Western Michigan University invites applications for the position of Director of the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, College of Fine Arts for a three-year, renewable 12-month position with appointment as tenured faculty. We are a dynamic, multi-dimensional school with graduate and undergraduate programs that include performance, music therapy, music education and multimedia arts technology. The School of Music seeks an experienced leader with strong organizational and communication skills who can lead the operations of the School. Additionally, the Director will guide the School in identifying opportunities for continued excellence and growth based on the changing internal and external landscape.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic advancement, curricular innovation, and financial health of the School of Music.
• Coordinate with the Dean of the College of Fine Arts on goals, initiatives, and fundraising.
• Coordinate with the undergraduate and graduate advisors on course schedule, teaching assignments, and student concerns.
• Assign faculty workload (teaching and service) considering faculty recommendations.
• Set and track enrollment goals for each program.
• Make recommendations to the administration regarding promotions, probational and final tenure and promotion reviews and professional staff reviews.
• Maintain National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accreditation and standards.
• Coordinate and participate in processes related to scholarships, auditions, and admissions and, working with staff/faculty as appropriate, complete all University required documents related to budget, program assessment, new hires, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated successful administrative experience in leading a school, department or an equivalent-sized organization.
• Evidence of substantial organizational, managerial, and collaborative skills.
• A terminal degree or professional equivalent within a music field broadly defined from an accredited Institution.
• Accomplishments sufficient to warrant a tenured faculty appointment within the School of Music as a Full Professor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Documented experience with managing change within complex organizational structures.
• Documented history of building supportive relationships among diverse faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members.
• Demonstrated record of advancing inclusivity within the discipline of music, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience with both responsibility centered budget management and data-informed decision making.
• Experience with computer-based systems for processes such as admissions and recruitment typically found at a university setting.
• Documented success at fundraising and leveraging affiliations to benefit a school, department, or similar sized organization.
• Demonstrated abilities to initiate and follow through on both strategic planning and consistent program review activities.

The University: Western Michigan University is a learner-centered, discovery-driven, and globally engaged public university that stands out among Americas more than 4,000 higher education institutions. Founded in 1903, WMU has grown to become a major national research university enrolling more than 16,000 students from across the United States and 100 other countries. Based in Kalamazoo, WMU is a friendly, top-rated college town situated close to large urban centers, great jobs, and abundant recreational areas. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate division, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has placed WMU among the 76 public R2 institutions in the nation designated as a doctoral university with higher research activities.

The College: The College of Fine Arts (CFA) consists of the Gwen Frostic School of Art, Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance, and the Richmond Institute for Design and Innovation which houses the Product Design and Interior Architecture and Design programs. All units in the College are nationally accredited. Facilities for the learning and practice of the arts at WMU are exceptional and compare favorably with other schools nationally with similar mission and scope. With a student body of about 1300, the CFA entering class regularly has the highest academic profile of any college.

The College of Fine Arts is housed in Dalton Center, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, and South and Central Kohrman Hall, Dunbar Hall, and the Gilmore Theatre Complex surrounding Fountain Plaza. Students perform in three theatres, a 400-seat recital hall, three professional art galleries, and dance performance studios mounting over 400 performances annually. New technology-based curricula, a motion capture and virtual imaging technology lab, specialized computer labs, and other discipline specific laboratories. State-of-the-art facilities host exhibitions of student, faculty, and visiting artist works.

The Irving S. Gilmore School of Music: The Western Michigan University Irving S. Gilmore School of Music is dedicated to the advancement of the musical arts through traditional study and performance, while promoting the development of new musical paths, which prepare students for an ever-changing profession. This all-Steinway School does this by serving local, state, national, and international communities through performance, educational and therapeutic applications, composition, research, and technological innovation.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, with an excellent benefits package.

Expected Start Date: 7/1/2025

Application Deadline: Review of incoming applications will commence on December 15, 2024 and will continue until this position is filled.

Required application documents:

• Cover letter addressing both minimum and desired qualifications.
• A current CV that includes a list of qualifications, accomplishments, and professional experiences related to the position.
• The names of five references with emails and phone numbers included.

WMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and all other qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.