We're Hiring!
Asst/Assoc Professor, Department Chair & Unit Lead / Dept of Teacher Education
- Minnesota, United States
- Faculty 11-12mo FT
Title: Asst/Assoc Professor, Department Chair & Unit Lead / Dept of Teacher Education
VP Area: Sr VP for Academic Affairs
Department: School of Ed & Behavioral Sciences
Position Compensation: $68,000 – $79,250
Location: University Campus - St. Paul, Minnesota
Who We Are:
Northwestern is a faith-driven community, UNWavering in our Christ-centered principles and identity as those who profess faith in Jesus. Rooted in the unshakable foundation of God’s Word and our calling to impact His world, our mission and vision flow from these core values, expressed through Christ-centered higher education at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and through gospel outreach and faithfulness with Northwestern Media.
Position Summary:
Responsible for providing excellence in administration and teaching through the fulfillment of the mission and strategic goals of the Department of Teacher Education. Alongside academic leadership, the position will establish philosophy and direction for the Department of Teacher Education, provide unit leadership for the department and external licensing agencies and teach eight (8) credits per year according to a 24-credit faculty contract.
Key Responsibilities:
Every faculty member at University of Northwestern – St. Paul has four governing job responsibilities: teaching with effective pedagogy, serving the university through committee work and community involvement, engaging in scholarship that demonstrates discipline-specific contributions beyond UNW, and integrating faith in the classroom. These responsibilities provide the framework for the following key responsibilities.
• Leadership: Provide strategic and academic leadership for the Department of Teacher Education, aligning its philosophy, vision, programs, and outcomes with institutional priorities; represent the department across Academic Affairs; and oversee policy compliance and clear, effective communication.
• Programming & Assessment: Partner with academic leadership on strategic program planning; lead cyclical program review and assessment; coordinate academic scheduling with appropriate areas; oversee planned course offerings and related program documentation.
• Academic Oversight: Provide oversight of curriculum quality and coherence; guide curricular and program development processes; and collaborate with campus partners to ensure appropriate academic resources.
• Faculty & Staff Management: Oversee staff supervision and faculty lifecycle processes; collaborate with senior leadership on recruitment, evaluation, and development; and promote a positive, collaborative departmental culture while addressing personnel matters as needed.
• Student Success: Provide leadership in student recruitment, academic advising within teacher education, faculty student issue resolution, and oversight of field-based learning.
• Collaboration: Lead collaborative internal and external partnerships, including with the Classical Christian Honors College, to expand student experiences and employment pathways while contributing to cross campus collaboration, university service, and recruitment and retention initiatives.
• Operations: Oversee departmental operations, including information management, communications, events, resource allocation, and facilities needs while guiding budget planning and stewardship in alignment with university standards.
• Teaching: Teach undergraduate courses with strong engagement in effective assessment and learning management system integration; pursue continuous professional development.
• Perform other duties as outlined in the Addendum: Teacher Licensure Officer and External Agency Responsibilities including the Department of Education Teacher Education Unit Lead Position.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.
Because our community is a significant part of our mission and the development of our students, all employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to disciple students in growing intellectually and spiritually, and with Northwestern Media to lead people to Christ and nurture believers to mature in their faith.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Ph.D. or Ed.D. in an education-related field
• Knowledge of P-12 and post-secondary education trends for public, private, and Christian education
• Three (3) or more years’ experience in E-12 teaching
• Three (3) or more years’ experience in teacher licensure program development and assessment
• Maintain a growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, reflect His character in all interactions, and faithfully uphold and embrace Northwestern’s mission, Doctrinal Statement and Declaration of Christian Community
Nice to Have:
• Experience with state and/or national accreditation and program review processes
• Familiarity with assessment and data/reporting platforms such as CPAST, EPPAS, or similar
• Three (3) or more years’ experience in the teaching/administration of academic programs in a college or university
• Three (3) or more years’ experience leading a team in administrative roles with progressively increased responsibility
Key Skills:
• Independent & Teamwork: Capable of strategic planning, working both independently and collaboratively, with minimal supervision.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to interact with a variety of individuals in a professional, courteous, and tactful manner
• Confidentiality: Maintains discretion and handles sensitive information appropriately.
• Organizational Skills: Strong time management and problem-solving abilities; able to prioritize and meet deadlines with attention to detail.
• Technical Proficiency: Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office and related software.
• Written & Verbal Communication: Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for work-related purposes.
• Background Check: Must pass initial and ongoing background checks as a condition of employment.
Work Environment:
The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university or Christian owned and operated radio station alongside those with a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of Northwestern, and an agreement to abide by all Northwestern policies.
All applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.