Geopolitics Assistant / Associate Professor - Research-Driven

FACULTY POSITION

emlyon business school invites applications for a full-time faculty position in Geopolitics, open at the (Assistant/ Associate Professor) level, to begin in September 2027.

We are looking to recruit a candidate with:

• A strong academic research profile, capable of publishing in top-tier journals and contributing to the school’s international research visibility; with a genuine commitment to high-quality teaching and to engaging, experiential learning;
   

This position is part of emlyon’s broader strategic ambition to combine academic excellence with impactful, hands-on learning that is deeply connected to the business world and societal challenges.

YOUR ROLE AT EMLYON

The selected candidate will join the Department of Law, Management and Social Sciences and the OCE Research Centre (https://oce.em-lyon.com/), contributing to:

• Cutting-edge research in their area of expertise;
• The development and delivery of innovative, action-based learning experiences, with ties to professional ecosystems (companies, startups, NGOs, public institutions, and international organizations).

Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate (BBA), graduate (Programme Grande École), and master's level programs. Most courses will be taught on the Lyon campus, with possible sessions on other emlyon campuses in France or internationally.

CANDIDATE PROFILES – We Are Open to Different Strengths

We are open to diverse academic trajectories, and encourage applications from candidates who correspond to one of the following:

Research-Focused Profile

• Ph.D. in Geopolitics or a related discipline.
• A strong research profile grounded in qualitative and/or ethnographic methods, in dialogue with critical perspectives
• Priority research areas: geopolitical risk; digital geopolitics; energy and resource geopolitics; environmental geopolitics;
• Proven publication record (or high potential) in top-tier journals
• Ability to teach, in both French and English, geopolitics courses as well as more general social-science courses, across undergraduate (BBA), graduate (Programme Grande École), and master’s levels;
• Ability to create synergies between research, teaching, and practice. Interest in pedagogical innovation and contribution to program development

Additional Requirements

• Desire to work in a collaborative, international environment
• Capacity for institutional service (program management, curriculum design, external representation)
• Willingness to relocate to Lyon or surrounding area (relocation support provided)

The candidate will be expected to contribute to and will be regularly evaluated based on three areas of activities: (1) research performance, (2) teaching and student supervision, and (3) institutional service (e.g., administration, service in committees, representation of the school in the media and events).

We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds (gender, ethnic background, nationality) to apply.

Fluency and teaching experience in English and French is required.

The selected candidate is expected to be based in Lyon or nearby area. emlyon has set-up a relocation policy to support the moving process.

Salary and conditions are competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
 

THE SCHOOL  

Founded in 1872, emlyon business school is one of the oldest business schools in Europe. It belongs to the top 1% of business schools worldwide recognized by the triple accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

emlyon business school welcomes 9,260 students from 130 nationalities across its three campuses in Lyon, Shanghai, and Paris. The School relies on a Faculty of 174 international professors and researchers, as well as a network of 220 academic partners, to deliver top-quality trainings recognized in the world’s best rankings. It boasts a community of 48,000 alumni.

As a Mission-driven company since 2021, emlyon business school cultivates the ability to drive change in resonance with the world by placing the hybridization of skills with social and environmental responsibility at the core of its training programs, supported by teaching methods that combine action and thinking. 

emlyon has endorsed the European Charter for researchers and is awarded HR excellence in research by the European Commission. The HR Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is available at the following link: https://em-lyon.com/en/faculty-and-research/hr-strategy-for-researchers

THE ENVIRONMENT

emlyon business school is at the center of a vibrant ecosystem of large universities with excellent research teams in engineering, computer science, natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities (see: https://www.lyoncampus.com/en/welcome/lyon-a-city-of-innovation)

Lyon is the second largest city in France, with a long entrepreneurship tradition and a solid digital industry.

Further information

• About emlyon business school: http://www.em-lyon.com/en/

THE APPLICATION SHOULD CONSIST OF:

• A cover letter including the motivation to join emlyon business school 
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae
• A research statement
• A teaching statement (with teaching evaluations, where available)
• A list of papers under review or in progress
• Two references/names with contact information

Possible questions about the position can be addressed to Professor Farida SOUIAH, chair of the recruitment committee at emlyon business school: [email protected]

All application materials should be submitted in English via this website page. The application materials will not be returned.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS 

emlyon business school complies with the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment principles as stated in the European Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers. 

The selection committee is appointed by the Head of department and composed of three to eight professors, ensuring a balanced representation of gender, national origin, and professor grades. 

Pre-selection step: the selection committee reviews all the applications to short-list the candidates who meet the most criteria as described in the candidate’s characteristics.

Short-listed candidates are invited to a recruitment day (held by videoconference in most cases) with 

a) a job talk presentation 

b) one-on-one interviews with committee members.  

Each permanent professor attending the job talk completes an assessment grid, and the results are aggregated to identify the top one and top two applicants. 

Finalists are interviewed by the Dean for Faculty & Research and/or the Associate Dean for Research. The final decision is communicated by the Dean for Faculty & Research. 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15/11/2026

emlyon reserves the right to consider applications submitted after the deadline.

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OCE RESEARCH CENTER

OCE (Organizations, Critical & Ethnographic perspectives) research center is home to researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including sociology, anthropology, political science, accounting, and management. What its members share is a common commitment to critical approaches and to qualitative and ethnographic methods. The center strives for high-quality research, reflected in a publication record in top-level journals both within and beyond the Financial Times 50 list.