courses on a broad range of topics in Japanese literature 

• demonstrated commitment to or promise of excellence in undergraduate teaching 

• a demonstrated promise of scholarly accomplishment

• experience in working collaboratively with colleagues 

• demonstrated commitment to working effectively with students from a diverse background, including minoritized and marginalized social groups

• promise of the ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service

• demonstrated commitment to the four cornerstones of the mission of the College: excellence, equity, community, and service

Preferred Qualifications

• experience with or demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with local community organizations.

Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Please see Occidental’s Notice of Non-Discrimination.

Occidental is strongly committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals from groups who are underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. A conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

As a condition of hire for a staff position and for appointment to a faculty position, Occidental College requires that all candidates who have received a conditional offer of employment complete an application form (if they have not already done so) and consent to a background check. Satisfactory completion of a background check, along with pre-employment verifications and references are required as a condition of employment, but only as permitted by federal, state, and local law.

All offers of employment for United States based positions are contingent upon each applicant providing original documents which certify his or her legal right to work in the United States and the timely completion of an employment eligibility verification form I-9.

Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu).