Department Head- Social Work

Position Details

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Position Information

Position Title
Department Head
- Social Work

Job Summary

This is a full-time (10-month position). The Department Head of Social Work serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the Department of Social Work. This position provides strategic vision, operational leadership, and oversight of all departmental functions, including academic programming, accreditation, faculty development, student success, and external partnerships. The Department Head is responsible for fostering a collaborative and innovative academic environment that supports excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and community engagement.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, a commitment to social work education, and the ability to advance the department's mission in alignment with institutional goals and accreditation standards. This is not a remote position.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for program growth, sustainability, and innovation
• Oversee daily operations, including budgeting, resource allocation, and program management.
• Develop and implement departmental policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and accreditation standards (CSWE, SACSCOC).
• Prepare and submit required reports, including accreditation and assessment documentation.
• Advise the Dean on departmental status, goals, and performance
• Support student recruitment, retention, advisement, and professional development
• Recruit, mentor, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff
• Foster a collegial and inclusive departmental climate
• Maintain an active program of scholarly research and publication
• Pursue external funding through grants and partnerships
• Build and sustain relationships with community partners, alumni, and stakeholders
• Represent the department at professional meetings and events
• Serve on college and university committees
• Teach a minimum of two courses each academic semester
• Perform additional assigned duties

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Earned doctorate degree in Social Work (PhD or DSW) or a doctoral degree in a closely related field.
• Eligibility for LMSWI LICSW, LCSW licensure.
• Minimum of two years post-MSW full-time professional practice experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CSWE accreditation standards and processes.
• Relevant administrative and leadership experience in higher education; preferably social work education.

Additional Desirable

Qualifications:

• Prior experience in academic leadership (e.g., program director, department chair, or coordinator)
• Demonstrated success with CSWE accreditation processes (self-study, reaffirmation, or candidacy/benchmark review)
• Experience in curriculum development and program assessment at the BSW and/or MSW levels
• Record of scholarly publications and/or external grant funding
• Experience with online program development and delivery
• Strong record of community engagement and partnership development

Physical Demands

FLSA
Exempt

Status
Full-Time

Skills and Attributes

Knowledge of:

• CSWE 2022 EPAS accreditation standards and assessment processes.
• Social work education (BSW and MSW), including curriculum and field education.
• Higher education administration, including budgeting, planning, and program oversight.
• In person and online instruction methods; and research, scholarship, and grant development

Skills:

• Leadership and organizational skills
• effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic planning and problem-solving
• Data analysis for assessment and accreditation reporting
• Faculty supervision and mentoring
• Time…