The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan School) invites applications for the position of Department Chair and Tenured Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). We seek an innovative scholar and visionary leader to direct a large, diverse, multidisciplinary department. The successful applicant will have an outstanding record of academic and research accomplishments, demonstrated leadership and administrative abilities, and a compelling vision for the department.
The Department and School SBS has a mission to improve health throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on populations harmed by injustice. The SBS department brings together faculty trained in diverse disciplines whose research focuses on the social and structural determinants of health and behavioral outcomes, the development and evaluation of interventions and policies leading to the improvement of population health and health equity across the life course. The department is a thriving community that is working collaboratively to build a healthier world in which there is improved health for all and reductions in social inequities in health. The department's educational mission is to train both scholars and practitioners: scholars whose research will illuminate critical social and structural determinants of health and who will identify and test innovative policy and interventions; and practitioners who are skilled in designing, implementing, and evaluating health-enhancing interventions in real-world clinical, community, and policy settings.
The Candidate The successful candidate will advance the department's mission by fostering and expanding research activities, enriching the educational mission and trainee experience, attracting and mentoring early-career faculty, and providing strategic and tactical leadership at the levels of the department, School, and University. They will also be able to articulate a long-term vision for the future of the department to address existing and anticipated academic and research needs and to advance public health, both around the corner and around the world.
Leadership and Administration Provide visionary leadership to the department that inspires and catalyzes excellence and innovation by faculty, staff, and trainees at all levels. In partnership with the Director of Administration, oversee and manage departmental operations, including budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning. Develop and implement a strategic plan for diversifying and expanding the portfolio of funding to the department through grants, contracts, and gifts. Play a key role in engagement with alumni and donors to support fundraising for the department and School. Set clear and consistent goals for department faculty, staff, administrators, and students. Oversee strategic recruitment of new faculty members. Oversee strategic curriculum development and planning for both required and elective departmental courses. Define, prioritize, and measure the effectiveness of key programs and core work areas. Foster a collaborative, transparent, diverse, and inclusive culture within the department and School. Collaboration Collaborate with the Dean and senior leadership to define and advance the School's overarching strategic direction. Foster a positive and supportive work environment that encourages innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Diversity Statement At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe diversity is integral to our mission of improving public health education, research, and policy. We are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School.
Basic Qualifications Doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, MD) with scholarly expertise in relevant areas of public health. Significant experience in procuring research and career-development funding, conducting academic public health research, teaching, administration, and leadership. Forward-thinking leadership skills and ability to communicate the department and School mission and vision. Deep commitment to diversity and inclusion in all dimensions of public health. Well-developed ability to prioritize within a complex environment. Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of judgment. Flexibility to pivot due to unforeseen events while maintaining core priorities.
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