Teaching Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

2d•$60,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Music at the University of North Dakota is seeking an energetic and dynamic full-time, benefitted Teaching Assistant Professor to serve as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. We seek a visionary and hardworking colleague who is student-centered and will foster and reinforce excellence, build strong campus and community connections, and lead with integrity. The successful candidate will assist in the logistical planning, instruction, and performances of the Pride of the North Marching and Athletic Bands and directly oversee the POTN Drumline and Front Ensemble. Responsibilities may include additional ensemble instruction based on the candidate’s expertise. The department is particularly interested in candidates who have experience in jazz, rock, and pop ensembles. The position begins August 1, 2026, and is contingent upon availability of funding. The mission of the University of North Dakota Department of Music is to inspire our students and community through education, performance, scholarship, and human relationships in music. The professional and liberal arts degrees of the Department of Music provide rigorous courses of study that cultivate the highest degree of artistry, innovative teaching, professionalism, and critical inquiry. The University of North Dakota is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, it is the state’s flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study with nearly 16,000 students. It is the home of the state’s only School of Law and School of Medicine. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of approximately 60,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public-school system, high-quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks’ advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America’s Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Requirements

Master’s degree in music completed by July 31, 2026
Experience leading marching and athletic bands as a director or staff member at the collegiate level
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Evidence of the ability to teach, inspire, and mentor students
Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students
Ability to work with and engage diverse students and colleagues within and outside the Department of Music
Ability to adapt to current methods of teaching
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

Nice To Haves

DMA or Ph.D. completed by July 31, 2026
Experience teaching percussion and percussion ensembles
Experience leading collegiate drumlines and front ensembles
Experience with front ensemble electronics, sound systems, and marching band technology
Experience arranging for drumline and front ensemble
Experience performing in jazz, rock, and pop ensembles
Experience in diverse programming

Responsibilities

Assist with the operation and instruction of the 150-member Pride of the North Marching Band, working closely with the Director to select and arrange music, produce pregame and halftime show(s), plan and implement rehearsal plans, and train and manage student assistants.
Assist in leading athletic band performances at UND athletic and community events. This may include performances at UND football, men’s hockey, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and booster luncheons, as well as other events on UND’s Campus and the Greater Grand Forks Community. These duties require frequent evening and weekend work and travel.
Lead athletic travel bands in conjunction with the Director of Athletic Bands. This may include NCAA Division I regional and national tournaments for Basketball and Hockey, and the FCS Football National Championship Game.
Oversee and direct the UND Drumline and Front Ensemble, which performs during the fall and spring semesters. This will include recruitment, placement auditions, music selection, ensemble rehearsals, and performance oversight.
Assist with a week-long band camp, training students prior to the start of the semester.
Teach an additional course or ensemble in the department of music consistent with the candidate’s qualifications, with a preference for modern or commercial music.
Contribute to service within the department, college, university, and community.
Participate in the department’s recruitment and outreach initiatives.
Engage in routine professional development as a core aspect of their professional practice.