Career Track Scholarly Assistant Professor and Director of Industry Relations | School of Hospitality Business Management (SHBM), Carson College of Business

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

8d • $80,000 - $95,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Carson College of Business at Washington State University (WSU) invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, non-tenure track faculty position at the Pullman campus. This assistant professor career-track appointment includes supporting the School of Hospitality Business Management (SHBM) as the Director of Industry Relations. The successful candidate will lead efforts to advance student success in the school, collaborate with SHBM faculty and staff, and contribute to the growth and opportunities for students in the SHBM profession. The position carries a renewable 3-year term, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026, with the opportunity for a pre-academic appointment starting on August 1, 2026. The SHBM was founded in 1932 and will be celebrating its 95th birthday next year. Traditionally, it has been ranked in the upper tier of hospitality programs both within the United States as well as globally. The Carson College of Business is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive community that supports ongoing faculty development. All assistant professors take part in a formal mentoring program, with mentoring also available at the level of associate and full professor. Faculty and staff throughout the college have frequent opportunities for interaction and development at regular ‘Lunch & Learns’ and college-wide meetings. We are seeking a colleague who will be an active participant in and contributor to these efforts. Founded in 1890, WSU is Washington state’s land-grant institution and is ranked as having “very high research activity” (R1) by the Carnegie Foundation. WSU has an enrollment of over 21,400 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and approximately 8,275 faculty and staff at its five physical campuses (Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett) and online (Global Campus). Unlike most multi-campus systems, WSU operates as an integrated university; faculty in all CCB departments act as a single unit regardless of which campus they work at. The business curricula at all campuses are accredited as one curriculum by the AACSB. As a land-grant institution, WSU is dedicated to providing a high-quality, accessible, and affordable education for the betterment of society and, in particular, the residents and economy of Washington state. Pullman (population 33,543) is a friendly, welcoming, and safe town located in southeastern Washington state within the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Located about 75 miles south of Spokane and 285 miles east of Seattle, Pullman is a vastly fertile agricultural area known for its many miles of scenic rolling hills and the production of wheat and legumes. Pullman evenings boast unrivaled sunsets of pink and blue, which inspired WSU’s original school colors before they changed to today’s crimson and gray. A Wall Street Journal article referred to the Palouse region as “The Tuscany of America”. The newly renovated Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is located next to campus and provides multiple flights to Seattle each day. Pullman and the broader region provide limitless opportunities for year-round outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, camping, tennis and pickleball, skiing/snowboarding at Schweitzer Mountain, and water activities at the Snake River or Lake Coeur D’Alene. Pullman residents enjoy a reasonable cost of living, quick commute times, and excellent public schools. The region also holds opportunities for dual-earner professional couples. Pullman is home to the international headquarters of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, and just eight miles east of Pullman is Moscow, Idaho (population ~26,000) and the University of Idaho.

Requirements

• An earned master’s degree in hospitality, business administration, or a closely aligned field from a nationally or internationally recognized university.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to support and build the WSU SHBM industry relations as director by developing and maintaining partnerships with professionals, industry partners, alumni, and donors, and providing stewardship to those stakeholders.
• Evidence of success or potential in guiding hospitality students, entry-level hospitality staff or higher education advising, or teaching introductory hospitality or business classes at the undergraduate level.
• Experience working collaboratively, and motivated to contribute to a collegial department atmosphere.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of experience in developing academic programs and fostering student engagement.
• Relevant industry experience in the hospitality industry or similar fields.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in hospitality (HBM 105) or business.
• Direct and manage all aspects of the industry relations program in collaboration with the school director.
• Serve as an institutional relationship director to connect students, faculty, employers, alumni and others for the purpose of advancing the strategic goals of SHBM and Carson College of Business.
• Responsible for professional skills development and job placement as well as alumni involvement with the department.
• Develop and implement strategies for ensuring successful student recruiting, professional development, and placement.
• Act as the liaison between the school and employers including national, regional, and local public hospitality firms, industry, and government agencies and others interested in hiring WSU SHBM majors/minors.
• Collaborate with the SHBM director for philanthropic opportunities with industry influencers.
• Leverage resources and networks and establish strategic relationships to strengthen program and service delivery.
• Collaborate with the SHBM program specialist on internship opportunities, organizing internships, and tracking internship hours.
• Secure mentors, participate in the selection of scholarship recipients.
• Develop and manage fiscal and operational strategies, initiatives, and resource management, including budgeting and allocating resources for communications and marketing, reporting results to funding entities, and managing fiscal processes.
• Develop, establish, and recommend options for new approaches and cost-effective services to support SHBM student success.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and university policies and regulations while maintaining appropriate internal control safeguards.
• Compile annual reports, including recruiting and placement, to track the impact the industry relations manager has on the university.

Benefits

• paid sick and vacation leave
• paid holidays
• medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• retirement
• deferred compensation
• optional supplemental retirement accounts
• summer administrative stipend equal to one-ninth of the base pay is provided for year-round responsibilities associated with the director position.

What This Job Offers

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