HOD - Political Science

Location: Mohali

About the Company

The Head of Department (HoD) provides the primary strategic leadership and administrative management for the Department of Political Science. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the HoD is responsible for maintaining the department’s academic integrity, fostering a culture of high-impact research, and ensuring the efficient operation of all departmental functions. The successful candidate will act as a visionary leader who champions the discipline while navigating the complexities of modern higher education governance.

About the Role

The HoD is responsible for defining the strategic direction of the department, ensuring curriculum relevance, and aligning departmental goals with the university’s broader mission (e.g., NAAC/NIRF accreditation targets).

Responsibilities

Academic Leadership & Vision:  Defining the strategic direction of the department, ensuring curriculum relevance, and aligning departmental goals with the university’s broader mission (e.g., NAAC/NIRF accreditation targets).
Faculty Management:  Overseeing recruitment, performance appraisals, workload allocation, and mentoring junior faculty. The HOD is responsible for fostering a culture of research excellence and ensuring faculty meet publication/teaching KPIs.
Curriculum & Quality Assurance:  Ensuring the Political Science curriculum (BA/MA/PhD) remains competitive, industry-aligned, and incorporates modern tools (e.g., data analysis, digital policy frameworks) as per the university's Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).
Operational Oversight:  Managing daily departmental activities, including:
Time-table preparation and room allocation.
Monitoring student attendance and internal assessment schedules.
Supervising examination coordination and result processing.
Institutional & External Liaison:  Representing the department in Academic Council meetings, managing departmental budgets, and acting as a point of contact for external seminars, guest lectures, and student placement initiatives.
Student Support:  Overseeing the grievance redressal mechanism for students and facilitating mentorship programs, internship opportunities, and competitive exam preparation (e.g., civil services coaching).

Qualifications

PhD, Doctoral Qualification or Professorship with 12+ years of experience.
Backgrounds typically from Social Sciences - Political Science is preferred.
Postgraduate qualification in a relevant branch of Liberal Arts.
Membership of appropriate academic and professional networks.
Proven administrative experience—such as having served as a program coordinator, committee chair, or lead researcher—is usually required.
A distinguished record of peer-reviewed research (Scopus/Web of Science).
Networking with think-tanks/NGO/wellbeing societies.
Worked on a project with funding from Government/ Corporate.
Significant experience in a higher education institution involving teaching, curriculum management and development, research or consultancy or related income generation activities.
Evidence of effective strategic planning and implementation together with experience in a leadership and management role.
Evidence of successful academic leadership.

Experience of generating external income for research, consultancy, or training.

Experience of managing staff is required, with teamwork a crucial component.

Demonstrated proficiency in budgetary planning and the management of multi-source funding.
Ensure departmental operations adhere to university bylaws, legal mandates, and ethical standards.