Field Director - Master of Social Work Program

Grand Valley State University; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

403B with employer contribution and 2‑

Tuition waivers for undergrad/grad

Up to 4 weeks vacation

Work-Life Program

Benefits website access

Job summary

Grand Valley State University, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, invites applications for the Field Director of the MSW Program in the College of Education and Community Innovation. The role leads MSW field education coordination, placement, and community partnerships with in-person or hybrid coursework.

Required: MSW from a CSWE-accredited program and at least two years of post-MSW professional social work experience, plus strong leadership, communication, and a commitment to diversity and

Qualifications

• MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Minimum of two years of post-MSW professional social work experience.
• Evidence of critical, reflective thinking about field education in social work.
• Experience working with graduate students and community partners to support MSW field education.
• Ability to provide leadership to the field education program through practice, field instruction, and administrative activities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with respect, empathy, and cultural humility.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access including anti-racist practice in CSWE alignment.
• Ability to establish professional relationships and collaborate with community organizations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and place all MSW students entering field education, including orientation and evaluation of needs.
• Provide consultation and mediation to students, Field Education Supervisors and faculty liaisons.
• Implement policies for disrupted placements via practicum review when needed.
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate field placement sites and partnerships.
• Collaborate with Health Compliance to complete affiliation agreements and requirements.
• Attend quarterly Health Compliance-Clinical Placement Committee meetings.
• Evaluate student learning experiences and update field education policies and manuals.
• Maintain field applications, supervisor info, surveys, and online learning contracts.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Cultural humility

Community partnerships

DEI/anti-racist practice

Collaboration

Field education administration

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited program

2+ years post-MSW experience

Graduate-student/community-partner engagement

Leadership in field education

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Job description

Field Director, MSW Program-College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI)

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Benefits are effective on the first day of employment!

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance offered.
• Generous 403B contributions by employer and employee are fully vested after 2 years.
• Tuition is waived for undergraduate and graduate courses!
• Up to four weeks of accrued vacation.
• Work-Life Program to assist in achieving a balanced life between work and personal needs.
• More benefits can be found on our website at https://www.gvsu.edu/hro/benefits/

Summary:

Grand Valley State University’s (GVSU) School of Social Work seeks a Field Director for the MSW program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) classifies the GVSU MSW program as campus-based, and all required courses are taught in person or hybrid.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE accredited MSW Program.
• Minimum of two years of post-MSW professional social work experience.
• Evidence of critical, reflective thinking about the role of field education within social work education.
• Record of, or demonstrated potential for, working with graduate students and community partners to support MSW field education.
• Ability to provide leadership to the field education program through practice experience, field instruction experience, and administrative or other relevant academic and professional activities in social work
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, including a clear commitment to anti-racist social work practice in alignment with CSWE standards.
• Demonstrated ability to establish professional relationships, partnerships and collaborations, and network with community organizations and agencies.
• Ability to work productively with colleagues with flexibility and creativity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three years or more post MSW professional social work experience.
• Previous field placement coordination experience, strong skills in mediation and collaboration, knowledge of area social service agencies, and experience in program development and management.
• Ability to contribute to the diversity of the faculty through lived experience and/or professional practice.

Primary Duties:

• Coordination and placement of all MSW students entering field education, including orientation, evaluating student interest and educational needs, verifying academic readiness for field education, and making placement decisions, including employment-based field placement proposals.
• Provide consultation and mediation, as necessary, to students, Field Education Supervisors and faculty field liaisons.
• If/when informal methods to address concerns in the field education are unsuccessful, the MSW Field Director will implement policies related to disrupted placements through the practicum review process.
• Develop, maintain, assist, monitor, and evaluate community field placement sites.Recruit, screen, and develop quality new and expanded field placement locations, including those for specialized and underserved populations.
• Work with the GVSU Health Compliance office to complete affiliation agreements with social work field placement sites.
• Work with GVSU Health Compliance staff to ensure students complete Health Compliance requirements before and during field education.
• Attend and participate in the Health Compliance -Clinical Placement Committee’s quarterly meetings.
• Evaluate student learning experiences, progress, and outcomes. Develop, evaluate, update, and implement policies and procedures for field education, including reviewing and revising the field education manual.
• Maintain documentation including student field applications, new supervisor information, agency surveys, database entry, and online learning contract portal.
• Regular collaboration and communication with department directors, faculty, staff, students, and the community.
• Collaboration with other university departments that intersect with field education (Padnos International Center, Health Compliance, Legal, Clinical Placement Council, etc.).
• Maintain relationships with community partners and existing field education sites.
• Conduct an annual evaluation of field education, identifying, planning, and addressing trends in field education.
• Collect and/or analyze field outcome data.
• Select, orient, and develop work of the Faculty Field Liaisons, including meetings every semester.
• Coordinate and assign students to Faculty Field Liaisons and seminar groups.
• Convene Practicum Review Committee, Field Advisory Board, Faculty Field Liaison meetings, and Field Education Practice Committee.
• Plan, organize, and conduct field education training for faculty liaisons, students, and agency-based Field Education Supervisors related to field education.
• Collaborate with field education directors at other colleges and universities on the enhancement of field education.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement annual Field Supervisor Thank You event.
• Remain abreast of CSWE policies and procedures as they relate to Field Education and attend any relevant trainings/conferences.
• Participate in re-accreditation processes as related to Field Education.
• Attend/participate in Faculty/Staff meetings.

Salary: $72,000-$76,000, commensurate with experience

Division: CECI-MSW Program

Campus: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Innovator mentality Fosters inclusive and equitable community Well-being oriented Asset mindset Acts with integrity Emotionally intelligent Collaborative teamwork Empowering