From 1975 to 1985, Baum was a lecturer at the University of Reading. From 1985 to 1987, he served as the Reader at the Centre for Property Valuation and Management at the City University, London. He was appointed to the Chair in Land Management at the Henley Business School, University of Reading from 1989 to 2013 and was appointed Emeritus Professor at the University of Reading in 2013.