Assistant/Associate Professor of Commercial Music and Founding Director of the Commercial Music Program

Mid-America Nazarene University • Olathe, KS

14h

About The Position

MidAmerica Nazarene University invites applications for a full-time, 10-month faculty position in the Department of Arts & Humanities, serving as Founding Director of the Commercial Music Program. The successful candidate will provide leadership for the B.A. in Commercial Music, including its tracks in Music Production and Technology, Music Entrepreneurship, Jazz Studies, and Performance. The role involves helping establish the program’s identity and curriculum, building professional partnerships and student opportunities, and leading the program’s continued development and growth.

The faculty member will teach courses based on their expertise and departmental needs. Areas may include Music Entrepreneurship/Business, Music Production, Music Technology, Music Performance, songwriting, music theory and history, General Education music, applied lessons, and other music courses. The university seeks a candidate able to contribute broadly across the music curriculum and music core.

A significant part of the role involves student recruitment and community engagement. The director will build the program’s visibility, cultivate relationships with prospective students and regional music professionals, church musicians, private studio teachers, classroom music educators, arts organizations, studios, production companies, and other industry partners. The position also includes developing internships, professional networking, and experiential learning opportunities. A portion of the annual teaching load is allocated to recruitment and community engagement, with greater emphasis on program-building during the first year.

The position carries a 27-load-credit annual assignment and reports to the Chair of the Department of Arts & Humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences. Candidates must demonstrate an actively lived Christian faith and the ability to integrate Christian faith and values into teaching, performance, professional practice, and relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Commercial Music, Music Production or Technology, or a related field.
• Significant professional experience in multiple areas of the music industry, including at least two of the following: music production and technology; recording arts, live music production, or audio engineering; music entrepreneurship or arts management; songwriting or commercial music performance; electronic music and composition.
• Experience recruiting and connecting with prospective students, including relationships with regional music professionals, church musicians, private studio teachers, classroom music educators, and potential students and partners.
• Teaching expertise in one or more of Music Production and Technology, Music Entrepreneurship/business, or Music Performance.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, including the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, music professionals, and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships, internships, and professional networking opportunities that provide experiential learning for students.
• Commitment to student development and to the mission of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
• Mature and actively lived Christian faith, demonstrated by regular participation in a local church, personal and corporate spiritual disciplines, and a commitment to following Jesus Christ in daily life and professional relationships.
• Ability to integrate Christian faith and values into teaching, performance, professional practice, and relationships with students and colleagues.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree in Music, Commercial Music, Music Production or Technology, or a related field.
• Established professional music-industry connections and demonstrated experience developing partnerships and opportunities for emerging musicians.
• Experience working with music businesses, recording studios, live production, arts organizations, churches, or other professional music environments.
• Experience developing or leading academic programs, ensembles, community music initiatives, internships, or other experiential learning opportunities.
• Ability to teach broadly across the music curriculum and contribute to courses outside the candidate’s primary area of specialization.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and leadership for the launch and continued development of the B.A. in Commercial Music.
• Help establish the program’s identity, curriculum, professional partnerships, and student opportunities.
• Teach courses in the Commercial Music curriculum according to expertise and departmental needs, potentially including music entrepreneurship/business, production, technology, performance, songwriting, theory, history, General Education music, and applied lessons.
• Contribute broadly to the music curriculum and music core.
• Recruit prospective students and cultivate relationships with regional music professionals, church musicians, private studio teachers, classroom music educators, and other potential students and partners.
• Develop professional partnerships, internships, networking, and experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Support community engagement and build the program’s visibility, with an increased emphasis on these activities during the first year.
• Integrate Christian faith and values into teaching, performance, professional practice, and relationships with students and colleagues.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior