"Professor of Education Policy"

Department: Education
Vacancy ID: 040186
Closing Date: 06-Apr-2026

Maynooth University seeks an outstanding academic to join our staff as Professor of Education Policy at the Department of Education. This is one of three new Professor (B) appointments in the Faculty of Social Sciences aligned to the Society and Public Policy Research Beacon under Maynooth University’s Strategic Plan 2023–2028.

Together, these posts represent a coordinated Faculty-level investment designed to strengthen research capacity, research-informed education, and societal impact in areas of critical public importance for Ireland and Europe.

This new Professor post contributes to Maynooth University’s commitment to research-informed, practice-engaged education and policy-relevant scholarship, supporting the University’s mission to deliver excellence, opportunity and impact.

We are seeking an internationally recognised scholar with an outstanding record of research, teaching and leadership in the field of Education Policy. Our particular interest is on the connection between university teacher education, accreditation and governmental policy. We are seeking a Professor who can engage actively in the debates on accreditation of teachers, government investment in teaching, and in university teacher education, influencing at a policy level.

The successful candidate will provide academic leadership in the field of Education Policy, contributing to the strategic direction of the department. They will contribute to the development of Education Policy studies across our programmes, mentor early-career academics, and engage in high-impact research that informs educational practice and policy at national and international levels. The successful candidate will foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the university and with external stakeholders, including policymakers and practitioners in the field. They will design and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, supervise Doctoral students and support the development of research capacity within the department. They are also expected to engage in public policy debates and contribute to the University’s impact and knowledge exchange agenda. Please note that as part of the workload allocation process, teaching duties and service duties related to the Department, Faculty, or University may be assigned by the Head of the Department, their delegate, or the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary university goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued. Professors will be expected to provide significant intellectual leadership, through a demonstrated commitment to both education and research, and also to contribute to the effective leadership and management of the department, the faculty and the university.

Salary:
Professor B (2026): €105,554 – €141,089 p.a. (6 points)

Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions.

Closing Date:
23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Monday, 6th April 2026.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified above. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

Late applications will not be accepted.