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[hopsage]

My partner recently landed her dream job:  a TT position at one of best departments in her field.  Of course she took it.  At the time she signed the contract, she did not discuss a spousal hire.  There was no evidence of anything coming up in my area (different department), and I already have a good shot at a TT position elsewhere.  Then, about a week after she signed the contract, a 1-year, renewable visiting position opened there in my area's department.

I've got 4 years' full-time experience already under my belt, all at good institutions:  1 year as an instructor before the degree, 1 year as a post-doc, and 2 more as a VAP.  My publication record is light, but I have very strong teaching evaluations, going back to early grad school, and I've taught nearly every major course in the undergrad curriculum.  I think I'd have a good chance at this position on my own merits, and I know I'd do it well.

But, given that the alternative is unemployment or a 2500 mile separation, I'd like to maximize my chances for this position, by any ethical means available.  So, do I mention in my cover letter that she'll be joining another department at this school?  Do we have her inquire with her own department to see if they can help influence this in our favor?  Is there any possibility of that hurting her standing at the school?  I think I'm even willing to give up my own immediate TT opportunity in order to stay together, but I have been doing the VAP hamster treadmill for awhile:  does taking yet another visiting gig strike you all as a lousy idea?

[msparticularity]

Do we have her inquire with her own department to see if they can help influence this in our favor? 

I she has a good relationship with her new chair, I would suggest she begin there. Sometimes a chair or a dean can put in a good word, and sometimes a hiring department will be open to that.

Of course (as happened to us) sometimes a department chair with a position available really hates a dean, so just ignores any polite requests. And sometimes a position like that has been created for someone they already have, of course--but it's definitely worth giving it your best shot!

[systeme_d_]

Absolutely ask her to speak with her new chair.   

However, she must be careful to frame this in terms of an inquiry, not an expectation or demand, since she did not negotiate anything in regard to this prior to signing her contract.

When she speaks to her chair, she should simply say that she noticed a posting for a visiting position in field X, and that you are very interested.  Then she should ask whether the chair could provide any advice for you as you apply for this position, whether the university has any policies in place that either encourage or discourage partner hires, and whether the Dean might have any information helpful to you.

Let the chair take the conversation from there.  (And yes, I am strongly recommending a phone call rather than an email.)   The chair's response might well provide an answer to whether you should include information about your partner's TT hire in your cover letter.

As to your career:  I can't give you any real answers, since I don't know what your field is, or what hiring patterns are like in your discipline.  Knowing nothing, I would simply say that if you want onto the TT, publish.  I will also say that in terms of your relationship, you need to have "the talk" about the two-body problem, and about how to make the very hard decision (if it arises) whether to take a TT job elsewhere over a visiting position at your partner's place.

[conjugate]

Certainly, I would explain in my cover letter for the visiting position that you consider the position to be your top choice, for family reasons.  I think this would be a good idea because they may wonder why you are applying for a visiting position instead of a T-T; either there's something wrong with you that you can't get a better job, they might think, or you'll disappear at the first sign of a tenure-track gig.  If you let them know that their location is good for you and you'd prefer their visiting position to a T-T position elsewhere, they may decide they got lucky and jump at the chance.

What do other forumites think of this point of view?  It sounds very reasonable to me.

[hopsage]

conjugate: I was thinking something along these lines, really.  Weighing against that, though, is the fact that search committees have to avoid even the appearance of unfair searches.   And I don't want to come across as a weasel.  I'm leaning toward something like your suggestion, but leaving it as "family" reasons (which is true on a couple of fronts, as my mom lives about 5 hours' drive from there);  I also like the ideas given by system_d and msparticulality.  Thank you, all.