Chair of Bass

Berklee College of Music•Boston, MA

19d•$150,000 - $170,000

About The Position

Berklee College of Music seeks an accomplished musician-educator and experienced academic leader to serve as Chair of the Bass Department . Reporting directly to the Dean of the Performance Division, the Chair provides academic, artistic, and administrative leadership for a dynamic department serving undergraduate and graduate bass principles - and a faculty of bass specialists across private instruction and bass labs. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Berklee continues to expand interdisciplinary learning, industry partnerships, and innovative performance opportunities for bass students worldwide. This is a 12-month administrative position with teaching responsibilities as assigned and approved by the Dean. The Chair works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and divisional leadership to advance curricular excellence, support faculty development, promote student success, and ensure responsible stewardship of departmental resources in alignment with Berklee policies, Faculty Union Agreement provisions, and institutional priorities. The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking leader deeply grounded in bass performance and pedagogy, with fluency across jazz, classical, rock, R&B, Latin, gospel, and other popular musical styles, and inspired by Berklee’s mission to educate adaptable, creative artists prepared for today’s and tomorrow’s music industry. The Bass Department offers a comprehensive education in both acoustic and electric bass, recognizing the instrument’s central role as the foundation of rhythm and harmony as well as a multi-timbral, polyphonic voice in contemporary music. The curriculum emphasizes: Instrumental technique and performance health Reading and interpretation of fully notated scores and chord-symbol lead sheets Stylistic fluency across jazz, popular, and classical traditions Improvisation and ensemble performance (small ensembles, rhythm sections, big bands, and orchestral settings) Professional performance practices, including appropriate use of music technology Students are prepared not only as instrumentalists, but as adaptable, creative professionals with clear pathways to professional careers and/or graduate-level study. Department programming regularly includes concerts, masterclasses, and clinics with internationally recognized artists and educators.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
Demonstrated expertise as a bass specialist with significant professional standing.
Record of successful collegiate-level teaching.
Demonstrated experience leading academic or artistic teams, arts administration, or comparable professional settings.
Ability to work effectively within a unionized academic environment and shared governance structure.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to mentor faculty and support student success.
Proficiency with instructional and administrative technologies.
Ongoing professional engagement in the music industry.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading faculty and staff in higher education.
Curriculum development and assessment experience.
Budget management and strategic planning experience.
Experience developing external partnerships or community engagement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the academic and artistic direction of the Bass Department in alignment with Berklee’s mission and degree requirements.
Oversee the development, implementation, review, and assessment of departmental curriculum to ensure academic rigor, consistency, relevance, and alignment with institutional learning outcomes and accreditation expectations.
Guide curricular priorities emphasizing instrumental technique, performance health, reading proficiency, stylistic fluency, improvisation, ensemble performance, and professional preparation.
Provide leadership and supervision for department faculty and staff in accordance with Berklee policies and the Faculty Union Agreement.
Support faculty development across all ranks through mentorship, clear expectations, and consistent communication.
Conduct faculty evaluations, including classroom observations, review of syllabi and instructional materials, analysis of student feedback, and preparation of written annual evaluations.
Ensure fair, transparent, and equitable application of policies related to teaching assignments, workload, promotion, and performance improvement.
Lead faculty recruitment and hiring processes in collaboration with the Dean, Human Resources, and in accordance with union guidelines.
Support student recruitment, orientation, advising, and retention initiatives.
Ensure students receive consistent academic guidance and access to appropriate support resources.
Foster an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that supports artistic development, well-being, and academic success.
Manage the Bass Department’s budget, facilities, and operational resources in collaboration with the Dean and divisional staff.
Oversee departmental programming including concerts, masterclasses, clinics, visiting artists, and special initiatives.
Plan and facilitate effective department meetings and coordinate departmental initiatives from planning through implementation.
Represent the Bass Department within the Performance Division and across the institution.
Participate in divisional and institutional committees and initiatives as assigned by the Dean.
Represent Berklee externally through recruitment, conferences, performances, and partnership development activities, as appropriate.
Teach courses or provide instruction as assigned and approved by the Dean.
Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position and as assigned.