University of Southern California

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Department of Public Policy and Management

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Position Description and Qualifications

The Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California invites applications for an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Public Policy and Management. The Department is interested in candidates with research and teaching interests in social policy – including economic mobility and opportunity and/or social insurance and welfare programs – focusing on analytical approaches to evaluating public policies and programs and/or frameworks for understanding the policy-making process.

The individual will have demonstrated potential for a stellar record of scholarship, and an interest in teaching across the Department’s programs at the undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. levels. Candidates from all disciplines and fields that contribute to the vibrant and rigorous study of public policy are encouraged to apply. Candidates should hold a doctoral degree at the time of appointment.

Numerous opportunities for collaboration are available within the Department and the School and its research centers, institutes, and initiatives, including The Bedrosian Center for Governance and the Public Enterprise, The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, The Price Center for Social Innovation, and The Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. 

About the Department of Public Policy and Management

The Department houses some of the core programs at the Price School of Public Policy.It offers three nationally ranked professional masters degrees: MPA, MPP and MNLM, as well as a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management and a professional doctorate in Policy, Planning and Development. In addition, it offers an undergraduate degree in public policy and an executive master’s degree in International Public Policy and Management. The Department contains 30 faculty spanning a wide array of research interests, including the policy process, policy analytics, and public and nonprofit management.

The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. The school is composed of overlapping disciplines that generate innovative approaches to critical issues ranging from health-care policy to homelessness, and sustainability to congestion – to name a few. A wide-ranging curriculum, including extensive experiential learning, prepares our graduates to navigate problems that demand multi-layered solutions driven by critical, informed thinking.

The Price School, founded in 1929, is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Estate Development; and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis.  The School’s rigorous academic programs provide students with the knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience and led by some of the world’s most renowned faculty in their fields, our students establish a clear pathway to successful careers.

Our academic programs are augmented by numerous research centers, institutes and initiatives that provide additional research expertise and experiences, notable among them are: The Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public; The Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy; The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate; The METRANS Transportation Consortium; The Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics; and The Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.  Together, they account for over $100 million in externally funded research grants and contracts.

Our departments and research enterprise provide unmatched breadth and depth to tackle an enormous range of challenges facing our country and the world. And it’s why our graduates hold leadership positions across diverse sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – championing the advancement of the common good. They come from around the world and from a variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to create a rich intellectual environment that celebrates, supports and benefits from diverse people and opinions.

For additional information, see our website: https://priceschool.usc.edu.

Compensation and Benefits

The University of Southern California offers a competitive salary within an academic environment based on the candidate’s experience and accomplishments. The university also offers excellent benefits to employees, which include: health, dental and life insurance; tuition assistance; disability and retirement plans; credit union membership; and participation in cultural and social events, as well as access to athletic and recreational facilities.

The annual base salary range for this position (9-months) is $125,000-$175,000.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Note: The core 9-month base salary for this position will be determined by rank and commensurate with experience, skills, education, and training.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Apply for this Position

To be considered for this position, all applicants must apply via the USC Careers site and submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and personal statement that outlines their research agenda, teaching philosophy and approach, the value of a faculty appointment in a professional school, and arrange for three letters of reference. Review of applications will begin November 1, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. Please apply online at https://usccareers.usc.edu/.

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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