The University has a staff strength of 2,886, comprising 1,098 academic, 247 administrative and 1,541 executive, technical, clerical and ancillary posts as at June 30, 2000.

Academic staff are recruited worldwide from established institutions. Besides possessing a sound academic background, the majority of PolyU academics also have close links with businesses and industries, which enable them to help students stay abreast of the latest developments in the profession. Apart from teaching duties, they also engage actively in academic administration, research, consultancy as well as in providing professional services to the community at large. 

The Polytechnic University operates two sets of salary scales in parallel - the university salary scale for staff engaged primarily in degree level work, and the polytechnic scale for staff engaged primarily in the teaching of sub-degree courses. 

Academic grades under the university salary scale include: Chair, Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor II. Those staff grades remunerated on the polytechnic scale comprise: Principal Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer and Assistant Lecturer. 

The University also places considerable emphasis on staff development. In 1999/2000, a total of $12.3 million was spent on staff development programmes which included attendance at international and local conferences, duty visits, attachment programmes, enrolment in courses leading to higher degrees, and the organization of in-house training courses in various areas.

As a large and dynamic institution of higher learning, offering a wide range of courses at different levels, the Polytechnic University offers employment opportunities ranging from academic and research posts to professional, administrative and support positions.