The Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore invites applications for the position of Head of Department at the rank of full professor or higher (endowed chair professor). Research and teaching specialisation is open, although candidates should contribute to one or more of the Department’s four subfields: comparative politics, governance and public policy, international relations, and political theory.
The successful candidate will have an internationally recognised record of research and publication, as well as a record of very good teaching. Exceptional leadership skills are essential, as is a demonstrable commitment to intellectual and methodological pluralism. Other qualifications include evidence of substantial administrative experience; a record of promoting faculty and student success; a commitment to collegiality and diversity; and excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills. The Head is expected to provide leadership to implement a strategic vision, with the support of department faculty, which advances the Department’s international profile and reputation. Research and teaching expectations may be reduced (e.g. one course teaching commitment per year), given the Head’s crucial service role.
Interested candidates should submit a CV, cover letter that addresses the qualifications outlined above, research statement (approx. two pages), teaching statement (approx. two pages), and names and addresses of at least four references.
Review of applications will begin in August 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Campus visits for selected candidates will be arranged for October 2025. The position is expected to commence in January 2027. Questions about the position should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Professor William Bain (wbain@nus.edu.sg).
Exceptional candidates at the rank of senior associate professor are welcome to apply, subject to being promoted to full professor upon appointment at NUS.
The Department of Political Science is a vibrant multidisciplinary community comprised of over 25 tenure- and educator-track faculty members. The Department offers degrees in Political Science and Global Studies at the undergraduate level and in Political Science at the Masters and Doctoral levels. It also partners with the International Political Science Association (IPSA) to host the IPSA-NUS Summer School in Social Science Research Methods annually. It is one of 16 departments in a large Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, which is home to a comprehensive range of programmes in Asian Studies, Humanities, Social Science, and Language Studies. The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the Asia Research Institute, the Asia-Europe Foundation, the East Asian Institute, the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, among other research units inside and outside NUS, provide additional opportunities for research interaction and collaboration.
NUS offers an internationally competitive remuneration package that includes a period of subsidised housing (for non-Singaporean applicants), annual performance bonus, medical benefits, and relocation expenses (where applicable). Outstanding applicants might also be considered for endowed/chair professorship that comes with annual research support and business class travel eligibility. NUS provides significant research support, including generous start-up grants for new faculty members.
Please submit your application through the NUS Career Portal : https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Professor-&-Head-of-Department-%28Political-Science%29/29011-en_GB/
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have an internationally recognised record of research and publication, as well as a record of very good teaching. Exceptional leadership skills are essential, as is a strong commitment to intellectual and methodological pluralism. Other qualifications include evidence of substantial administrative experience; a record of promoting faculty and student success; a commitment to collegiality and diversity; and excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills. The Head is expected to provide leadership in co-creating with department faculty to implement a strategic vision, consistent with NUS’ research and teaching mission, which advances the Department’s international profile and reputation. Research and teaching expectations may be reduced (e.g. one course teaching commitment per year), given the Head’s crucial service role.
