Designing the Search

Phase 2

Purpose of This Phase

Designing the search moves departmental priorities into an intentional recruitment and evaluation framework that will guide the remainder of the process.

What Happens in This Phase

The search committee, working in collaboration with the FSP, develops the job description, determines application materials, plans recruitment and outreach, and establishes shared expectations for evaluation and deliberation.

Key Faculty Decisions

Committees typically decide:

• How the position and field are described in the job ad
• Which application materials best reflect what the department values
• How candidates will be evaluated and compared
• Where and how to recruit to reach a strong and appropriate pool

Required Steps

• Approval of the final job description by the Provost’s Office
• Use of Workday to post job description
• Inclusion of templated institutional language

Recommended Practices

• Articulating evaluation criteria before reviewing applications
• Aligning outreach strategies with departmental priorities
• Discussing committee norms for communication and deliberation (i.e. who votes? Under what circumstances?) 

Tools & Resources

• Job Ad Development Guide
• Sample Job Ads (by discipline)
• Outreach Planning Worksheet
• Sample Evaluation Criteria  

Supports & Contacts

• Faculty Search Partner
• School contact for position posting (i.e. Liza Williams in A&S, Sam Leggett in Jepson)
• Human Resources
• Office of Inclusion & Belonging
• Dean’s Office
• Provost’s Office
• Faculty Hub