Professor of Urban Planning

Position Overview The Department of Urban Planning and Design and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (GSD) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Professor of Urban Planning with tenure. The position is intended for individuals pursuing full‑time academic careers whose record in scholarship and teaching is recognized by peers as a preeminent and enduring intellectual contribution to the field. We seek an internationally recognized planning scholar whose work engages with the built environment through a variety of disciplinary approaches. Experience with planning practice is a plus, as is a history of innovative teaching that addresses the designed environment. We are not specifying areas of expertise within the field, but we are especially interested in candidates who are committed to interdisciplinary engagement within the department and across the school and university. About the Graduate School of Design (GSD) and Department of Urban Planning and Design In the pursuit of more productive, equitable, sustainable, and beautiful built and natural environments, Harvard University's GSD offers a dynamic setting for the exchange of ideas across the fields of urban planning, urban design, real estate, architecture, landscape architecture, design studies, and design engineering. The faculty of the Department of Urban Planning and Design explores the designed environment from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and points of view. The Department offers graduate degrees in urban planning, urban design, and real estate and features a pedagogically diverse array of interdisciplinary studios, lecture courses, seminars, and independent research that consider practical and theoretical issues affecting cities and metropolitan areas globally. Approximately 200 students from around the world work with the faculty to create an intimate, engaged educational atmosphere in which students thrive and learn. The Department is built on the conviction that classroom and community experiences are enriched by creating inclusive spaces for multiple perspectives to be surfaced, understood, and debated. The Department is committed to translating these values into its programmatic policies, practices, pedagogy, and methods of engagement in classroom settings and beyond the GSD. Basic Qualifications We seek candidates who demonstrate a high level of intelligence, clarity of expression, analytical ability, critical judgment, creativity, and initiative, and who support free inquiry and expression by others and constructive, collegial collaborations with faculty, staff, and students. A record of academic and creative achievement—including published work and design—is essential. Continued study and public exposition of research and professional accomplishments are normal obligations for Harvard faculty members. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of research productivity appropriate to their advanced career stage, including a sizeable record of refereed publications, invited talks, and national and international conference presentations. They should be able to secure external grant funds and lead research teams of graduate students and postdoctoral associates. Individuals in this position will teach, conduct creative scholarship or practice, and fulfill academic service responsibilities. Appointments Appointments are made with tenure on a full‑time basis with a requirement for residency in the Greater Boston area. Candidates must have a Ph.D. or comparable terminal degree appropriate to support an appointment to a senior position in planning. Professional experience and experience in academic leadership are welcomed. Application Instructions Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in September 2026. Applicants should submit: Cover letter Curriculum Vitae For candidates with practice experience, plan or design materials up to 15 MB Candidates advancing in the selection process may be asked to provide additional material at a later date. If visa sponsorship is needed, Harvard retains the discretion to determine which visa status is appropriate and whether a visa sponsorship application will ultimately be submitted, including payment of any applicable fees. EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non‑discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non‑discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination. #J-18808-Ljbffr AACTE Connect360