system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Dean of a department I want to work at emailed me - what does it mean?

I am all but dissertation, with 1-2 years until I have enough data to call it completely finished. The timeline to completion is a bit of an ongoing discussion, as it is mostly held back by IRB.

The dean of a department that is fabulous in my field, who I am on a first name basis with at conferences because we do such similar work, emailed me letting me know that there is a faculty position posted for her department, and that she would like to call me this week and tell me about it. 

1. It seems she might want me to apply, and that she would welcome my application, correct?

2. The position has no clear start date, but welcomes applicants who are ABD - what does this mean exactly?

3. How long would a department hold a faculty position for if my dissertation / data isn't done by next fall? Is there precedent for being "hired" but not starting work for another year and half?

4. What are some things that would be good to ask in this sort of phone call?

Thank you!
gpt
I think you need to talk but be honest about your completion timeline. It sounds like the dean or maybe members of the department are under a different assumption about your current expected timeline. Hiring a year in advance is pretty typical (hiring in Fall for a position starting the following Fall) but not two years, unless you are a more senior faculty planning to move departments.