Job Details

Instructor and Online Program Director (OPD) in Business

Main Campus - Boston, MA
R07441

The School of Business at Simmons University in Boston invites applications for a contract faculty member to serve as instructor and program director for our new online undergraduate BSBA degrees, to begin July 1, 2021. As a mission-driven institution, we invite applications from academics and professionals who share our passion and commitment to empowering women to thrive in their careers.

Simmons University is a nationally recognized, small, highly collegial, and dynamic university that for over 100 years has pursued the vision of empowerment through its mission of providing transformative learning that links passion with lifelong purpose. Our approach combines education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. As a result, Simmons graduates are prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life. We support small classes and provide a supportive, innovative environment.

The Business & Management program at Simmons University combines theory with professional practice to enable students to succeed, thrive, and become leaders in their field. Simmons is one of just 840 institutions worldwide whose business programs are accredited by AACSB International. Recently, Simmons began a partnership with 2U, to help us to offer online undergraduate degrees for working professionals who have earned some college credits but have not yet completed an undergraduate degree. Business & Management is one of the flagship programs in this new endeavor. As such, we are looking for a faculty member who is passionate about teaching and online education. This individual will be responsible for teaching in both our traditional on-campus program as well as in the new online program and will be the program coordinator for the online Business & Management major and subsequent online undergraduate business and accounting programs.

We seek an innovative educator with a commitment to online education who has demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring, creative curriculum development, and academic administration. The primary area of expertise in business is open; however, our primary areas of teaching need are in leadership, organizational behavior, international business, negotiations, project management, business analytics, and/or entrepreneurship.

As a University whose core mission emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive environment, including the ability to work with students and colleagues with a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.

The OPD is a faculty leadership role, reporting to the Director of the School of Business, with direct responsibility for the coordination and success of an undergraduate online academic program. The OPD works closely with the Director of the School of Business, contributing faculty, College and Provost, operations teams, and relevant campus offices to manage the delivery of instruction and student support and is supported by an Online Program Specialist who oversees day-to-day operations.

This appointment is a 12-month contract, renewable annually as described in the Simmons Faculty Policy Manual, and is not a tenure-stream appointment. Depending on the candidate's academic qualifications, the rank of the appointment will be as Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice or as Assistant or Associate Professor--Non-Tenure-Track. The standard course load for contract faculty at Simmons is seven courses per year. The OPD will, in addition to the administrative responsibilities teach four courses in the first year (i.e., will receive three course releases), with the balance of administrative and teaching responsibilities reassessed annually as the program size grows. The OPD position will be located on the Simmons campus in the Fenway area of Boston.

Specific responsibilities and expectations include:

Teaching

• Teach four courses in the first year, at least two of which will be taught in the online program (with teaching and administrative workload to be revisited annually)
• Develop new course offerings as needed
• Revise existing courses on a regular basis
• Oversee approval process for new and revised courses with the School of Business Curriculum Committee, Undergraduate University Committee, Dean, and Provost

Program Oversight

• Forecast course and staffing needs, in coordination with Admissions and 2U
• Coordinate course offerings for each term (three starts/year), in partnership with academic unit head and in coordination with on-the-ground programs
• Serve as primary program liaison to 2U and relevant University offices, especially Marketing, Recruiting, Admissions, and Advising
• Report program activities annually to the Dean
• Track spending within the online program budget and manage fiscal resources responsibly, managed by the Program Specialist

Course Development and Revision

• Oversee course development and revision schedule
• Coordinate individual course development
• Participate in ongoing academic unit curricular planning and periodic program review
• Ensure consistency with academic unit standards and expectations for course and curriculum assessment, and with accreditation standards as appropriate

Student Advising and Engagement

• Serve as primary faculty contact for matriculated students, including transcript review and transfer course approvals, monitoring academic status, resolving student concerns, and verifying graduation requirements
• With academic unit head, assign students to faculty advisors, monitor advising processes, and monitor students' course plans and progress towards their degree objectives
• Identify student needs and liaise with the Program Specialist, relevant offices, and 2U to address those needs
• Work with 2U and Simmons operations team to provide opportunities for student engagement outside the classroom
  

Faculty Support and Mentoring

• Serve as primary mentor for faculty course leads and section instructors
• Develop and oversee instructor guides and/or other faculty resources
• Support School of Business Director in identifying faculty course leads, reviewing applications, hiring and assigning section instructors, and monitoring adjunct performance
• Identify faculty needs to advise relevant offices and 2U
  

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Earned master's and/or doctoral degree in business, education, leadership, or a related area
  
• Significant professional business-related experience
  
• Demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching both in person and on-line
  

Required Application Materials: To apply, please submit a cover letter, a CV, and a teaching statement describing your philosophy and experience in supporting students through the teaching and learning process. Additional supporting materials to document excellence in teaching, such as course evaluations and syllabi of courses taught, are optional and welcomed.

Application review will begin on March 22, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Contact information for three references will be requested of selected applicants following initial review of applications. If you have questions about the position, please email Professor Todd Herrmann (School of Business Undergraduate Program Director), todd.herrmann@simmons.edu.

Background Information

The School of Business offers undergraduate degree programs in Accounting, Business & Management, Finance, Marketing, and Retail Management. The School is part of the College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences (COCIS), which also includes the School of Library and Information Science and the Division of Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics. COCIS nurtures a supportive and collaborative environment by embracing the principles of diversity and inclusion, developing the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and principled leaders who can solve the global challenges of the 21st century.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the "Resume/CV" box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Instructor-and-Online-Program-Director--OPD--in-Business_R07441

Located in Bostons historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.