| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Education and Teaching |
| Level | Senior management |
| Reports to | Head of Department (College) |
| Direct reports | Junior Research Fellow, Project Assistant |
| Experience | 10+ years of university teaching and research, including PhD guidance |
Professor job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Professor
Department: Education and Teaching
Reports to: Head of Department (College)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Professor holds the senior-most teaching post in a university department. Beyond teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses, a professor leads research, guides PhD scholars, wins funded projects, mentors junior faculty and shapes the curriculum through the Board of Studies. Many professors also serve as Head of Department, dean or committee chair by rotation. A good professor raises the department's research standing and brings in grants, collaborations and doctoral students while keeping their own teaching strong.
Key responsibilities
- Teach the allotted undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including advanced electives, and set and evaluate their internal and end-semester papers.
- Guide PhD scholars from topic selection to thesis submission, and hold research advisory committee reviews every six months.
- Write proposals for funded projects to agencies such as ANRF, DST, ICMR or ICSSR, or to industry, and manage sanctioned grants to closure.
- Publish research in peer-reviewed indexed journals and present work at national and international conferences.
- Lead syllabus revision in the Board of Studies and introduce electives that reflect current research and industry needs.
- Mentor assistant and associate professors on teaching methods, research proposals and writing for publication.
- Build collaborations with industry and other institutions through MoUs, consultancy assignments and joint supervision.
- Serve on research, ethics, purchase or admission committees, and take up the HoD or dean role when assigned by rotation.
- Act as paper setter, external examiner and thesis evaluator for other universities when invited.
- Supply research, consultancy and patent data for NAAC, NIRF and the university's annual report.
Requirements
- PhD in the relevant discipline
- Master's degree with at least 55 percent marks or an equivalent grade
- Publications and research guidance that meet current UGC norms for the professor's post
- 10+ years of university teaching and research, including PhD guidance
KRAs and KPIs for a Professor
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Research publications | At least two papers a year in indexed peer-reviewed journals |
| Doctoral guidance | Scholars progressing on schedule, with at least one PhD thesis submitted every two years |
| Funded research | At least one externally funded project or consultancy assignment active at all times |
| Teaching quality | Student feedback average of 4 out of 5 or above in every course taught |
| Curriculum contribution | At least one new or revised course approved through the Board of Studies each year |
| Faculty mentoring | Each mentored junior colleague submits at least one proposal or paper a year |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Scopus and Web of Science, SPSS, R or Python, Plagiarism detection software, Reference manager such as Zotero, Learning management system, Laboratory instruments of the discipline.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Department (College), Dean Academics, Principal, Pro Vice Chancellor
Interview questions for a Professor
- Describe your most cited paper and why it matters in your field.
- How do you select PhD scholars and keep them on schedule?
- Which funding agency would you approach for your next project, and what would the proposal promise?
- How would you redesign our postgraduate curriculum in your subject for the next five years?
- A scholar's draft chapter shows high similarity in the plagiarism check. What do you do?
- How do you keep publishing while carrying a heavy teaching load?
Managing a Professor in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your education and teaching team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What is the role of a professor in a university?
A professor teaches advanced courses, leads research, supervises PhD scholars, brings in funded projects and mentors younger faculty. Professors also shape the curriculum through the Board of Studies, examine for other universities and often hold administrative posts such as head of department or dean by rotation.
What is the difference between a professor, an associate professor and an assistant professor?
They are three steps of the same faculty ladder. An assistant professor is the entry post and spends most time teaching. An associate professor adds research leadership and PhD guidance. A professor is the senior post, expected to lead research, win grants, guide several scholars and shape the department's direction.
What are the eligibility criteria for a professor in India?
A professor needs a PhD and a long record of teaching and research, with a minimum number of publications and research guidance set by UGC regulations. Most universities also look for funded projects and doctoral students guided to completion. Check the current UGC regulations and the university's advertisement for the exact minimums.