ph3Lecturer in Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture /h3 ulliEducation /li /ul pbInstitutional Mission: /b The School for Field Studies (SFS) creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Our educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental problems faced by our local partners, contributing to sustainable solutions in the places where we live and work. The SFS community is part of a growing network of individuals and institutions committed to environmental stewardship. /p pbPosition: /b /p pLecturer in Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture /p pbReports To: /b /p pDean, Office of Academic Affairs /p pbLocation: /b Greve, Italy, SFS Center for Sustainable Food Systems /p pbStart Date: /b Anticipated travel and arrival to the Center for Sustainable Food Systems are scheduled for November 2026. The selected candidate will participate in required virtual and on‑site trainings. Dates will be determined and agreed upon with the Center Director and Dean. /p pbCompensation: /b Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. /p pbPosition Summary: /b The SFS Center for Sustainable Food Systems, located in Greve, Italy seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented individual to serve as part of a team of faculty and staff that delivers an interdisciplinary, hands‑on learning experience to students spending a semester in Italy. On a full‑time contract basis, the Lecturer in Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture will deliver the 50-hour Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture course during the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, during fall and spring, they will co‑teach the 50-hour Directed Research course with other faculty members, leading a faculty‑developed directed research project with a small group of students. This position will engage students in a classroom setting, but also through extensive time spent in the field. We encourage faculty to integrate as much fieldwork and hands‑on experience into their courses as possible. Faculty are also integral members of the Center’s communal living model, eating and working with the student cohort. SFS programs require flexibility in working hours to accommodate different aspects of the academic program. /p pAdditional responsibilities outside of teaching may include giving a cookery class to the students as part of the culture program, joining group lunches and weekly dinners and helping with the cooking during self‑catered field trips, participation in community engagement days, involvement in student life, organization of laboratory space, and general Center upkeep. We are especially interested in candidates with experience teaching to a diverse student body, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence in a learning environment, conservation, and the Center’s host community. /p h3Center Focus /h3 pOur research at the SFS Center for Sustainable Food Systems analyzes the integration of environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions of food systems to achieve sustainability in different agroecological contexts. Conservation of wild ecosystems and/or agrobiodiversity is addressed in all research projects, which follow an interdisciplinary approach incorporating both natural and social sciences. Field research is carried out on vegetable and cereal cultivation, sheep, goat, and cattle rearing, artisanal fisheries in Sicily, vineyards and olive groves, and in multi‑use agroforestry operations, conservation activities with National and Regional parks. At the end of the semester program, students will present their research findings and experience to the local community, government, and key stakeholders from the program. /p h3SFS Position on Diversity and Inclusion /h3 pSFS was founded with the belief that stewardship of our planet is the responsibility of people all around the world. Addressing complex global issues requires the active inclusion of stakeholders with varying perspectives and identities. We recognize that to successfully address threats to our natural world, we must look beyond social constructs designed to divide us. Just as we value biodiversity in all its forms, we value and engage with a multitude of diverse perspectives and people in the countries where we work and the students and staff we serve. /p h3Duties and Responsibilities /h3 h3Teaching /h3 ulliAs part of an interdisciplinary teaching team, teach and co‑teach the Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture and Directed Research courses, respectively. Course descriptions are found below. /liliPlan, revise, and effectively deliver a challenging, problem‑based interdisciplinary curriculum to learners from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds. /liliOrganize lectures, prepare course materials,



and adhere to a daily academic schedule in a timely and professional manner. /liliActively support and counsel students on academic issues. /liliPrepare, administer, and grade assignments, quizzes, and assessments. /liliSupervise and mentor a student research group during the Directed Research course. /liliMaintain an organized course portfolio. /liliParticipate in preparation of final reports, academic handbook revisions, and other required administrative tasks. /liliMaintain equipment as required for teaching in the field. /li /ul h3Research /h3 ulliParticipate in the development and upkeep of the Center’s Strategic Research Plan (SRP) and conduct designated and aligned independent research. /liliIdentify appropriate components of the SRP suitable for student DR projects that prioritize community needs and build on local knowledge networks. /liliPrepare research results for community stakeholders and broader scientific and non‑scientific audiences using accessible communication methods. /liliAssist, as required, with reviewing program research policies, priorities, and budgets. /liliFollow data management, record keeping, and reporting systems. /liliRepresent SFS and/or present research at local, regional, or international meetings and conferences. /li /ul h3Daily Center Life /h3 ulliWork flexible hours and live on site or nearby the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US undergraduate students. Contribute to the creation of a living‑learning community that is inclusive of diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, in which all learners have the opportunity to thrive. /liliActively model skills in competence, awareness, and knowledge necessary for meaningfully working with, interacting with, and learning from others who may differ from oneself in identity and/or lived experience. /liliOn a rotating basis, act as on‑call "staff of the day/week." /liliParticipate in the planning of activities and semester calendar prior to the start of the program and in training for new program staff. /liliParticipate in and lead parts of the orientation and re‑entry components of the program presented to students at the beginning and end of each program. /liliParticipate in regular evaluations and reflection discussions following students’ departure. /liliTake part in, and occasionally lead, community outreach events, site upkeep projects, and field activities. /liliIn cooperation with other program staff, provide day‑to‑day coordination of interns and/or field assistants as delegated by the Program Manager. /liliAs requested by the Program Manager, assist with other logistical, group management, and administrative tasks. /liliAt all times, work to ensure good relations between the SFS and the local community. /li /ul h3Safety and Wellbeing /h3 ulliTake responsibility, as an individual and as a member of the Center team, for the safety of all program participants. /liliComplete Risk Management Plans in a timely fashion for each field outing. /liliParticipate in resolving group management issues and student discipline problems. /liliAdhere to, actively model, and enforce all SFS and program policies and procedures, including the values of the SFS Position on Diversity and Inclusion. /liliParticipate in the review and revision of program risk assessment and management plans. /liliKnow the emergency procedures plan for the field station, including evacuation plan. /liliParticipate in the safety portions of the on‑site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff. /liliComplete incident reports when appropriate and contribute to safety audits. /liliObtain Wilderness First Aid certification prior to first day of work (SFS support and reimbursable available) and ensure first‑aid certifications are kept up to date. /li /ul h3Minimum Qualifications /h3 ulliCandidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy. Preference will be given to candidates who can provide services through an active Italian Partita IVA. SFS may consider alternative lawful engagement arrangements depending on the candidate’s qualifications and applicable Italian labor requirements. /liliM.S. and university‑level teaching experience in agricultural policy, environmental policy, and/or food systems‑related social science. /liliField research experience, preferably in the fields of agricultural policy, environmental policy, and/or food systems‑related social science. /liliDemonstrated commitment to creating inclusive learning environments.



/liliDemonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team. /liliTrack record of research publications. /liliExperience leading forest walks and hikes. /liliExperience teaching classes in the field. /liliDemonstrated commitment to environmental issues. /liliFluent in English (all courses taught in English). /li /ul h3Preferred Qualifications /h3 ulliPh.D. in agricultural policy, environmental policy, and/or food systems‑related social science preferred. /liliExperience working in Italy or the region with an established network portfolio. /liliExperience teaching field courses. /liliExperience with residential student group management and/or risk management. /liliExperience cross‑teaching or collaborating on projects in environmental policy, governance, climate change, sustainable tourism and development, or agriculture. /liliTrack record of grant writing success. /liliCurrent First Aid, CPR, and/or Wilderness First Aid certification. /li /ul h3Expectations for Faculty Conduct /h3 pThe School for Field Studies strives to create and maintain a work environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. The SFS environment is characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, oppression, and exploitation. SFS will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, of any kind. Through enforcement of this policy and by education of employees, SFS seeks to prevent, correct, and discipline behavior that violates this policy. /p pAll offers are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, which may include, depending on the candidate’s home of record and local requirements, a certificate of good standing or clearance from the local police precinct. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as deemed necessary. /p h3Course Descriptions /h3 h3Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture /h3 pThe necessity and urgency of halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity has been repeatedly called for by international organizations such as the UN, FAO, IPBES, EU, national governments and NGOs. More specifically, official strategies and reports such as the UN’s Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005), the UN’s Agenda ), the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019), the FAO’s Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors (2020), the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy (2020), and the UN’s Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), are defining goals, targets and actions in order to reverse the loss of biodiversity. /p pHowever, when it comes to implementing these strategies and action plans on the ground, there is the need to understand what the problems and opportunities of nature restoration at the local level are. This is particularly true for food systems in densely populated Europe, where almost no pristine natural area exists below 2000 meters of altitude. Instead of addressing the lessening/mitigating of food systems’ impacts on the environment to halt the loss of biodiversity, this program is adopting a change of perspective by focusing on the understanding, analysis, and assessment of making “nature’s return” sustainable for food systems. By looking at what is happening in Tuscany, students will explore the ecological, economic, and sociocultural complexities of sustainably managing natural restoration in ecosystems historically used by food systems. /p pThis interdisciplinary course explores the complex dynamics of how traditional agriculture can teach us to rethink the future of food production and agri‑environmental policies. The historical background of Tuscany, with its hilly landscape, and a millenial practice of farming, from the Apennine Mountain range, Chianti hilly landscape and Maremma flat coastal areas, the students will learn how to read the landscape with a historical perspective. /p h3Directed Research /h3 pThis course provides students with the opportunity to apply ecological, biological, and/or social‑scientific methods to a field research project that addresses a local issue related to the environment. We will also investigate the ways that various methods and theories distinguish (or don’t) fact from interpretation, cause from correlation, and advocacy from objectivity. The directed research topics are derived from the SFS Center’s Research Plan as defined by the Center staff and local stakeholders. Through the Directed Research project, students will contribute to a growing body of scientific research that informs local conservation and resource management decisions. SFS program lecturers lead a small group of students in this research component of the program. /p pApplicants are encouraged to review the full course syllabi and programs descriptions on the SFS website: fieldstudies.org/italy /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Lecturer in Systems Thinking for the Future of Agriculture (Greve in Chianti)
🏢 The School for Field Studies
📍 Greve in Chianti