Assistant Director for Instructional Support

The College of Science at Virginia Tech (https://www.science.vt.edu) invites applications for the position of Assistant Director for Instructional Support. The main purpose of this position is to lead and support efforts in the College of Sciences to advance the use of research-based instructional strategies to innovate and improve instruction, and develop communities of practice around undergraduate math and science education. This is a 12-month, full-time, Administrative and Professional (AP) Faculty position, based in Blacksburg, VA. 

The Assistant Director for Instructional Support is a new position and is part of a broader College of Science initiative for advancing undergraduate science education. The Assistant Director for Instructional Support position will be instrumental in fulfilling and advancing the College’s educational mission through its central role in supporting  faculty in adopting, designing, and implementing research-based instructional practices and strategies. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Estrella Johnson, Director of this initiative, as a leader in developing and accomplishing the initiative’s goals. 

The Virginia Tech College of Science is home to the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Statistics; the Academies of Integrated Science and Data Science; and the School of Neuroscience. The 8 departments, two academies, and one school are collectively home to 260 tenured/tenure-track faculty and an additional 135 non-tenure track instructional faculty. The College serves nearly 5,000 students in undergraduate majors and 668 students in graduate programs. The College also provides critical coursework to undergraduate students across the university, including nearly 10,000 College of Engineering students.

The Assistant Director for Instructional Support will have the following responsibilities:

• Developing and conducting professional development programs for College of Science faculty that advance the use of research-based instructional strategies and support instructional innovation (e.g., active learning, inclusive pedagogy)  

• Organizing college level activities 

• Partnering with other centers and offices on campus around instructional supports

• Master’s degree or equivalent (at least 18-credits of graduate credits) in a science, math, or related field 

• PhD or EdD in an education or science related field 

• Undergraduate science/math teaching experience

• Experience supporting instruction across multiple science disciplines (e.g., life, physical, and computational) 

• Demonstrated experience with inclusive pedagogy

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Virginia Tech and the College of Science. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. The College of Science seeks candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education. The educational initiatives, advances, and research supported by this position will need to attend to the needs, identities, and lived experiences of our students. Thus, the successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to inclusive pedagogy. 

Questions regarding the position may be directed to the chair of the Search Committee, at strej@vt.edu. 

The application package must include (i) a current curriculum vitae or resume, (ii) a two-page cover letter that addresses how the applicant meets the qualifications, and (iii) contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted until after the initial review and only with the permission of the applicant.

Review of applications will begin on Feb 29th, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, complete application packages should be received by the review date. As part of the hiring process, the successful applicant will be required to have a criminal conviction check. Start date is flexible, however we would like to have someone starting in this role by August 10th, 2024,  at the latest.

Appointment Type

Regular

February 29, 2024

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.