Assistant Professor of Social Work and Director of Practice Education, WWU-Peninsulas

Internal•Bremerton, WA

3d•$74,000 - $95,500

About The Position

Western Washington University (WWU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the new MSW program in the Peninsulas. The position is a 9-month academic year assignment. Summer teaching is optional. The desired start date is September 16, 2026. The assigned work location for this position will be Bremerton, WA or Poulsbo, WA. In addition to their primary assignment as faculty, the successful candidate will also initially serve as the Director of Practice Education for the MSW Program primarily serving the people and communities of the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas. This candidate will be responsible for the implementation, supervision, and assessment of all functions of the practicum experience. This includes students' placement in and progress through all practice education courses, agency selection, assignment of students according to clear criteria, and monitoring of student progress toward completion of practicum requirements. This appointment as Director and the attendant teaching release time will be subject to periodic review by the Chair and Dean based on programmatic needs. The MSW program will be offered in an online modality with the option of growing into a hybrid offering as the program is established and grows. The ideal candidate will help promote the vision of Woodring College (as outlined most recently in its Strategic Plan ) and the HCS Department program. The Director of Practice Education will have at least 50% course release to meet the requirements of the accrediting agency CSWE (Council on Social Work Education). The ideal candidate will also help promote the vision of Woodring College (as outlined most recently in its Strategic Plan ) and the HCS Department. The mission flowing from that vision is grounded in regional needs and developed through academic and practice partnerships. Once the program is established, the selected candidate will teach in the MSW program across the curriculum at various systemic level. The candidate will also be expected to engage in scholarship endeavors and participate in activities serving the university and community. The candidate will participate in activities serving the department, such as student advising, and contributing to departmental decisions.

Requirements

Earned doctorate or ABD at time of application in Social Work or related field (PhD, DSW, ABD). If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment, e.g., June 15, 2027.
MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
Minimum of two years post-MSW practice experience
Record of scholarly activities in the field of social work
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills

Nice To Haves

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or relevant clinical license
Record of successful teaching, scholarship, administrative experience, and community service
Knowledge of and/or experience in curriculum and faculty development
Knowledge of and/or experience in evaluation of instructional personnel and programs
Prior experience as Director of Field Practicum
Knowledge of social service context and agencies in the United States, especially within the state of Washington and the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

Responsibilities

Administration of Field Education
Find, select, cultivate and grow field practicum sites that offer excellent student experiences.
Meet regularly either face-to-face on-site or online, with community partners.
Meet regularly face-to-face on-site with WWU-P staff, faculty, and practicum partners to support Peninsulas students
Attend community meetings on a regularly to strengthen collaboration with field sites.
Train and supervise field faculty in their field liaison roles.
Recruit new field sites and monitor the overall success of MSW students in the field.
Maintain relationships with current and potential field agencies through regular visits on site, completing one site visit per quarter per student per agency
Coordinate efforts to arrange for practicums for MSW students.
Develop and assess new and existing practicum sites for MSW students.
Develop and review MOUs with new and existing agency sites.
Develop and review and regularly update policies and procedures and handbooks for MSW practicums.
Train and monitor new and existing seminar instructors who teach MSW field practicum seminars.
Develop training seminars for new and continuing field instructors/supervisors to be delivered once a year.
Administer and collect program assessment instruments to be completed by field instructor/supervisor.
Draft letters to field instructors/supervisors to confirm practicum, provide learning agreements, evaluation forms, syllabus for practicum seminar and other pertinent information.
Assess and manage student progress through MSW practicum instructors and field supervisors.
Where applicable serve as a mediator to resolve conflict between a student and an agency if unable to be resolved at the course, program or agency level.