Overview
The Department of Communication and Media at Utah State University Tooele seeks applications for an academic-year, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Technical Communication and Rhetoric. Strong applicants will have 1) experience teaching a variety of technical communication and rhetoric courses such as UX, editing, and grant writing; 2) experience teaching in hybrid (in-person and synchronous online) modalities; and/or specialization in critical and practical approaches to content strategy, AI, and emerging technologies. USU Tooele is part of USU’s Statewide community of campuses, and candidates should be experts in pedagogies that support the learning, recruitment, and retention of a wide variety of students, including non-traditional students, first-generation students, students of color, students with disabilities, and students from rural backgrounds. We also welcome applications from candidates who have teaching and research interests in fields with direct demographic and geographic connections to USU Tooele and other Statewide locations.
The applicant is required to have a PhD in Technical Communication or a related field, a strong teaching record, and potential for publication. This is a teaching-centered position (70% of the role statement) with a teaching load of four courses per semester (3/3). The candidate will be expected to teach courses to Statewide students primarily via a synchronous course delivery format, which provides simultaneous in-person instruction for Tooele students and synchronous virtual instruction for all other Statewide and Logan students. The candidate will also engage in research as their secondary area of effectiveness (20% of role statement) and service (10%). Candidates publishing in a variety of genres, from academic research articles to public-facing reports, are encouraged to apply. Teaching will be based on the Tooele campus, approximately 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. The position begins in August 2026.
The Department of Communication and Media may consider work sponsorship for Change of Status visas, or visas that will not require the $100,000 fee. This decision to sponsor will be made in consultation with and approval from Human Resources and the Provost’s Office.
Responsibilities
The successful applicant will contribute to the department in the following ways:
- Teach courses in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric undergraduate program.
- Provide students with mentoring and educational opportunities to develop transferable workforce skills for a variety of careers and professions.
- Teach Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication courses in our General Education program. (Preferred.)
- Teach graduate courses in the online Master of Technical Communication program and serve on dissertation committees for students in the TCR PhD program. (Preferred.)
- Support the development of the TCR program.
- Engage in research that contributes broadly to the teaching and curriculum development in the TCR program.
- Engage in service to the department, Tooele campus, and university.
Qualifications
- Earned a PhD in Technical Communication or a related field and fulfilled their degree requirements by August 1, 2026.
- A proven record of effective and innovative teaching of technical communication and rhetoric.
- Demonstrated potential for research in the discipline.
Required Documents
Along with the online application, please attach:
1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”2. Names and contact information of at least three references to be input at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile
3. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application4. Candidates advancing to the next round will be asked to provide a teaching portfolio that includes a teaching philosophy, a sample syllabus, and selected teaching evaluations.
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Advertised Salary
Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits
ADA
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.
College/Department Highlights
The Technical Communication and Rhetoric program at USU is home to award-winning scholars and students in technical communication. USU Tooele provides faculty with a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment focused on mentorship, student success, and community impact. As part of a land-grant institution, the campus offers extensive resources that support innovative teaching and accessible learning for all students. Tooele is a community with a small-town feel that’s only 35 minutes away from Salt Lake City. For more information about the campus, check out this video.
University Highlights
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.
Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.
The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected].
*updated 12/2025
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In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.
Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.
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In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:
Matthew Pinner
Executive Director
Civil Rights & Title IX Office
[email protected]
435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
Cody Carmichael
Title IX Coordinator
[email protected]
435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Denver Regional Office
303-844-5695| [email protected]
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
800-421-3481 | [email protected]
*updated 10/2025
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