Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

New York University’s School of Global Public Health (GPH) seeks a distinguished scholar and visionary leader to serve as its next Chair for the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). The incoming chair will work with colleagues in the department to sharpen the strategy and continue defining a cohesive set of research priorities and educational programs to establish the department’s reputation in the field. The chair will also continue developing policies and procedures for a growing department and foster an environment where students, staff, and faculty can develop and thrive.  

NYU founded GPH in 2015 to elevate significantly its scholarly work targeted at understanding and generating solutions for the world’s most pressing public health challenges. In its first decade, GPH was ranked among the top 20 schools of public health in the nation and has experienced significant growth and success in its early years. The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences is central to the school’s mission of improving health equity and outcomes related to the social determinants of human health. SBS is the largest department at the school, with 19 faculty representing a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science. SBS faculty members include experts in diverse topics such as infectious disease, discrimination and stigma, aging, maternal and child health, substance use, and mental health. Their excellence in research, teaching, and practice informs the prevention of major public health threats and promotes health systems centered on human behavior change principles. SBS’s academic programs help students contextualize today’s health threats and prepare them to address the unforeseen health threats of tomorrow. The chair is responsible for overseeing the core curriculum and will be charged with ensuring that pedagogy, course offerings, and degree-granting programs are at the cutting edge of the field. 

The chair will join and lead a diverse group of collegial faculty to nurture the department’s strengths, while actively listening and responding to constituent needs and input, clarifying its focus, and developing its strategic agenda. The successful candidate will be an established scholar with a doctoral degree in a social science or health-related field, an international reputation, a broad understanding of the department’s key content areas, and a strong record of external funding. As part of the senior leadership team at GPH, the chair will be a thought partner and collaborative colleague, bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to support the school’s mission of reinventing the public health paradigm. Overall, the chair will sustain the department’s transparent, collaborative atmosphere and ensure that students, staff, and faculty feel valued and have a strong sense of belonging.

The successful candidate will have a doctoral degree or equivalent in demography, economics, epidemiology, political science, public health, psychology, sociology, or a related health or social science field and have an established record of scholarly achievement. The Chair will have a strong record of external research support and scholarly achievement, administrative experience in a university or research setting, a demonstrated commitment to working with an interdisciplinary faculty, and the desire to realize the mission and vision of the school and department.

Correspondence and applications, which should include a CV and letter of interest, may be submitted electronically below.

John Muckle is leading this search with Corinne Crews.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $330,000 - $430,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.