Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

Santa Clara University; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Clara University is seeking a Director for its new Center for Teaching Excellence. This pivotal role involves maintaining high teaching standards and fostering an inclusive environment through innovative teaching practices, enhancing both curricular and co-curricular settings. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in faculty development and a commitment to the Jesuit tradition of education.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated expertise in faculty development, teaching innovation, and instructional design.
• Professional activity and publications in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operations of the Center for Teaching Excellence, managing staff and budget.
• Develop and lead programs to support evidence-based and equitable teaching excellence.
• Collaborate with faculty to promote innovative teaching methods.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Equity and Inclusion

Education

Ph.D. or other terminal degree

Job description

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

Join to apply for the Director, Center for Teaching Excellence role at Santa Clara University

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

Join to apply for the Director, Center for Teaching Excellence role at Santa Clara University

Position Title:

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

Position Type:

Regular

Hiring Range:

$131,800 - $144,500 / annual. Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Pay Frequency:

Annual

Application Process

Priority review deadline will be July 15, 2025. Candidates should submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter outlining their qualifications and vision for the Center for Teaching Excellence.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references.
• A statement of teaching philosophy and leadership approach
• POSITION PURPOSE
  
  

Santa Clara University, a Jesuit Catholic university, seeks an experienced and innovative Director with significant experience and research in the scholarship of teaching and learning to help establish and direct a new Center for Teaching Excellence to open Fall 2025. The Center, which is a named initiative on the university’s Impact 2030 strategic plan, will be an autonomous unit under the Provost’s area with responsibility for advancing evidence-based teaching practices across the university, both in curricular and co-curricular settings, to advance evidence-based, equitable, and justice-driven pedagogies, in the Jesuit tradition.

Drawing on the strong foundation of teaching excellence and the ongoing work of the Faculty Development office, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of

teaching and learning across the university, developing programming and resources that will establish SCU as a trusted resource for effective and meaningful, Justice-orie pedagogies grounded in the scholarship of teaching and learning. This position requires a visionary leader with a strong background in university teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning, as well as prior experience directing a teaching center or similar faculty development unit. In close collaboration with Faculty Development and other key campus partners, the Director will collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to support and promote effective, evidence-based teaching practices that foster student success.

• ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Program Management and Vision
• Implement a clear vision for the new teaching center, building on the existing model of faculty leadership and deep collaboration.
• Lead and manage the operations of the Center for Teaching Excellence, including staff supervision, budget management, and strategic planning.
• Develop and lead programs and initiatives that support equitable, evidence-based, and justice-driven teaching excellence.
• Lead efforts to assess the impact of teaching center initiatives on student learning outcomes and overall institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee and facilitate one-on-one consultations and course observations for faculty.
• Promote inclusive and equity-based teaching practices that address the diverse needs of our student body.
• Lead initiatives that elevate the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) across campus.
• Design and implement new, innovative summer / winter professional development conference programming for AJCU and other institutions to parallel programs currently provided by external organizations (ie ACUE, NCFDD, etc) that assert SCU as a leading voice in equitable, justice-driven, Jesuit education.
• Advance Strategic Partnerships
• Engage faculty across disciplines–through and with the team of Faculty Associates– to promote innovative teaching methods, curriculum design, and assessment strategies, with a focus on building pedagogical and faculty development expertise and leadership locally.
• Create partnerships with Academic Technology staff to support the adoption and integration of instructional technologies to enhance teaching and learning.
• Represent the Center for Teaching Excellence at university-wide committees, conferences, and external events.
• Contribute pedagogical expertise and leadership to university governance processes such as Teaching Effectiveness Standards for Evaluation (TESE).
• Workshop and Training Design and Facilitation
• Identify, engage, and train Faculty Associates to conduct workshops, seminars, and individual consultations across disciplines and schools to improve faculty teaching practices.
• Serve as a liaison between the Center for Teaching Excellence and other university departments, including Academic Affairs, Information Technology, and Student Services.
• Plan and oversee a university-wide event celebrating and supporting a culture of transformative teaching and learning.
• Partner with the Associate Provost for Faculty Development to plan and implement teaching-related components of New Faculty Orientation and Retreat.
• Develop and facilitate, as appropriate, faculty learning communities on pedagogical topics.
• Continuous Improvement
• Lead and supervise the professional development of Faculty Associates.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement in teaching and learning by staying current with and contributing to the research and best practices in higher education pedagogy.
• Advise the staff team on content and maintain and improve digital resources, website, social media, newsletters, announcements, and the like on teaching to reflect current scholarship and feature SCU faculty perspectives and practices.
• Administrative
• Oversee and manage Center budget
• Oversee University Teaching awards
• Oversee administration of University Teaching Grants
• Other duties as assigned
• PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION
• Supervise and work closely with Faculty Development Program Manager
• Supervise and work closely with the Administrative Associate for Faculty Development and Educational Assessment
• GENERAL GUIDELINES
• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.
• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.
• Maintains contact with faculty and staff and solicits feedback for improved services.
• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.
• Prepares progress reports; informs Provost’s Office of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.
• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.
• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.
• QUALIFICATIONS
  
  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.

This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to promote and contribute to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

• Knowledge
• Demonstrated expertise in faculty development, teaching innovation, and instructional design
• Professional activity and publications in SOTL
• Understanding of current trends and best practices in higher education pedagogy, evidence-based teaching practices, and the scholarship of teaching and learning
• Familiarity with the Jesuit educational mission and values of Santa Clara University
• Skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Abilities
• A proven record of working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators across academic and co-curricular units
• A proven record of commitment to and implementation of inclusion and equity
• Education
• Ph.D. or other terminal degree required
• Years of Experience
• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in higher education, including teaching and experience in a leadership role.
• PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  
  

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.
• WORK ENVIRONMENT
  
  

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.
  
  

EEO Statement

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at [phone]. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at [e-mail].

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Business Development and Sales

• Industries

  Higher Education

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