Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences, VCUarts Qatar

Virginia Commonwealth University - San Francisco, CA

Full-time - Director

San Francisco, CA

101-250 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences at VCUarts Qatar is a full-time, non-tenure-eligible position responsible for leading the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program. This role is crucial in providing a well-rounded education that complements specialized disciplines in the arts and design. The director will oversee curriculum implementation, faculty recruitment, and program administration while promoting excellence in teaching and research. The position aims to enhance students' critical thinking and cultural awareness, preparing them for global engagement as creative professionals.

Responsibilities

• Implement the ConnectED (General Education) components of the curriculum for the undergraduate degree granting programs
• Assume responsibility for faculty and staff recruitment, mentorship, empowerment, and evaluation
• Serve as a program advocate for students, faculty, and staff
• Oversee all areas of program administration, including course scheduling, personnel, budget, facilities and equipment management
• Promote excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement
• Collaborate with the VCUarts Qatar's communications team to promote the program, and increase program's visibility
• Contribute to student recruitment efforts, collaborating with the VCUarts Qatar's recruitment and admissions team
• Foster collaborative relationships across VCUarts Qatar departments, Qatar Foundation partner universities in Education City, and offices and departments on home campus
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of multiple disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences to support
• Demonstrate skill in understanding of cultural differences
• Guide faculty and students effectively in interdisciplinary endeavors
• Ensure that the program complies with all relevant university policies and relevant regulations
• Teach courses within the LAS program, corresponding to the needs of the program and the Director's area(s) expertise
• Contribute to new knowledge in the field through research and/or creative work, with impact at the national and/or international level
• Participate actively in institutional service, including governance committees or task forces, as well as service to the creative/academic discipline
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• MFA, PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines, or equivalent professional training and experience
• Expertise in one or more disciplinary domains represented in the liberal arts and sciences and a demonstrated ability to work across diverse disciplines
• A minimum of five years of university-level teaching experience beyond the TA and/or adjunct level
• Experience in academic administration or demonstrated leadership in institutional service or service to the field
• A well-established research agenda and a clear potential for dissemination, external funding, and contributing to scholarship
• Experience developing and leading in a highly ambitious and collegial team environment
• Academic professional experience in Middle Eastern regional contexts preferred
• Effective collaborative and communication skills
• Demonstrated competence working in and creating a trusting, diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, and student culture
• Experience recruiting, hiring, and retaining under-represented faculty and staff, and leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion is strongly preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a multicultural academic environment
• Familiarity with the ConnectED curriculum or similar educational frameworks
• Proficiency in Arabic or other languages relevant to the region

Benefits

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities