The selected candidate will begin required virtual onboarding and training on January 4, 2027, followed by arrival at the Center for Amazon Studies and the start of on‑site training on January 10, 2027.

This is an academic year contract position. Non-Peruvian national candidates must be able to commit to an initial 13-month contract to satisfy Peru’s visa sponsorship and employment authorization requirements. Renewal opportunities may be available following a performance discussion with your supervisor and institutional needs.

Position Summary

The SFS Center for Amazon Studies, located in Tarapoto, Peru 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 Peru. On a contract basis, the Lecturer in Political Ecology will deliver the 50‑hour Political Ecology of Peru 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. Consistent with SFS’s academic model and program delivery needs, the position will be expected to assist with the coordination and teaching of the summer academic programming, including the 50‑hour summer course Amazon Plant Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine.

SFS programs are field‑based and experiential. This position will engage students in a classroom and through extensive time spent in the field.



We encourage faculty to integrate as much fieldwork and hands‑on experience into their courses as possible.

SFS programs do not follow a nine to five model. Faculty are also integral members of the Center’s communal living model, eating and working with the student cohort.

Faculty are expected to be active members in the community‑building process. Additional responsibilities outside of teaching may include 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.

Center Focus

The SFS Center for Amazon Studies seeks to understand both the conflicts and synergies of conservation and development. Students will gain a sense of the richness of the Amazon region—biodiversity, social and cultural diversity, and ecosystem services—while exploring strategies for sustainable livelihoods in this highly productive and diverse region of South America.

The interdisciplinary themes of socio‑ecological resilience, environmental justice,



and conservation will guide our inquiry. Through coursework, field exercises, and Directed Research, students will study people’s dependence on the environment, examine the threats to the environment and to social networks, and explore the tools and strategies for mitigating the threats and promoting well‑being among rural communities. A strong component of the program will be examining the ecological patterns and processes that underpin the high diversity of the region.

Minimum Qualifications

- Must be legally authorized to work in Peru at the time of hire or be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate Peruvian work visa with the support of SFS.
- Master’s and university-level teaching experience in areas related to environmental policy, political science, anthropology, sociology, environmental/ecological economics, community development, or related field
- Field research experience and/or project implementation in tropical areas
- Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive learning environments
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team
- Track record of research publications
- Experience leading forest walks and hikes
- Experience teaching classes in the field
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues
- Ability to work outdoors in tropical conditions and respond effectively during emergency situations
- Fluent in English (all courses taught in English) and Spanish (field activities are conducted in Spanish)

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📌 Lecturer in Political Ecology The School for Field Studies (Tarapoto)
🏢 Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
📍 Tarapoto