Professor job description.
A professor teaches courses, conducts original research, and contributes to their academic department at a college or university. Responsibilities include developing curriculum, delivering lectures, advising students, and publishing scholarly work in their field of expertise. Professors often serve on academic committees and participate in institutional governance. The role requires deep subject-matter expertise, strong communication skills, and a commitment to both teaching quality and ongoing research or professional contribution.
The Professor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Professor Reports to: Department Chair or Dean
A professor teaches courses, conducts original research, and contributes to their academic department at a college or university. Responsibilities include developing curriculum, delivering lectures, advising students, and publishing scholarly work in their field of expertise. Professors often serve on academic committees and participate in institutional governance. The role requires deep subject-matter expertise, strong communication skills, and a commitment to both teaching quality and ongoing research or professional contribution.
- Design and deliver undergraduate and/or graduate course curriculum
- Lecture, lead seminars, and facilitate class discussions
- Advise and mentor students on coursework, research, and academic planning
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Department Chair or Dean
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Design and deliver undergraduate and/or graduate course curriculum
- Lecture, lead seminars, and facilitate class discussions
- Advise and mentor students on coursework, research, and academic planning
- Conduct original research and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals or conferences
- Grade assignments, exams, and evaluate student performance
- Serve on departmental or university committees
- Pursue grant funding or professional development relevant to their field
- Stay current with developments in their academic discipline
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent terminal degree) in the relevant field
- Demonstrated record of research, publication, or professional practice
- Teaching experience at the college or university level
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Established publication record or ongoing grant-funded research
- Prior tenure-track or tenured academic appointment
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Professor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Professor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Department Chair or Dean) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What is the difference between a professor and a lecturer?
- Professors typically hold a terminal degree, conduct research, and may be on a tenure track, while lecturers are usually hired primarily for teaching without the same research expectations.
- Does hiring a professor always require a completed PhD?
- Most tenure-track professor roles require a completed doctoral degree, though some institutions hire ABD (all-but-dissertation) candidates or industry experts for specific teaching-focused positions.
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Research Scientist
A Research Scientist designs and conducts studies to generate new knowledge or develop products, working in fields such as life sciences, technology, or applied research.
This Professor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.