Faculty: Chair; Department of Special Education

Concordia University, Wisconsin; Mequon (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition waiver benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor seeks applicants for a full-time faculty position serving as Chair of the Department of Special Education within the School of Education. The Chair provides academic leadership for special education across undergraduate, online and graduate programs, while teaching and mentoring students to support licensure and program success.

The role requires overseeing curriculum, alignment with licensure, and collaboration with university partners to advance

Qualifications

• Master's degree in special education, education, educational leadership, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three years of successful P–12 experience in special education or a closely related educational setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in special education teaching and learning.
• Experience mentoring, supervising, or supporting educators or teacher candidates.
• Demonstrated educational leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic and programmatic leadership for special education programs across Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor
• Oversee curriculum, course sequencing, program requirements, assessment, and continuous improvement
• Support alignment with state licensure requirements, accreditation expectations, professional standards, and University policies
• Coordinate with School of Education leadership regarding course scheduling, staffing, adjunct faculty, and program needs
• Lead and support full-time and adjunct special education faculty
• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate special education courses in online and/or face-to-face formats
• Advise and mentor students and support candidate progression through program and licensure requirements
• Participate in student teaching supervision, clinical evaluation, and portfolio review as needed
• Review program enrollment, student outcomes, and other data to support program improvement and sustainability
• Collaborate with admissions, enrollment, field experience personnel, instructional designers, and other University partners
• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, districts, Lutheran schools, and other educational partners
• Identify opportunities for new programs, pathways, partnerships, grants, and initiatives addressing special education workforce needs
• Participate in faculty committees, scholarship, professional service, and University activities
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Special education

Leadership

Curriculum design

Teaching online

Mentoring

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in special education

Educational leadership

Doctoral degree in special education

Job description

Concordia University is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and in the world.

Position Summary

Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor seeks applicants for a full-time faculty position serving as Chair of the Department of Special Education within the School of Education.

The Chair provides academic and programmatic leadership for special education programs across traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate, graduate, licensure, and other emerging pathways. The successful candidate will support program quality, faculty collaboration, student success, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth while also teaching courses within the program.

This position reports to School of Education academic leadership.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide academic and programmatic leadership for special education programs across Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor
• Oversee curriculum, course sequencing, program requirements, assessment, and continuous improvement
• Support alignment with state licensure requirements, accreditation expectations, professional standards, and University policies
• Coordinate with School of Education leadership regarding course scheduling, staffing, adjunct faculty, and program needs
• Lead and support full-time and adjunct special education faculty
• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate special education courses in online and/or face-to-face formats
• Advise and mentor students and support candidate progression through program and licensure requirements
• Participate in student teaching supervision, clinical evaluation, and portfolio review as needed
• Review program enrollment, student outcomes, and other data to support program improvement and sustainability
• Collaborate with admissions, enrollment, field experience personnel, instructional designers, and other University partners
• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, districts, Lutheran schools, and other educational partners
• Identify opportunities for new programs, pathways, partnerships, grants, and initiatives addressing special education workforce needs
• Participate in faculty committees, scholarship, professional service, and University activities
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of special education curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evidence-based practices
• Knowledge of special education law, licensure requirements, and professional standards
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and external partners
• Ability to advise and mentor teacher candidates
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to use program and student data to support continuous improvement
• Ability to teach effectively in online and face-to-face environments
• Commitment to academic quality, innovation, student success, and program growth
• Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Education & Experience

Required

• Master's degree in special education, education, educational leadership, or a closely related field
• Minimum of three years of successful P–12 experience in special education or a closely related educational setting
• Demonstrated expertise in special education teaching and learning
• Experience mentoring, supervising, or supporting educators or teacher candidates
• Demonstrated educational leadership experience

Preferred

• Doctoral degree in special education, education, educational leadership, or a closely related field, or ABD with completion in progress
• Commissioned Minister of Religion in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS); highly qualified Christian non-LCMS candidates will also be considered
• Current or previously held special education teaching license
• College or university teaching experience
• Experience with educator preparation, program leadership, accreditation, licensure, or curriculum development
• Experience teaching in both online and traditional formats
• Experience leading or mentoring faculty
• Experience developing school partnerships, grants, workforce initiatives, or innovative educator preparation pathways
• Evidence of scholarship or professional leadership in special education

Physical Demands/Equipment (Click to View)

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt (salary) faculty position. The starting wage may be determined upon education and/or experience. Concordia University benefit options include, but are not limited to the following:

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Personal Spending Account, Flexible Spending Account, and/or Health Savings Account
• Disability and Survivor Plan
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)

Compensation and Benefit Details

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of CU to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The University will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, gender, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

However, CU is an institution of the LCMS and, to the extent allowed by law, CU reserves the right to give preference in employment based on religion. In addition, preference in holding certain employment positions is given to ordained or rostered ministers of the LCMS. Based on a religious tenet, CU recognizes only male, LCMS ordained Ministers of the Gospel, but recognizes both male and female LCMS Rostered Ministers of the Gospel.

The Human Resources Department has been appointed to manage the equal employment opportunity program, including all equal employment opportunity activities, as required by federal, state and local agencies. If any employee or applicant for employment believes this policy has been violated, he/she must contact the Director of Human Resources.

Concordia University is a HLC accredited, co-educational, liberal arts school offering more than 72 undergraduate majors, over 35 master's degree programs, and 5 doctoral programs. There are also a variety of accelerated evening and e-learning programs.