Assistant Professor, Director of Bands (9-Mo-TT)

REVISED:  Deadline for applications is extended from March 13, 2023 to March 17, 2023.

Samford University’s School of the Arts Division of Music invites individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for the position of Director of Bands at the rank of assistant professor (9-month, tenure-track), effective August 2023, with additional compensated responsibilities to commence as early as July 2023. This tenure-track full-time faculty position is a 9-month appointment, with an additional stipend for summer activities related to Athletic Bands.

The School of the Arts is a community of artists working together in music, theatre and dance, and visual arts and design. The Division of Music, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1956, offers the following degrees: bachelor of music (instrumental, vocal, piano, and organ performance, music and worship, composition, piano performance and pedagogy), bachelor of music education (vocal-choral, instrumental), bachelor of arts (music and commercial music, including concentrations in business, music production, songwriting, and performance), bachelor of science in music, master of music (church music, piano performance and pedagogy, vocal performance, instrumental performance) and master of music education.

For more information, see the Division of Music’s web page:  https://www.samford.edu/arts/music/                                                

Qualifications

Qualified candidates are required to hold an earned terminal degree in music, music education, or related field, in addition to possessing exceptional teaching skills, leadership qualities, and administrative abilities. Experience in supervising student teachers is preferred. Candidates are required to demonstrate successful teaching experience; expertise in marching band and wind ensemble direction; and a commitment to the university’s Christian mission. An ability to teach courses in music education is highly desirable.

Salary is dependent upon academic qualifications, professional experience, and previous academic teaching experiences. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position. Samford University and the School of the Arts embrace diversity in their faculty, students, and staff and encourage applications from those who would add to the diversity of our academic community.  

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include leading athletic bands; leading wind ensemble; teaching classes in marching band techniques; teaching Materials and Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music in the Secondary Grades; assisting the instrumental area faculty with ensemble development, curriculum, and student recruitment/retention; and supervising student teachers.  Position may include additional teaching assignments based on candidate strengths and school needs including, but not limited to, conducting additional ensembles; maintaining collaborative relationships with public and private schools, Samford alumni, and other community partners; actively recruiting, retaining, and developing leaders from music majors and non-music majors at all levels; and performing other duties dependent upon candidate qualifications and university needs. The successful candidate will participate fully in departmental and university service and maintain an active scholarly agenda as a director/teacher of national prominence. A commitment to academic excellence and the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners is expected. The candidate should embrace the mission and vision of Samford University, the School of the Arts, and the Division of Music.

Application

Review of applications will begin February 18, 2023. Applications received after March 17, 2023 will not be accepted.

Please submit one PDF file comprising: a letter of interest, a complete curriculum vitae, a teaching philosophy statement with an emphasis on band leadership, links to recent video recordings of band activities (leading rehearsals and/or performances), examples of teaching, an application for faculty position, and a faculty applicant Christian mission statement.

Additionally, please have three letters of recommendation submitted directly from the recommender to: gbdalton@samford.edu with the subject line denoting: “LAST NAME, FIRST NAME – Director of Bands Search.”   

“Application for Faculty Position” can be found at: (https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf)

“ Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at:

(https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx).

Please submit all materials in PDF format (except recommendation letters that are sent separately by recommenders as indicated) to:

FACAPP@samford.edu

Subject: Director of Bands Search

For questions about the position contact:

Dr. Grant Dalton, Chair

Director of Bands Search, School of the Arts, Division of Music

Samford University

Phone: 205-726-2488

gbdalton@samford.edu

About Samford University and Birmingham, Alabama

Samford University (www.samford.edu) is the largest privately supported and fully accredited institution for higher learning in Alabama. Located in suburban Birmingham, the University was founded in 1841 and has 430 full time faculty and more than 5,600 students representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 18 countries.  Samford has been nationally recognized for academics, affordability and value by a number of prestigious publications and rankings.  The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranks Samford 1^st nationally for student engagement and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks Samford 34^th among private universities in the U.S. for value and affordability.  The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting.  The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

Except as specifically exempted by federal law requirements, Samford University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability or age in the administration or application of its educational programs and policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs. Consistent with its Christian mission and organizations, Samford is exempt from the religious provisions of Title VII pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2(e).