Last week, we answered "how to ask about a faculty position for a partner too" when interviewing for a faculty position. The postdoc who asked the original question wrote in to follow up with more details.

Thank you so much—this is really helpful and makes sense to me.

Our situation is probably somewhere between the two scenarios you described. Our goal is ultimately to find an institution where there is a viable path for both of us. I am actively looking for opportunities where we could move together, but a strong opportunity for me elsewhere could also potentially push my spouse’s current institution to open a position for me there. They seem very motivated to retain them and there is talk of opening a position for me, so I think that could be a possibility. However, things are not promised and moving too slowly for our timeline at the moment because they are in the process of restructuring their academic programs.

Ah, in that case, I'd go with option 2 (raising it during a campus visit or later stage interview), since having another offer would offer you some extra utility (in the form of an incentive for your spouse’s university to work with you), even if the university you are interviewing with ends up unable to offer anything for your spouse.

-David Blancha, Assistant Director, Career Development Team for Researchers