Faculty Music Department of Music Chair

Concordia University is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and in the world.

Position Description

Concordia University Wisconsin invites applications for a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Music This position is housed in the Department of Music within the School of Arts & Sciences with an anticipated start date of July 1 2026. This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting mark by advancing an established program to new levels of excellence and visibility. The Chair will play a central role in shaping the future of music at the University fostering excellence in teaching performance ministry and scholarship. This is a senior faculty position with specific rank to be determined based upon the successful candidates experience and qualifications.

The successful candidate will provide artistic leadership in either instrumental music or choral music depending on their area of expertise while guiding the department as a whole with a unifying vision. We seek a chair who combines disciplinary excellence with the ability to cultivate faculty inspire students strengthen community connections and champion the role of music within the liberal arts tradition and the Lutheran mission of the University. All Concordia faculty members are active members of Christian congregations; the university gives preference in hiring to members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of the Department of Music fostering a culture of collaboration innovation and excellence.
• Direct and develop either instrumental ensembles or choral ensembles in accordance with expertise ensuring vibrant performance opportunities for students.
• Teach academic courses within the Department of Music or University Core Curriculum that align with program needs as well as the candidates areas of strength and interest such as ensembles music theory/aural theory conducting etc.
• Collaborate with faculty colleagues to shape and maintain curriculum assess student learning strengthen recruitment and retention advise students and promote student success.
• Manage departmental resources including budgeting scheduling and personnel. - Engage alumni community partners and external organizations to raise the profile and impact of the department.
• Ensure that music enriches the full student experience at the University-infusing the liberal arts enlivening campus ministry and shaping campus culture-so that its presence is unmistakable to students and prospective students alike.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Evidence of effective teaching recruitment and mentorship of students.
• Experience in academic or program leadership with vision for growing a department in alignment with institutional mission and values.
• Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Education and Experience

• Earned doctorate in Music (or equivalent professional distinction).
• Recognized achievement in instrumental or choral conducting with a demonstrated ability to elevate collegiate ensembles through visionary leadership and uncompromising commitment to musical excellence.

Physical Demands/Equipment

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time salary exempt position. The starting wage may be determined upon education and/or experience. Concordia University benefit options include but are not limited to the following:

• Health Dental and Vision Insurance
• Personal Spending Account Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account
• Disability and Survivor Plan
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)

Compensation and Benefit Details

Application Instructions

To receive full consideration all applicants are must complete and submit an online employment application through the Concordia University Employment page: Click on the job you are interested in applying to enter your contact information in the Apply Now section and then click the Apply For This Position button to begin the application process.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until successful candidate(s) are identified. Applicants should include with their online application: letter of intent resume curriculum vita copy of transcripts three letters of reference and description of teaching philosophy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of CU to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable federal state and local laws.

The University will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race color sex pregnancy national origin (including ancestry) citizenship status physical or mental disability age marital status gender veteran or military status predisposing genetic characteristics domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.

However CU is an institution of the LCMS and to the extent allowed by law CU reserves the right to give preference in employment based on addition preference in holding certain employment positions is given to ordained or rostered ministers of the LCMS. Based on a religious tenet CU recognizes only male LCMS ordained Ministers of the Gospel but recognizes both male and female LCMS Rostered Ministers of the Gospel.

The Human Resources Department has been appointed to manage the equal employment opportunity program including all equal employment opportunity activities as required by federal state and local agencies. If any employee or applicant for employment believes this policy has been violated he/she must contact the Director of Human Resources.

Concordia University is a HLC accredited co-educational liberal arts school offering more than 72 undergraduate majors over 35 masters degree programs and 5 doctoral programs. There are also a variety of accelerated evening and e-learning programs.