Director of Field Education - School of Social Work

VCU's School of Social Work has an exciting opportunity for a Director of Field Education!

The mission of the VCU School of Social Work is to prepare professional social workers as practitioners, scholars and leaders; to generate research and scholarship for advancing knowledge and practice; and to contribute to the local, state, national, international and professional communities to improve quality of life. Guided by the principle of promoting social and economic justice in a diverse and multicultural society, our programs focus on service to and empowerment of people who experience oppression or vulnerability due to inadequate or inequitable distribution of personal, social or institutional resources. Our faculty and staff have articulated our Commitments to Racial and Social Justice which guide our priorities and decision-making. We seek applicants with demonstrated experience in advancing these priorities through their practice, teaching, and service.

Position Responsibilities:

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work is seeking an established social work field educator to join our faculty and administrative team. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, the Director of Field Education serves on the Dean’s Cabinet and holds responsibility for overseeing field education for the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs. This position also provides supervision to the Assistant Director of Field Education as well as field coordinators, liaisons, and other professional staff.

In collaboration with our M.S.W. and B.S.W. programs and Office of Student Success, the Director of Field Education oversees curriculum and policies for M.S.W. and B.S.W. field education and directs operations for field education, to include agency recruitment and selection; field instructor, liaison, and student orientation and training; student placement and assignment; monitoring student progress; addressing problems; and student evaluations. The Director hires, supervises, and leads a team of field coordinators and liaisons. The Director represents the interests of field education in curriculum committees and other administrative bodies within and outside the School of Social Work, and works as a collaborative partner with B.S.W. and M.S.W. program directors, the Office of Student Success, and faculty in efforts to continuously innovate and improve the social work education curriculum, support student learning, and assure compliance with CSWE, School, and University policy and standards.
This position also requires collaborative, proactive and continuous interface with community partners to enhance the School’s connection with the local practice community as well as gather input on field education initiatives and strategies. Additionally, the Director of Field Education will collaborate with other administrative leaders at the SSW to cultivate a climate of inclusion among students, proactively communicating and addressing concerns, problems, and issues. The Director position is a faculty position, and while primarily administrative, will entail teaching responsibilities as assigned.



Required Qualifications:

• MSW from a CSWE-accredited social work program and a minimum of 5 years of post-masters professional social work experience;
• Experience as a field supervisor and/or field liaison;
• Knowledge of CSWE accreditation and curriculum standards as well as best practices in field education;
• Experience teaching social work education courses;
• Ability to make effective decisions in complex, time-sensitive situations;
• Capacity to be personable, collaborative, and team oriented;
• Strong written and oral communicator;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and foster connections with community partners, particularly in the Richmond, Virginia area;
• Commitment to academic excellence and integrity;
• Commitment to the values, ethics, and mission of the social work profession;
• Passion for field education and working directly with students;
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice;
• Strong leadership skills integrated with the ability to work collaboratively;
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in innovative field education models such as online delivery and international field placements;
• Prior experience with social work accreditation either at another institution or through CSWE.