Gulick taught at Columbia from 1931–1942, where he was appointed Eaton Professor of Municipal Science and Administration.

In 1937, he appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to reorganize the executive branch of the federal government.

Among many other accomplishments in the field of public administration, Gulick is perhaps best known for the functions of the chief executive represented in the acronym POSDCORB.

Early on, these included The Institute of Public Administration and New York's Bureau of Municipal Research.

[7] Gulick's advocacy, with Alvin Hansen), during World War II of Keynesian policies to promote full employment post-war helped to persuade John Maynard Keynes to help develop post-war plans for the international economy that included a considerable emphasis on free trade.