Faculty Specialist II - Professional Specialist - School of Social Work - Tenure Track

Position Details

Posting Summary College: College Of Health & Human Svcs Executive Area: Provost & VP Academic Affairs Department: School of Social Work Posting Detail Information Posting Number: F305P Job Type: Tenure Track Pay Type: ExemptSalaried Pay Grade: FS2 Campus Location: WMU-Kalamazoo - East Campus Salary Range: Pay is commensurate with qualifications and experience combined with an excellent benefits package.

Number of Vacancies: 1

General Summary Western Michigan Universitys School of Social Work invites applications for the position of Faculty Specialist II- Professional Specialist. This is a tenure-track full-time fiscal-year Faculty Specialist II appointment based on the main campus in Kalamazoo, MI.

This position will have the role and responsibility of Director of the BSW program, providing academic and administrative leadership for the BSW program and ensuring alignment with the mission and vision of the school, college, and university, the CSWE accreditation standards, and the evolving needs of students, faculty, and community partners.

This position Oversees curriculum development and updates ensuring rigor, relevance, and alignment with CSWE competencies. Ensures accreditation compliance, manages ongoing program assessment, and implements continuous improvement strategies. Leads marketing outreach, recruitment, and student retention initiatives to strengthen program visibility and enrollment. Focuses on academic coordination, program leadership, and collaborative support for faculty teaching within the BSW program. Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered academic environment. Cultivates and sustains community partnerships that enhance student learning and workforce development. Champions a culture of academic excellence, equity, inclusion, and innovation. Leads the ethical and strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the BSW curriculum to prepare students for the future of social work practice.

Offers an exciting opportunity for a visionary and collaborative leader to shape the future of undergraduate social work education at one of Michigans leading public universities.

Major Duties

### Program Leadership & Administration

• Provide strategic leadership for the BSW program by overseeing operations, student support structures, and program evaluation.
• Ensure full compliance with CSWE accreditation standards, including preparation of self-studies, annual reports, and coordination of site visits.
• Develop, implement, and assess strategic initiatives that promote program quality, relevance, growth, and community impact.
• Lead continuous improvement processes by managing program-level assessment and ensuring alignment with university expectations.

### Curriculum & Instruction

• Guide the design, review, and enhancement of the BSW curriculum to remain responsive to accreditation requirements and workforce needs.
• Collaborate with faculty to strengthen evidence-based, culturally responsive pedagogy across all BSW courses.
• Lead efforts to thoughtfully and ethically integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning to prepare students for contemporary and emerging social work practice.

### Recruitment and Retention

• Oversee student recruitment, admissions processes, academic advising structures, and retention strategies to sustain a strong and diverse student body.
• Foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment, ensuring timely and empathetic responses to student concerns.
• Champion student success through innovative initiatives that promote academic achievement, professional preparedness, and well-being.

### Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with community agencies, educational partners, and professional organizations.
• Serve as an ambassador for the BSW program, representing it to external stakeholders and advancing collaboration.
• Develop and sustain partnerships that enrich student learning, field opportunities, and workforce development.

### Other Duties

• Teach courses in the BSW program as assigned, ensuring high-quality instruction and student engagement.
• Contribute to departmental, college, university, and professional committees, supporting institutional development and policy-making.
• Advocate for program needs with School, College, and University leadership.
• Promote equity, access, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practices in social work education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate in Social Work or a related field from an accredited institution or be an ABD doctoral candidate from an accredited institution with the expectation of completing the degree within one year of hire.
• Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program with at least two years of post-MSW social work practice experience.
• Meet eligibility requirements for appointment at the rank of Faculty Specialist II.
• Demonstrate experience with CSWE accreditation and reaffirmation processes, including competency-based curriculum development.
• Demonstrate successful teaching experience in hybrid, online, asynchronous, synchronous, or partially synchronous and other technology-enhanced formats.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and planning skills with the ability to effectively mentor and support students.

Desired Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Expertise in innovative and effective pedagogical uses of technology.
• Experience with collaborative leadership, conflict resolution, and solution-focused approaches.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage diverse populations and content areas.
• Active awareness of emerging trends, best practices, and technological advancements in social work practice and social work education.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Additional Position Information: Go to wmich.edu/hremployees/faculty for benefits and other information.

Documents Needed To Apply

• Required Documents: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, List of References, Teaching Philosophy
• Optional Documents