University of Southern California

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

Professor in Urban Planning

Position Description and Qualifications

The Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California seeks a senior faculty member at the rank of professor to serve as the Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. The ideal candidate will have a stellar record of scholarship and leadership in urban planning. We are open to a scholar and leader from a wide range of urban planning and related fields, such as environmental planning, transportation, urban design, housing, informatics, urban geography, urban economics, history, and community development. We are interested in scholars from all relevant disciplines.  We seek candidates with an interest in the wide array of issue areas that are part of the school’s portfolio. Applicants must present evidence of a creative and intellectually rigorous research agenda, recognized leadership capabilities, vision for the future of the urban planning field, and demonstrated ability to advance one of the Price School’s most prestigious and influential departments.

About the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

The department houses some core programs at the Price School. It offers a nationally ranked professional master’s degree, Master of Urban Planning, as well as a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development. In addition, it offers an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies and Planning. The department contains 13 faculty spanning various research interests, including informatics, the arts, disaster planning and environmental justice, economic development, housing, transport, demography, health and wellness, and urban design.

The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost policy schools 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 create innovative approaches to critical issues ranging from healthcare 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 is currently ranked 4th nationally amongst all Public Affairs schools and 2nd nationally in urban policy.

The Price School, founded in 1929, is anchored by four departments: Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis, Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, and the Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Estate Development. 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 METRANS Transportation Consortium, The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, The Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public, The Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy, 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. 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 various 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 $200,000-$275,000.

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 all qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment 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 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 outlining their research accomplishments and impact, teaching philosophy and approach, and perspective on academic leadership in a professional setting. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.