Lecturer - The Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies

Location: New York City, NY Category: Faculty Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Wed Nov 4 2026 Job Description:

The Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies at Empire State University (SUNY Empire) seeks to hire a lecturer based at its New York City location, where the majority of the Labor School's students attend face-to-face classes. We invite candidates from a range of social science disciplines - including sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, and geography - with a commitment to participatory labor education and historical and/or contemporary research relevant to the labor movement, broadly defined to include unions, worker centers, and other social justice organizations.

The successful candidate will have expertise in Labor Studies and will teach, develop curriculum, and mentor/advise students in programs offered both in person and online. They will also design and develop high-quality online Labor Studies courses from existing curricula, working collaboratively with faculty and staff to translate course outcomes, readings, assignments, and assessments into engaging, accessible learning experiences within the university's learning management system. Central to the faculty role is helping adults from diverse cultural backgrounds design and complete degrees that meet their personal and professional goals. SUNY Empire faculty provide advising from entry through graduation to students in the Labor Studies academic program. Working in cooperation with faculty and staff, the successful candidate will provide high-quality educational services to students, pursue relevant scholarly interests, participate in University life, and enhance the University and HVASLS's reputation and impact within the community.

The Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies (HVASLS) is one of the founding programs of Empire State University. It currently serves approximately 1,000 students through partnerships with various labor organizations in New York City, and it offers in-person, as well as online and residency programs to members of partner organizations from across the country. Its labor-centered liberal arts program was inspired by Harry Van Arsdale Jr., a major twentieth century labor leader and a tireless promoter of life-long education for members of his union, IBEW Local 3, and all working people.

The Van Arsdale program offers associate and bachelor's degrees in Labor Studies as well as non-degree certificate programs. The program seeks to build a broad and inclusive labor and community-centered approach to help develop solutions to the most pressing challenges that our society is facing today, including issues related to economic, racial, and gender inequalities, globalization, technological change, industrial and financial restructuring. Our courses are designed to provide the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed for our students to become leaders in the labor movement and in their communities.

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in labor studies or related social science disciplines such as sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, and geography.

• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and teaching online courses in a learning management system, including building courses from existing curricula, organizing course content, developing learning activities and assessments, and supporting student engagement in an online environment.

• Experience with labor education, the labor movement, and social justice movements.

• College-level teaching experience.

• Experience teaching and/or advising non-traditional students from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD. in Labor Studies, or related social science disciplines such as sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, and geography.

• Experience teaching courses in Labor Studies or courses on labor topics in related fields.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and/or through community-based work.

• Demonstrated commitment to a participatory pedagogy.

• Research interests in issues related to working people, labor organizations, and social movements.

• Familiarity with the D2L Brightspace learning management system.

Special Information:

• Candidates should include with their application a statement on their teaching philosophy and methods.

• Occasional travel will be required to fulfill university-wide obligations, including biannual travel to Saratoga Springs, New York.

• Office hours will vary in accordance with student needs. Periodic evening and weekend engagement will also be required.

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.

• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: Lecturer / $70,000.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer faculty-development opportunities that encourage pursuit of disciplinary and community-focused research, scholarship of teaching and learning, and leadership development. Faculty-development opportunities include our annual Fall Academic Conference and the annual Institute on Mentoring, Teaching and Learning.

SUNY Empire is an AA/EEO/ADA employer. The University actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the University. SUNY Empire is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the university community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

SUNY Empire provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, veterans, or wounded warriors where appropriate. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (518) 587-2100.

In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our crime statistics is available upon request by calling (518) 587-2100. It can also be viewed online at our Safety and Security website (https://sunyempire.edu/about/safety-security/jeanne-clery-act/annual-safety-security-report.html) .

Other available faculty opportunities are located on our Faculty Vacancy Announcements (https://esc.interviewexchange.com/static/clients/397ESM1/index.jsp;jsessionid=CF910528E01622478D0D57EC2509603D?catid=802) page.