Professor and Department Chair Jobs
Professor and Department Chair jobs are open across four-year universities, community colleges, and research institutions, from assistant professor to full professor and endowed chair, with specializations in STEM disciplines, humanities, and professional programs such as business, nursing, and law. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
Jackson State University (JSU) seeks a dynamic and experienced academic leader to serve as the Chair of the Department of Art. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence, faculty development, student success, and the advancement of visual arts education.
This is a tenured, 12-month, full-time administrative faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor level, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Examples of Duties
- Teaching two courses per semester.
- Planning, developing, and administering the department budget.
- Actively seeking and securing external funding through grant writing and fundraising efforts, as well as supporting faculty in grant writing and fundraising efforts.
- Representing the Department of Art effectively to the College of Liberal Arts, university leadership, professional organizations, community stakeholders, and the public.
- Participating in public departmental and university programming.
- Maintaining an agenda of creative and scholarly work.
- Leading department planning that aligns with the University's Strategic Plan while supporting a growing undergraduate program.
- Preparing reports on academic and institutional data.
- Facilitating and maintaining NASAD accreditation.
- Supervising facilities and resources for the art department.
- Organizing recruitment, retention, and advising efforts.
- Leading, mentoring, and supporting a diverse and dynamic faculty by fostering collaboration, encouraging professional growth, promoting excellence in teaching and creative scholarship, and cultivating an inclusive environment that advances faculty achievement and student success.
- Curriculum planning.
- Evaluating and managing faculty and staff.
- Report to the Dean and Associate Dean to perform assigned duties and responsibilities
Typical Qualifications
- A terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or an equivalent terminal degree consistent with NASAD standards) in User Interface (U1) Design or related field (e.g., Web Design, User Experience (UX) Design, Visual Design).
- Demonstrated experience in academic administration and leadership in higher education.
- Direct experience with NASAD accreditation processes and procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to secure external funding through grant writing and fundraising efforts.
- At least seven years of teaching experience and a proven record of teaching excellence at the college or university level.
- A strong record of creative work and/or scholarly research equivalent to the rank of associate or full professor.
- Strong record of service in an academic setting.
Supplemental Information
Candidates are expected to submit: a letter of application, Curriculum Vitae, Vision Statement of administrative philosophy, samples of work as appropriate images of student work and/or examples of published scholarly research. In addition, the candidate should submit copies of transcripts of institutions attended and the names and contact information, including mailing addresses of three professional references.
The Department of Art at Jackson State University (JSU) is an expanding academic program offering a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art with concentrations in Studio Art and Graphic Design. The department serves approximately 100 undergraduate majors. JSU has been accredited by NASAD since 1978, reflecting the university's longstanding commitment to excellence in art and design education. The department is housed in Johnson Hall, a 30,000 built facility, which includes studios and labs for graphic design, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, 2-D design, and sculpture. The ceramics studio is housed in a separate hail. Additional instructional spaces, including an art history lecture room and a drawing studio, are in the Dollye M. E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building.
Description
Jackson State University (JSU) seeks a dynamic and experienced academic leader to serve as the Chair of the Department of Art. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence, faculty development, student success, and the advancement of visual arts education.
This is a tenured, 12-month, full-time administrative faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor level, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Examples of Duties
- Teaching two courses per semester.
- Planning, developing, and administering the department budget.
- Actively seeking and securing external funding through grant writing and fundraising efforts, as well as supporting faculty in grant writing and fundraising efforts.
- Representing the Department of Art effectively to the College of Liberal Arts, university leadership, professional organizations, community stakeholders, and the public.
- Participating in public departmental and university programming.
- Maintaining an agenda of creative and scholarly work.
- Leading department planning that aligns with the University's Strategic Plan while supporting a growing undergraduate program.
- Preparing reports on academic and institutional data.
- Facilitating and maintaining NASAD accreditation.
- Supervising facilities and resources for the art department.
- Organizing recruitment, retention, and advising efforts.
- Leading, mentoring, and supporting a diverse and dynamic faculty by fostering collaboration, encouraging professional growth, promoting excellence in teaching and creative scholarship, and cultivating an inclusive environment that advances faculty achievement and student success.
- Curriculum planning.
- Evaluating and managing faculty and staff.
- Report to the Dean and Associate Dean to perform assigned duties and responsibilities
Typical Qualifications
- A terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or an equivalent terminal degree consistent with NASAD standards) in User Interface (U1) Design or related field (e.g., Web Design, User Experience (UX) Design, Visual Design).
