Professor of Public Policy

Full Time Faculty, Tenured or Practice Track Position (Full Professor) in Public Policy and/or Public Governance, School of Social Sciences (SOSS) Established in 2007, the SMU School of Social Sciences (SOSS) provides high quality undergraduate and graduate education expanding SMU's pedagogical strategy to the study of society, government, and individuals embedded within an increasingly complex world. With faculty expertise and research spanning the disciplines of psychology, political science, sociology, and philosophy, SOSS's research covers key thematic areas such as international development, policy and politics, Southeast Asian studies, social movements, and sustainability. The School aspires to make a significant and lasting contribution across sectors through its integrative approach to the study of social issues. Public policy and public governance form a strategic growth area for SOSS. The School is launching a new post graduate programme, the Master of Public Governance and Leadership (MPGL), with admissions opening in September 2027, part-time delivery commencing in August 2028, and full-time delivery commencing in August 2029. The MPGL is designed for early- to mid-career policy professionals across the public, private, non-profit, and multilateral sectors, and offers specialised tracks in digital transformation and sustainability governance alongside a core curriculum in governance and leadership. It represents a significant expansion of SOSS's postgraduate programme portfolio and a major institutional commitment to building public governance capacity in Singapore and across the wider Asia-Pacific region. This new position is intended to strengthen SOSS's existing capacity in public policy and governance and to provide academic leadership for the MPGL. Position The School of Social Sciences (SOSS)invites applications for a tenured track or practice track position in Public Policy and/or Public Governance, at the level of Full Professor, to begin in January 2027 or as soon as practicable thereafter. The position will be housed in the Political Science disciplinary group within SOSS. The School is particularly interested in candidates whose teaching, scholarship, and applied work engage with contemporary challenges in public governance and leadership — including, but not limited to, the governance of digital transformation and emerging technologies in government, sustainability governance, the management of complex and cross-sectoral policy challenges, and public sector innovation, reform, and capacity-building. Candidates with substantial senior experience in government, multilateral organisations, or other policy-facing roles are warmly encouraged to apply, as are scholars with distinguished records in graduate education, curriculum development, and pedagogical leadership. A key desirable characteristic of the appointment is the capability, seniority, and academic standing to assume the role of founding Director of the MPGL. The Director will provide academic leadership for the programme, with overall responsibility for its strategic development, intellectual coherence, financial viability, and reputation. The principal areas of responsibility include: •        Strategic and academic leadership of the programme, including curriculum design, course and faculty development, and oversight of programme quality and learning outcomes; •        Student recruitment and outreach, including info sessions, masterclasses, regional roadshows, and the development of marketing and communications content; •        Admissions, including applicant interviews, oversight of intake composition, and scholarship decisions; •        Governance and representation, including chairing the programme's Academic Governance Committee and representing the MPGL on SOSS's Postgraduate Professional Programmes Committee; •        Cultivating partnerships with government, industry, non-profit, and alumni stakeholders, including securing capstone projects, internships, and practitioner engagements; •        Leading fundraising activity in collaboration with the Office of Advancement; •        Working with the Assistant Dean (Administration) on budget, administrative workload, and the financial sustainability of the programme. Appropriate teaching credit and a directorship allowance will be provided. Full terms of reference will be shared with shortlisted candidates. Singapore Management University is committed to an interdisciplinary and integrated curriculum, providing opportunities to work with faculty across the social sciences as well as across the university. Research support is excellent, and salary and benefits are highly competitive. The teaching load is comparable to other research universities for faculty on the education or practice tracks. Experience Applicants must have: •        A PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Management, or a closely related discipline. •        A strong and demonstrable record of teaching effectiveness at postgraduate and/or undergraduate level. •        A record of scholarly, applied, or professional contribution to public policy or public governance, appropriate to the track and rank. For practice track candidates, this should include substantial senior experience in government, multilateral organisations, or other policy-facing settings, together with a body of applied work (e.g. policy reports, advisory contributions, expert engagement, applied research). For education track candidates, this should include a distinguished record in teaching, curriculum development, and pedagogical or applied scholarship. •        Good complementarity with the existing strengths and research focus of the School of Social Sciences. •        Preparedness to teach in the MPGL, including in the programme's core curriculum, and to contribute to undergraduate teaching in the Political Science discipline. •        Evidence of academic citizenship and service, with greater expectations for candidates applying at the Full Professor level, including demonstrated capacity to lead substantial academic initiatives. Desirable qualifications include: •        The seniority, academic standing, and administrative experience to take on the role of founding Director of the MPGL. •        A track record of building, leading, or substantively shaping a postgraduate, executive, or professional education programme. •        Substantial engagement with policymakers and practitioner audiences, including ongoing relationships with government agencies, multilateral organisations, or international policy networks. •        Contacts or other familiarity with key stakeholders in public governance in Singapore and/or the wider region. •        Substantive expertise or applied interest in digital governance, sustainability governance, or other areas of complex policy challenge that align with the MPGL's thematic tracks. Application: The application package must be submitted by 8 June 2026, electronically via the Careers@SMU portal: 1.     A cover letter describing teaching philosophy and experience, applied or professional engagement with public policy and governance, and, where relevant, interest in and qualifications for the MPGL Director role. 2.     Anup-to-date CV (including teaching experience and a list of three referees). 3.     Up to three samples of professional output — these may include academic publications, policy reports, applied research, teaching materials, or other relevant work. 4.     Evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as teaching evaluations and a sample syllabus). Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interviews. Interviews will begin end June 2026. All hires are contingent upon the successful completion of appropriate verification checks. Applicants are only required to submit the contact information of their three referees. Referees will be contacted for recommendation letters if the applicant is shortlisted. Further information about the University and the School can be found at https://socsc.smu.edu.sg/. To apply, click here. For queries, please email the Dean's Office directly.