Appointment Status: Tenure

Department: IU Indianapolis Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Location
Indianapolis

Position Summary
The Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs ("O'Neill School") at Indiana University (IU) seeks an accomplished scholar and visionary leader to serve as the director of the Indiana University Public Policy Institute ("PPI") and join the faculty as a full-time, tenured Full or Associate Professor. This is a rare opportunity to lead a premier policy institute at a top-tier urban research institution, driving high-impact policy analysis and public engagement at local, state, and national levels. The O'Neill School has a presence on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, with PPI operating across both locations. The faculty position (including the tenure home) will be based on the Indianapolis campus.
The O'Neill School seeks a dynamic and forward-thinking leader to advance policy research, secure external funding, and foster partnerships that translate academic insights into real-world impact. The director will be responsible for setting strategic priorities, developing and securing competitive external grants, overseeing research initiatives, and building cross-disciplinary collaborations. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape public policy through rigorous scholarship and broad dissemination of knowledge. The director will engage with policymakers, government agencies, nonprofits, industry, faculty, and students to ensure that PPI's research informs decision-making and contributes to effective policies that benefit society. A strong emphasis is placed on evidence-based solutions that address critical public challenges.
The director will oversee the daily operations of PPI, including fiscal management, staff coordination, and strategic planning while ensuring compliance with university policies, federal regulations, and ethical standards in all research activities. In collaboration with PPI staff, the director will be responsible for reports, proposals, and other documentation to communicate PPI's progress and impact to school leadership, advisory board members, and external partners. The director will be responsible for the leadership and management of 12 full-time staff (i.e., policy analysts, project managers, a graphic designer, and a technical writer).

Indiana University Public Policy Institute Established in 1992, PPI produces thoughtful, policy-related research, analysis, and community engagement. Sponsors and clients of PPI utilize research to enhance their programs and services, to develop strategies and policies, to evaluate the impact of their decisions, and ultimately to help the people they serve. The PPI is home to four unique research centers: (1) Center for Health and Justice Research, (2) Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, (3) Manufacturing Policy Initiative, and (4) Center for Civic Literary.
Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs The O'Neill School is the largest public administration and policy school in the United States. In Indianapolis, the school offers bachelor's and master's degrees in public affairs, criminal justice, and organizational leadership. In addition, O'Neill's Executive Education program provides both credit and non-credit programming to a broad portfolio of clients. Only blocks away from the state capital, municipal government, and countless non-profit and industry organizations, the O'Neill School is centrally located to foster community partnerships to enhance research, teaching, and service opportunities. According to the 2023-24 U.S. News and World Report Rankings of Best Public Affairs Graduate Schools, the O'Neill School on the Indianapolis campus ranks nationally in the following area: Nonprofit Management (#2), Environmental Policy & Management (#13), Urban Policy (#17), Local Government Management (#20), Public Management and Leadership (#23), Public Policy Analysis (#32), and Overall Best Graduate Program (#36).
Indiana University Indianapolis Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) is one of the premier urban research universities in the country. Classified as a Research 1 (R1) institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, IU Indianapolis secures annually over $50 million in external research support across more than 2,000 awards and 56 unique research centers and institutes. IU Indianapolis is home to 17 degree-granting schools, which serve more than 25,000 students from over 100 countries around the world. IU Indianapolis is the state's urban research and academic health sciences campus whose mission is to advance the state of Indiana and the intellectual growth of its residents to the highest levels nationally and internationally through research and creative activity, teaching and learning, and civic engagement. By offering a distinctive range of bachelor, master, professional, and Ph.D. degrees, IU Indianapolis promotes the educational, cultural, and economic development of central Indiana and beyond through innovative collaborations and external partnerships. IU Indianapolis's accelerated pathway toward continued success is articulated in our bold IUI 2030 Strategic Plan.
Indiana University Bloomington Founded in 1820, Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) is the quintessential Big Ten research institution. Located in Bloomington, IN (just 50 miles south of Indianapolis), IUB is home to more than 48,000 students across 16 degree-granting colleges and schools. It constantly strives to embody its mission to create, disseminate, preserve, and apply knowledge through its commitments to cutting-edge research, scholarship, arts, and creative activity. As one of the leading research universities in the country, IUB secures over 3,000 research grants a year totaling almost $800 million annually. IUB has articulated its plan toward continued excellence in the IUB 2030 Strategic Plan. Nestled in the rolling hills of south-central Indiana, and home to 85,000 residents, the city of Bloomington offers the feel of a college town with many of the amenities of a large city. From off-Broadway plays and musicals, the LOTUS World Festival of Music, quick access to 250,000 acres of public recreation lands, outstanding public schools and a reasonable cost of living, Bloomington offers much to all.
City of Indianapolis As the state capital, Indianapolis encompasses a metropolitan population of 1.9 million making it the 14th largest city in the United States. This diverse city boasts a high quality of life, low cost of living, and easy commutes. Indianapolis has six thriving Cultural Districts, each offering a distinct mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Named "the biggest and boldest step by any American city" by Project for Public Spaces in New York City, the $63 million Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an internationally acclaimed eight-mile biking and walking trail that connects all six of Indy's Cultural Districts. Indianapolis is one of the country's most walkable cities, with numerous parks, paths, and recreational amenities promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. It is home to outstanding cultural institutions as well as companies such as Eli Lilly & Co, Roche Diagnostics, Salesforce, and Dow AgroSciences. Indianapolis, often called Indy, is home to the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Indiana Fever (WNBA), and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) and is widely recognized for hosting the Indianapolis 500, the world's oldest major automobile race taking place each year on Memorial Day weekend. Indianapolis also hosts regularly major sports events such as the NCAA Final Four. Traveling to and around Indianapolis is easy, convenient, and affordable. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is approximately 15 minutes from downtown and has been named the best airport in North America by Airports Council International for seven consecutive years. Known as the Crossroads of America, Indy is within a day's drive of over half of the country's population.

