The Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech invites applications for a two-year, full time, renewable Instructor position in the area of national security. The teaching requirement for this position will be eight courses per year (4/4), with the appointment beginning on August 10, 2026.

The position will primarily support the National Security and Foreign Affairs major and the National Security Studies concentration, both located in the Department of Political Science. We are seeking faculty specifically interested in teaching and curriculum initiatives revolving around areas such as national security, strategic studies, terrorism, human security, intelligence studies, international diplomacy, global governance, or related areas of study within these specialties. The faculty may also be asked to develop experiential learning opportunities for students in cooperation with the Director of the Diplomacy Lab. As our institution is one of a handful of senior military colleges in the United States and home to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, the Department of Political Science has traditionally had high teaching demand in areas related to national security, such as national security strategy, global conflict and war, modern warfare, global terrorism and counterterrorism, and political violence. The position may also include consultation with departmental leadership to enhance and improve curriculum development.

For further information on our National Security programs, see https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-political-science/academic-programs/national-security-and-foreign-affairs-major.html; https://catalog.vt.edu/undergraduate/liberal-arts-human-sciences/political-science/political-science-ba-national-security-studies/; and https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-political-science/academic-programs/national-security-and-foreign-affairs-minor.html.

The Department of Political Science seeks broadly trained applicants, technically proficient in security studies.

• M.A./M.S. degree in Government, Political Science, or related field by the time of appointment. 
• Candidates must have adequate evidence of teaching effectiveness to meet the Department’s key teaching needs.

• A Ph.D. in Government, Political Science, or related field by the time of appointment.
• Prior experience with and/or substantive training in the above noted areas.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

The starting salary for this position is $50,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

April 27, 2026

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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