Department Head, Performing Arts and Technology

North Carolina State University; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

North Carolina State University seeks an accomplished Department Head for the Department of Performing Arts and Technology. The role provides strategic academic leadership, administrative oversight, and a clear vision to advance teaching, research, and creative activity.

The candidate will recruit and retain high-quality faculty, guide budgeting and operations, and foster an inclusive, collaborative environment that serves students, staff, and the broader university community.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or equivalent terminal credential required.
• MFA or other terminal degree in related discipline considered.
• Proven experience with leading academic units and managing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the department.
• Oversee academic, research, creative, and engagement activities.
• Recruit, develop, and retain faculty and staff; manage evaluations.
• Direct curriculum planning, scheduling, and program development.
• Allocate resources and manage fiscal operations and fundraising efforts.
• Represent the department in college and university planning and strategy.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Collaborative leadership

Interpersonal communication

Student-centered environment

Budget management

Strategic planning

Administrative experience

Humanities/arts advocacy

Education

Doctoral degree

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Job description

Essential Job Duties:

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 Work/Responsibilities:

• 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.

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 or Certification:

N/A

AA/EEO Statement:

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].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.