Basic Qualifications
The O'Neill School seeks an accomplished scholar and visionary leader to serve as the director of the Indiana University Public Policy Institute ("PPI") and join the faculty as a full-time, tenured Full or Associate Professor. The O'Neill School welcomes candidates with research specialization in the academic disciplines and policy work represented across the O'Neill School and PPI. We foster a highly interdisciplinary research environment. Candidates with a Ph.D. in a variety of areas such as public administration, economics, public policy, criminal justice, sustainability, urban policy, leadership and management, or resilient communities (as examples) are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise through a proven track record of externally funded research/community programs and experience leading research teams. Candidates with a portfolio of funded projects from a diverse set of sponsors (e.g., federal, state, local, and foundations) and/or experience leading multidisciplinary teams are highly desirable. The director will benefit from philanthropic foundation resources that partially support the operational mission of PPI and enable the director to implement strategic initiatives. The director will also seek external resources to further support the work of PPI.

The director will work collaboratively with the dean's office of the O'Neill School to shape the organizational structure and mission of PPI. It is expected that the director will cultivate partnerships with the O'Neill School's faculty in Indianapolis and Bloomington. Moreover, a core value of PPI is to engage in policy-relevant research and education that involves community partners and thus, the director will be expected to collaborate with state, local, and industry stakeholders as potential clients.

The O'Neill School welcomes candidates with research specialization in the academic disciplines and policy work represented across the O'Neill School and PPI. We foster a highly interdisciplinary research environment. Candidates with a Ph.D. in a variety of areas such as public administration, economics, public policy, criminal justice, sustainability, urban policy, leadership and management, or resilient communities (as examples) are encouraged to apply.

Department Contact for Questions
Ranna Johnson (rannjohn@iu.edu), Director of Human Resources.

Special Instructions
The start date of the position is August 1, 2025. Candidates must have a scholarly record commensurate with an appointment as either a tenured Associate or Full Professor in the O'Neill School. Review of applications will begin March 24, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, please submit (1) a cover letter outlining research as well as qualifications; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) names and contact information of four people who can provide letters of recommendation. Submit the document through our online application system.

For Best Consideration Date: 03/24/2025

Expected Start Date: 08/01/2025

Posting Number
IU-101189-2025

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