Chairperson of the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies (71100)

at  Pratt Institute

DESCRIPTION:

The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the Pratt Institute seeks exceptional applicants for the position of Chairperson of the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies. Reporting to the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SLAS), the Chairperson oversees the curriculum, staff, and day-to-day operations of the department of 18 full-time and 60 part-time faculty.
The Chairperson should possess a minimum of 5 (five) years of academic administration experience in a department of comparable size. The Chairperson must exhibit exceptional leadership capabilities to oversee a diverse faculty, manage budgets, advocate for departmental requirements, navigate faculty hiring and evaluation processes, collaborate effectively with unionized faculty, and represent the department outwardly. The Chairperson should possess outstanding communication and collaboration skills, enabling effective teamwork with other SLAS chairs to deliver a comprehensive general education program and support interdisciplinary activities, demonstrating a clear grasp of the interconnectedness of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. The ideal candidate should demonstrate a deep understanding of the ever-evolving technological landscape of higher education and its impact on teaching and learning. The Chairperson will hold a pivotal role in the advancement of the Critical and Visual Studies degree program and the minors coordinated by the department. The Chairperson is expected to demonstrate a proven and unwavering commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Chairperson advocates for faculty research and aligns new initiatives with department priorities including those of the new Center for Critical Discard Studies. Proficiency in fostering connections among potential collaborators, both within and beyond the Institute, is essential. Furthermore, the Chairperson should excel in facilitating the incubation of novel initiatives that hold the potential for significant research impact.

EDUCATION

A Ph.D. in Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or a complementary field is required.

EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have at least 5 years of academic administrative experience, a minimum of 5 years of college-level teaching experience, and a strong academic record of scholarly accomplishment. Preference will be given to candidates who hold the academic rank of Associate Professor with tenure or Full Professor with tenure.

SKILLS

Superior interpersonal, written, and oral communication, as well as collaboration skills, are required. Demonstrated strong administrative skills in a complex environment, as well as a demonstrated level of intercultural competence and ability to work well with diverse populations, are essential.
Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The range for position salary is $150,00 to $160,000.
This is an administrative 4-day-per-week position with the opportunity for some hybrid work.

Department Chairs play an essential role as both administrators and educational leaders at Pratt Institute generating and advancing a vision for the department, in line with the strategic plans of the School and the Institute. The responsibilities of the Chair require excellent leadership and organizational abilities and include but are not limited to:

• Supervise and develop the department’s curriculum and educational programs, seeking opportunities to include perspectives of diverse cultures and fostering inclusive pedagogies.
• Support and supervise assessment instruments and practices, including program reviews, lead the department’s budget, and advocate for the needs of the department.
• Provide vision and support for faculty to integrate new technologies and pedagogical practices.
• Provide support for faculty research and encouragement for the incubation of new research initiatives helping them develop strategies for funding.
• Recruit, interview, supervise, evaluate, and mentor new faculty members with diversity being top of mind.
• Supervise and mentor faculty; evaluate tenure track faculty and faculty requests for promotion, tenure, and change of status.
• Support the development of part-time faculty within the department.
• Organize course and faculty schedules in compliance with the faculty union contract.
• Communicate with faculty and students on a regular basis; hold multiple faculty meetings throughout the year.
• Oversee the functioning of the department’s classroom facilities.
• Serve on school and Institute committees.
• Carry out special projects as assigned by the Dean.
• Perform all other related duties as required.

This administrative appointment carries a twelve-month per year workload and a three-year contract that may be renewed.
Teaching: The Chair will have the option to teach one course per semester in the field of expertise without additional compensation.