Assistant Professor of Commercial Music (9-Mo-TT)

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 Assistant Professor of Commercial Music, beginning August 2024. This tenure-track full-time faculty position is a 9-month appointment.

The School of the Arts is a community of artists working together in music, theatre and dance, and visual arts and design, and architecture and interior 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 in music, commercial music, and worship leadership (commercial music includes 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/ and https://www.samford.edu/arts/music/bachelor-of-arts-commercial-music                                                           

Qualifications

Preferred qualification is an earned master’s degree in music technology or related field. Significant professional experience in the field of recording engineering or music production including recognition as an industry professional of national prominence may be considered in lieu of master’s degree. Candidates should possess expertise in audio recording techniques, editing, mixing, post-production and audio mastering. Avid instructor certification needed upon hire. Additional expertise in audio signal flow, microphone technologies and applications, studio acoustics, studio and live sound consoles (both analog and digital), professional session protocols, hardware and software electronic instruments, and hardware and software mix tools and applications desired; current credits as a professional mix engineer in a variety of styles and a commitment to applying this breadth in the classroom; evidence of successful teaching; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and a commitment to the university’s Christian mission.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include overseeing recording arts and live sound production courses; teaching classes in the Commercial Music curriculum as well as the Division of Music’s Introduction to Music Technology course; supervising student capstone projects; managing the newly built recording studio; mentoring and advising Commercial Music students; and actively recruiting prospective students.

Position may include additional teaching assignments based on candidate strengths and school needs, including, but not limited to, ensemble coaching; applied performance instruction; and other responsibilities related to commercial music and the creative arts. The successful candidate will participate fully in departmental and university service and maintain an active profile as an audio engineer and industry professional 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 November 10, 2023, and applications will not be accepted after that date. Please submit one PDF file comprising: a letter of interest; a complete curriculum vitae; links to professional work, recordings, and examples of teaching; an application for faculty position, and a faculty applicant Christian mission statement. 

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.       

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

For questions about the position contact:

Professor Steven Potaczek, Chair

Commercial Music Search, School of the Arts, Division of Music

Samford University

Phone: 205-726-4695

spotacze@samford.edu

About Samford University and Birmingham, Alabama

Samford University (samford.edu) is a leading nationally ranked Christian University.  Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87^th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.  It is the largest privately supported and fully accredited institution for higher learning in Alabama. Located in the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Homewood, with 425 full-time faculty and more than 5,700 students representing 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 22 countries. 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).