Department Head, Performing Arts and Technology

NC State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

NC State University’s Department of Performing Arts and Technology seeks a dynamic leader to guide the department through its College of Humanities and Social Sciences transition. The Department Head provides strategic vision, academic leadership, and operational oversight of teaching, research, and creative activities.

The role includes recruiting and mentoring faculty, managing budgets and resources, coordinating courses, and building external partnerships to advance interdisciplinary

Qualifications

• Requires a doctoral or terminal degree in music, dance, arts entrepreneurship, music technology, performing arts, or a related discipline.
• Extensive leadership experience in an academic setting with budgetary oversight and strategic planning.
• Record of scholarly or creative achievement aligned with a research university.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to teaching and/or scholarly productivity within the department.
• Manage an office environment and staff responsible for performing arts operations, facilities, labs, and marketing.
• Performance evaluations for direct reports including annual reviews and recommendations for promotion/tenure.
• Recruitment and hiring of new faculty and staff.
• Salary recommendations for faculty and staff hires with equitable practices.
• Course scheduling coordination and management.
• Curriculum assessment and revision.
• Management of faculty committees and service assignments.
• Address student academic issues and ensure student success.
• Allocate space to meet departmental needs and plan funding sources.
• Oversee fiscal resources and year-end closeouts per college standards.
• Engage donors and develop external relations with alumni and the community.
• Represent the department in college and university planning and strategy development.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Budget management

Interpersonal communication

Strategic planning

Administrative experience

Data-driven decision making

Collegial leadership

Student-centered approach

Education

Doctoral or terminal degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

N/A

Job description

Department Head, Performing Arts and Technology

About the Department

Over the 2026-2027 academic year, the Department of Performing Arts and Technology will transition from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs ( DASA ) to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences ( CHASS ). The transition will create new opportunities for collaboration and closer connections with related disciplines while providing an academic structure that supports the department’s continued growth and success. The leader joining the department will contribute to the department’s continued development within CHASS .
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences ( CHASS ) at NC State University is the second largest college on campus, serving over 5,000 students across 12 schools and departments. CHASS is a vital partner in the university’s land grant mission and is implementing a bold strategic plan driven by commitments to innovation, collaboration, and well being (see the CHASS strategic plan. Backed by a community of over 500 faculty and staff members and an alumni network of more than 44,000, our college is dedicated to fostering an environment where curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, belongingness and collaborative innovation shape conversations for a better future.
The mission of the Department of Performing Arts and Technology is to provide an environment where all NC State students have opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that prepare them for a lifetime of arts engagement and a variety of careers. We cultivate this environment through excellence in teaching, performance, service, outreach, and creative and scholarly work in Arts Entrepreneurship, Dance, Music, and Music Technology.
With over 50 faculty and staff, the Department offers a variety of technique, ensemble, and lecture courses, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Technology. In addition, the department provides academic minors in Dance Studies, Dance Performance and Choreography, Dance Science and Innovation, Music Studies, Music Performance, and Arts Entrepreneurship. Operating within CHASS , the department serves a diverse array of students from all academic disciplines across the university. More information about the department can be found at the Department of Performing Arts and Technology website.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership , and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

The Department of Performing Arts and Technology is seeking an outstanding individual to lead this department as Department Head. We seek to hire a candidate with a strong commitment to academic, creative, and scholarly excellence commensurate with the expectations of a research university, and aligned with the areas of faculty responsibility appropriate for the department’s mission. The department head will promote a collegial, supportive, and welcoming environment for all faculty, staff, and students, with a strong commitment to recruiting and retaining well qualified faculty, facilitating student success, and directing all academic, operational, and budgetary activities associated with departmental functions.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Department Head, serving as the department’s academic leader and administrative officer, will be called upon to provide strategic leadership and vision in:

• Creating an environment that facilitates an effective shared vision; serving as a thought leader and ambassador for the department, college, and university;
• Leading departmental academic, research, creative artistry, and engagement activities in the context of a broad vision of the discipline;
• Facilitating a culturally competent environment with a strong commitment to recruiting and retaining faculty, staff, and students;
• Promoting and rewarding excellence in faculty research, creative artistry, teaching and mentoring, department, college, and university service, and community engagement;
• Fostering a culture of high-impact interdisciplinary collaboration within the college; building partnerships and alliances across the university;
• Advancing departmental and college academic excellence within the university as well as relative to peer institutions;
• Linking programs within the department to the broader college and university missions;
• Developing external partnerships, when relevant, in support of the department’s mission and goals;
• Aligning and allocating resources with departmental strategic plans and vision;
• Demonstrating scholarly, creative artistry, and professional engagement & excellence.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Contribute to the department in terms of teaching and/or creative/scholarly research productivity;
• Manage an office environment alongside staff members that oversee performing arts day-to-day operations, facilities, labs, and marketing;
• Performance evaluations for all direct reports, including annual reviews and recommendations for faculty retention, promotion, and tenure;
• Recruitment and hiring of new faculty and staff;
• Recommendations for salaries for faculty and staff hires, including new hires, legislative increases, discretionary increases, and retentions in a fair, equitable, principled, and defensible manner;
• Coordination and management of course scheduling;
• Curriculum assessment and revision;
• Management of the faculty’s committee and service assignments;
• Resolution of student academic problems;
• Allocation of available space to meet departmental needs;
• Comprehensive planning of all funding sources in the department using all available funding sources to meet the needs of the department;
• Management and administration of fiscal resources, including planning, expenditure of funds in accordance with relevant processes and rules, and execution of fiscal year close out in accordance with college standards;
• Assisting, when appropriate, the college’s development staff in connecting with and directing the efforts of donors;
• Initiating, maintaining, and building new external relations with alumni and the community;
• Representing the department in college and university-level planning and strategy development.

NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world. NC State’s land grant mission of teaching, research and service is dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. Applicants are encouraged to review the institution’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and consider how their background, interest and experience would enable them to support the university.

Other Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Requires a doctoral degree, Master of Fine Arts degree, or other terminal degree in music, dance, arts entrepreneurship, music technology, performing arts, or a related discipline.
• Eligible for appointment with tenure at the rank of associate professor or professor as defined by the standards set by the Department of Performing Arts & Technology.

Other Required Qualifications

• Record of scholarly and/or creative artistry excellence commensurate with the expectations of a research university and as appropriate to the departmental mission and standards
• Ability to provide a visionary approach to administration/departmental leadership
• Evidence of providing values-driven, transformational leadership
• Evidence of collaborative leadership in educational settings
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, both with internal and external audiences (e.g., promoting an collaborative environment with faculty, staff, and students; engaging collaboratively with college and university level leadership)
• Demonstrated ability to support a positive, student-centered environment
• History of administrative experience, including budgetary matters, experience in resource allocation processes, and personnel management
• Strong appreciation of and advocacy for disciplines in Humanities, Arts, and/or Social Sciences

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a department head/chair at the college / university level or experience in supervisory / management position(s) in the academic arena, preferably at the collegiate level
• Demonstrated ability to use and understand data to inform strategic planning and decision making
• Strong evidence of ability to set operational goals from strategic plans and lead direct reports to accomplish these strategic goals and initiatives
• Past experience in successfully managing departmental growth
• A record of excellence in teaching and mentoring

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

Valid NC Driver's License required No

Commercial Driver's License required

Commercial Driver's License required No

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail] .