Description:
Summary. The Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor of Music serves as the director of the University’s vocal music program and ensembles. Primary duties include directing the FHU Chorale, teaching undergraduate applied vocal courses, and teaching music lecture courses in the music program including teaching general education courses. The position is responsible for growing and maintain a vibrant vocal music program and for recruiting and retaining quality musicians. This position requires face-to-face interactions through a regular schedule of attendance on campus. This assignment will begin in the fall of 2026. This is a nine-month, tenure track position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.
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Build, sustain, and promote a thriving and successful vocal music program through excellence in teaching and recruitment and retention of quality musicians.
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Serve as an academic advisor for departmental majors including mentoring students through their degree plans and preparing them to be successful musicians or music educators.
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Engage in scholarly activities.
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Engage in service to the department, college, University, and students.
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Initiate and develop new programs and ensembles.
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Participate in departmental faculty performances, specifically in collaboration with colleagues. Support colleagues through attendance at other departmental events and performances.
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Work closely with colleagues to develop and maintain positive relationships with regional K-12 music teachers and congregations of the Churches of Christ.
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Serve on department, college, and University committees as assigned.
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Attend daily Chapel.
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Participate in University recruitment activities.
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Participate in program, department, college, or faculty meetings, as requested.
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Face-to-face interactions through a regular schedule of attendance and in the workplace.
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This job description shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the above duties. This position may temporarily perform other duties assigned to maintain operations and services.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities
Essential Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Instruction – Takes actions necessary to remain current in teaching disciplines; Explores current and relevant innovations to deliver content.
Scholarship – Remains current and active in area of expertise; Holds memberships in appropriate professional organizations; Attends educational conferences; Mentors student research; Presents research in appropriate forums.
Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and analyzes research data; Designs work flows and procedures for data collection for the program.
Technology-Demonstrates a broad knowledge and skills tied to widely-used hardware, software, applications, resources, and techniques within an academic environment; Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and expertise tied to web-based collaborative environments and course management systems; Stays abreast of emerging technologies.
Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Program and Project Management - Develops plans for programs and communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time.
Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
Student and Faculty Service - Manages difficult or emotional situations; Responds promptly to student and faculty needs; Solicits feedback from students and faculty to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments in a timely fashion.
Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
Delegation - Delegates work assignments to faculty and students as needed.
Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; Accepts feedback from others.
Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
Managing People - Includes faculty in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Makes self available to staff; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes.
Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve program goals; Understands program's strengths and weaknesses; Identifies opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports university's goals and values; Benefits university through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
Requirements:
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Qualifications for is position include, but are not limited to, the following:
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A doctoral degree in music education is preferred. Candidates with a doctorate in music performance or conducting or a related master’s degree will be considered. Candidates with doctorates in music performance or conducting will also be considered with 18 graduate hours in music education.
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Evidence that demonstrates effectiveness as a vocal ensemble director.
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Evidence of successful teaching, mentoring, and training of undergraduate music students in lecture and applied music settings.
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Evidence of quality musicianship – as a performer, composer, and/or director.
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Evidence of prior scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and/or teaching and learning is preferred. Commitment to ongoing scholarship is required.
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A demonstrated history, competence in, and commitment to quality teaching at the undergraduate level that create and maintain learning environments conducive to active and engaged learning, specifically in music.
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Experience in musical theatre is also preferred.
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret research data. Ability to write reports which include numerical data. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to calculate descriptive and predictive statistics.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual must demonstrate computer proficiency in the following areas: spreadsheet software, word processing software, presentation software, statistical software and other software that may increase productivity and efficiency. An individual must also demonstrate a willingness to learn and use new software related to functional responsibilities.
Social Skills
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do; adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
None required.
Other Skills and Abilities
None required.
Other Qualifications
None required.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Freed-Hardeman University is an academic community, associated with churches of Christ, which is dedicated to providing excellent undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship, and service.
Pursuant to this mission and Section 703(e)(2) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Freed-Hardeman University exercises a preference for applicants active within the churches of Christ. Freed-Hardeman University complies with all applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or prior military service in the administration of its employment practices.
