Title: Assistant Professor (TT) of Educational Leadership

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Education

Department: Educ Policy Research & Admin

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

Seeking applications for a new faculty position – Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

Area of focus: Educational policy and leadership in US K-12 education.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking qualified candidates for a new tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Educational Leadership to join the dedicated and accomplished community of faculty, students, and staff in the Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration (EPRA) within the College of Education.

The Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration (EPRA) is home to the Center for Education Policy, which houses the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment and the Annual Massachusetts Educator Survey. These and other initiatives position us as active partners with school districts throughout Massachusetts and beyond. Our district partnerships are grounded in the real, articulated needs of schools, with particular emphasis on sustained, job-embedded professional learning for school leaders in areas such as instructional leadership, equity-centered practice, and organizational change.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate expertise in education policy and leadership in US K-12 education, with a research agenda that examines pressing problems of K-12 policy, leadership, and practice. We seek scholars whose work generates scholarship that not only advances theory but also informs actionable improvements in educational systems. Candidates should be prepared to contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations and leverage district partnerships to ensure programming is responsive to workforce needs and grounded in practice.

Essential Functions

Tenure track faculty at the University of Massachusetts are employed for 9-month contracts with opportunities to engage in additional teaching, research, and community service during summer months and intersessions.

Tenure track faculty are expected to teach two courses each semester (undergraduate and/or graduate level, in-person and/or online), maintain a robust student advising caseload, have an active research and scholarship agenda that includes procuring external funding, and provide service related to their expertise to the college, university, and community.

Minimum Qualifications

Successful applicants will have earned a doctorate in Education, Public Policy, or a relevant social science field. They will have broad expertise in education policy and leadership in US K-12 education, with a research agenda that examines pressing problems of K-12 policy, leadership, and/or practice and the ways these issues shape public education.

Regardless of their research focus areas, candidates must have experience working on externally funded projects and demonstrate potential to secure external funding. In addition to their research, candidates must demonstrate the ability to teach classes across multiple program levels. Specific teaching responsibilities will include relevant courses in the multi-campus undergraduate certificate in Education Policy, Research, and Leadership; the M.Ed. in Education Policy, Research, and Leadership; and the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• A track record of publication in recognized outlets, with a clear research trajectory.
• Success in procuring external funding for research initiatives.
• An emphasis on educational equity and access, particularly related to underrepresented populations in educational leadership.
• Experience with program development and curriculum design at multiple educational levels.
• Experience designing or teaching in online or hybrid educational programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and with community partners.
• A record of effective mentoring and supervision of graduate students and early-career scholars.
• Experience with principal licensure programming, including familiarity with licensure requirements and pathways.

Additional Details

Located in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a leading center of public higher education in the Northeast. Our campus-wide strategic plan calls for our campus community to engage in work “for the common good,” and the College of Education is dedicated to advancing “education for a socially just world.” As the flagship public land-grant university of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our mission is to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use our knowledge for the betterment of society.

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

This full-time tenure-track position starts on September 1, 2027.

Salary Information

The University expects to pay within an approximate range between $79,350 and $127,397.

Please note: The low end of this range is based on the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA. The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors, including faculty rank and required relevant certifications, when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To ensure consideration for a Winter/Spring interview, we encourage you to apply no later than December 1, 2026.

Candidates must provide the following in their application package:
1) Cover letter that lays out your interest in this position and why you are a good fit.
2) Current curriculum vitae.
3) Statement of research outlining your accomplishments briefly, focusing on your future plans and potential fit at UMass Amherst.
4) Statement of teaching, including your teaching philosophy and potential courses you might offer at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
5) Contact information for three professional references.

Current and previous UMass employees applying for this position should expect that their past teaching, advising, and service contributions will be reviewed as part of their application. This includes, but is not limited to, review of SRTI scores and comments for each course that was taught. Individuals who have previous experience teaching at another university are strongly encouraged to provide relevant course feedback scores and comments for review by the search committee.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.