- Demonstrated experience in academic administration and leadership in higher education.
- Direct experience with NASAD accreditation processes and procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to secure external funding through grant writing and fundraising efforts.
- At least seven years of teaching experience and a proven record of teaching excellence at the college or university level.
- A strong record of creative work and/or scholarly research equivalent to the rank of associate or full professor.
- Strong record of service in an academic setting.
Supplemental Information
Candidates are expected to submit: a letter of application, Curriculum Vitae, Vision Statement of administrative philosophy, samples of work as appropriate images of student work and/or examples of published scholarly research. In addition, the candidate should submit copies of transcripts of institutions attended and the names and contact information, including mailing addresses of three professional references.
The Department of Art at Jackson State University (JSU) is an expanding academic program offering a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art with concentrations in Studio Art and Graphic Design. The department serves approximately 100 undergraduate majors. JSU has been accredited by NASAD since 1978, reflecting the university's longstanding commitment to excellence in art and design education. The department is housed in Johnson Hall, a 30,000 built facility, which includes studios and labs for graphic design, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, 2-D design, and sculpture. The ceramics studio is housed in a separate hail. Additional instructional spaces, including an art history lecture room and a drawing studio, are in the Dollye M. E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building.
Professor and Department Chair Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education29
- Healthcare & Medical Services3
- Science & Research1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in professor and department chair jobs.
- Earned doctoral degree in a relevant academic discipline
- Active record of peer-reviewed publications or equivalent scholarly output
- Prior teaching experience at the postsecondary level
- Experience with curriculum development and academic program review
- Demonstrated record of securing external grants or research funding
- Familiarity with accreditation standards and faculty governance processes
Tips for Your Professor and Department Chair Job Search
Tailor your CV to each institution type
Research-focused universities weight publications and grant history heavily, while teaching colleges prioritize course load experience and student outcomes. Adjust the order and emphasis of your CV sections so the most relevant credentials appear first for each application.
Highlight your departmental leadership record
Chair roles require demonstrated governance experience. List specific outcomes you owned: curriculum revisions approved, faculty lines hired, budget cycles managed, or accreditation processes led. Vague references to 'administrative duties' rarely move an application forward.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists professor and department chair openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Read the faculty handbook before your campus visit
Finalists for chair positions are often asked how they would handle tenure disputes, faculty grievances, or program reviews. Reviewing the institution's publicly available faculty governance documents before your visit lets you give specific, credible answers rather than generic ones.
Prepare a teaching and research statement that speaks to department priorities
Many search committees read the research statement before the CV. Open with how your research agenda addresses the department's stated strategic goals or fills a gap in their current faculty expertise, not with a summary of your dissertation.
Negotiate startup funds and course release before accepting
Chair offers frequently include discretionary funds, course releases, or summer salary that are not stated in the initial letter. Ask explicitly what administrative support, research budget, and course load reduction come with the role before you sign.
Professor and Department Chair Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most professor and department chairs?
University of Pittsburgh, Oregon Health & Science University, and Middle Tennessee State University are hiring the most professor and department chairs right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Search by institution type or discipline to narrow results to openings that match your background.
How many professor and department chair jobs are remote?
About 25% of professor and department chair openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with online-only programs and continuing education divisions accounting for the largest share of those roles. Administrative chair responsibilities tied to on-campus faculty oversight and accreditation visits are rarely fully remote.
How do you become a professor and department chair?
Becoming a professor and department chair typically starts with completing a doctoral degree, building a publication record, and earning tenure at the assistant and associate professor levels. From there, candidates take on service roles such as program director or graduate coordinator, demonstrate faculty governance experience, and apply to chair openings, often with a formal letter of application and administrative vision statement.
How do you get hired as a professor and department chair with little experience?
Candidates with limited administrative experience can strengthen their candidacy by serving on department or college committees, leading an accreditation self-study, coordinating a curriculum revision, or directing a graduate program. Search committees at smaller colleges and community colleges often prioritize teaching effectiveness and collaborative approach over an extensive administrative record, making those institutions a practical entry point.
What does the professor and department chair interview process look like?
The process typically begins with a phone or video screen by the search committee, followed by a full campus visit that includes a research or teaching presentation, meetings with current faculty, a session with the dean or provost, and a town-hall style open meeting with students. Chair finalists are frequently asked to respond to a hypothetical faculty conflict or budget scenario to assess administrative judgment.
Where can I find and apply to professor and department chair jobs?
You can find and apply to professor and department chair jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from colleges and universities across the United States. Search for roles that match your discipline and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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