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Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Professor of Public Policy
Salary range: $74,600 to $97,200 annually. Off-scale salaries and other components of pay are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.
Anticipated start: The appointment will commence as early as July 1, 2025, or as late as September 1, 2025, per negotiation with the candidate.

Application Window

Open date: July 3, 2024

Next review date: Sunday, Sep 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Jun 30, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Position Announcement:
Assistant Professor of Public Policy
University of California, Riverside

The School of Public Policy at UCR is seeking to hire up to two Assistant Professors of Public Policy. We are seeking scholars who can conduct research and teaching on the politics of the policy process (inclusive of political advocacy, policy creation, implementation, and/or policy evaluation). Competitive candidates are expected to have produced research that: (a) prospectively or retrospectively assesses the impact of specific public policies on humans, the built environment, and/or the natural world; (b) studies how policy is created and implemented and how organizations and implementers operate; (c) evaluates how and when advocacy for policy change is successful; (d) proposes or evaluates reforms to political processes that might improve (or hinder) policy outcomes; and/or (e) develops analytical methods for policy research. The School of Public Policy values public policies that promote efficiency, equity, prosperity, and justice; we are particularly interested in scholars who apply these principles in their research and teaching.

(Note: this search is in addition to a search we will be posting in September that is “open to area of public policy scholarship”. If you are also interested in being considered for the “open” search, please additionally respond to that search advertisement.)

Applicants must have an earned doctorate by the time of appointment in a relevant field and demonstrated excellence in research and teaching. As these experiences may be helpful in the production of policy research and/or teaching public policy students, the following will be considered a positive (but not necessary) applicant characteristic: (a) having a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD in public policy, public affairs, or public administration; and/or (b) work experience in government agencies, legislative offices, policy think tanks and consulting firms, or political advocacy organizations. Instructional and mentoring activities include teaching four, 10-week courses per academic year and guiding the research of undergraduate and graduate students.

The School of Public Policy values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

The Assistant Professor Series is a full-time position with the rights and responsibilities of membership in the Academic Senate. Appointments and reappointments are limited to a maximum term of two years. The total University service with this title may not exceed eight years except as provided in APM - 133-12-b and 133-12-c https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-133.pdf. Advancement through the faculty and non-senate academic ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input. Teaching, scholarly professional achievement, and activities, and university and public service constitute the criteria for advancement.

All materials must be uploaded using UCR’s on-line application system via https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01951. To ensure full consideration, complete applications including cover letter, CV, writing samples, a research statement, a teaching statement, evidence of teaching excellence, statement of past and/or planned future contributions to advancing diversity and inclusive excellence, and at least 3 letters of recommendation should be received by September 15, 2024. Review of applicants will continue until the position is filled. The appointment will commence as early as July 1, 2025, or as late as September 1, 2025, per negotiation with the candidate.

The posted UC salary scales, https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/index.html, set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 1 https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/oct-2024-scales/t1.pdf for the salary range. The salary range for this appointment is $74,600 to $97,200 annually. “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in one of the following disciplines: public policy, economics, political science, sociology, geography, or a related discipline, by the start of the appointment.

Preferred qualifications

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter - Your cover letter must address how your scholarship builds upon and bridges across the School of Public Policy’s areas of strength.

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement of Teaching

  • Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence - In a “Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence”, we ask applicants to describe their past and/or potential future contributions to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, which is a key requirement of the role of every faculty member and administrator at UCR. There are numerous ways to contribute, and a commitment to this part of our mission can be reflected through research, teaching, supervision, mentoring, community engagement, service, and any of the other varied activities that are a part of an academic career.

  • Writing Samples

  • Evidence of Teaching Excellence - Examples: Teaching evaluations, student evaluations, Peer review of teaching documents, etc.

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 letters of reference required

Applicants will be asked to name references, and the applicant must request letters to complete their application.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01951

Help contact: vanaya@ucr.edu

About UC Riverside

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) as well as the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Riverside, CA