Two-body problem. What to do?
I’m an early-career mathematician currently based in North America and I recently received a tenure-track offer from a university in my home country. The offer itself is very reasonable and I really liked the department on my campus visit.
My spouse is also a mathematician, and while we currently work in different countries anyway, accepting this position would basically mean deciding where we try to build a more permanent long-term life. So naturally, whether there are realistic academic opportunities for him matters a lot in the decision.
After receiving the written offer, I raised the possibility of dual-career considerations with the Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs. The response I received was something like: “ no restrictions regarding family members applying for positions at the university. But all candidates are required to apply through the regular recruitment process for any available openings.”
The response is fair and institutionally understandable, but also not especially reassuring when trying to make a permanent relocation decision.
Obviously, I didn't want to talk about this dual hire until I have a written offer because I didn't even know if it was going to be a good offer (financial compensations aren't put into ads in my home country) but maybe bringing this up with assistant provost for Faculty Affairs wasn't a good idea? Should I contact the chair of the department?
My spouse had actually applied to the same position I eventually received the offer for, although I was the candidate selected to move forward in the later stages. At the same time, I don’t know how much to read into that because his area is pure math while the department’s current openings more for statistics/data science teaching needs. But also given the department has openings, the issue wouldn't be funding but more of a fit.
I have been told on the campus visit that the department has been consistently understaffed and they've been struggling to get good candidates for the positions open in maths. And that previous searches for the position I got selected for had failed for long time.
So now I don’t know what to do. The response I got seemed like the university isn't willing to even consider a temporary position as a start, which is something my partner may consider.
But I also don't know if I am maybe discussing this with the wrong person.
For people who have dealt with academic two-body problems, especially internationally: how much uncertainty is “normal” here?