Asst/Assoc Professor and Program Lead Leadership and Innovation

University of the Pacific, United States

Updated: 22 days ago
Location: Sacramento, CALIFORNIA
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Position Information


Title Asst/Assoc Professor and Program Lead Leadership and Innovation
Campus Sacramento
Department Benerd College
Posting Number F00810
Full or Part Time Full Time
Open Date 09/08/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Days Per Week
Weeks Per Year

Position Description


Primary Purpose and Essential Functions
University of the Pacific’s Benerd College is seeking a team member with an entrepreneurial spirit to serve a vital role as we fulfill our vision to be a center of innovation, learning, and creativity in the Sacramento Valley. We are searching for a colleague with a deep commitment to engaging students in real-world practice through teaching that challenges dominant norms. Our courses are centered on culminating projects where students work with community partners in real-world settings. We are focused on an action-oriented, project-based dissertation model in our doctoral program. In particular, we are teaching students to use various innovation tools and frameworks as methods for their dissertation inquiry. We hope to find a colleague who will help us move even further in creating the most transformational and impactful program possible.
The Sacramento faculty plays an important role in working with the Associate Dean and other colleagues to build our presence in the region. This new colleague will serve as the program lead for the Leadership and Innovation Doctoral Program, launched in Fall 2015. The program, which we call “A Doctorate for Innovators and Creators,” is designed to develop innovators and systems thinkers for learning, leadership, and change. The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of teaching, research, leadership, service and the ability to work collaboratively with students, colleagues, and stakeholders. The position will be based at the Sacramento Campus and the incoming candidate will take an active role in our community engagement efforts.
This is a non-tenure track position with an eleven-month appointment. Please note that faculty rank and title are contingent upon the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications. The basic teaching workload is two courses each semester including summer for a 2-2-2 load. This faculty appointment will also include assisting the Associate Dean with programmatic responsibilities, program coordination, recruitment and dissemination of program information. The position will teach across our programs, but has a particular emphasis in the Leadership and Innovation Doctoral Program. This includes involvement in dissertations, master’s thesis, student recruitment, community engagement, curriculum development, internal service, and scholarship. Our program requires continual innovation and pushing of traditional boundaries, which results in a heavily collaborative teaching culture.
In collaboration with the Associate Dean, this position will play a key role in working to build and sustain the Doctoral Program by:
  • Facilitating the iteration and assessment of the program and curriculum
  • Reviewing curriculum, advising students, and other activities
  • Building community and regional relationships to advance the program


University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Doctoral degree in a field related to learning, leadership, and/or change.
  • Demonstrated prior higher education teaching experience.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in education, community or nonprofit organizations
  • Demonstrated successful hybrid or online teaching experience
  • Demonstrated commitment to fostering a caring and rigorous educational environment.
  • Demonstrated skill and expertise in design thinking and innovation methods
  • Demonstrated commitment to personal development and growth in one’s own teaching and practice.
  • Demonstrated excellence in applied scholarly research or evidence-based practice.
  • Demonstrated successful teaching experience with adult learners.
  • Demonstrated interest and experience in working in partnership with community groups, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations, as appropriate to the position
  • Demonstrated commitment to and teaching in diverse settings, as well as working with students with diverse experiences and perspectives.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Demonstrated skill and expertise in action-oriented research.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting students with dissertation development, including serving as dissertation chair.
  • Skills to teach research courses.
  • Demonstrated success in transforming a school, college, university, or district setting
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitating change through innovation methods (e.g., design thinking, lean startup, participatory engagement, appreciative inquiry)
  • Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
  • Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
  • Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Requirements Duties require constant sitting and repetitive motion while using computer keyboard and phone. Frequent walking, standing and simple grasping. Occasional climbing stairs, walking across campus, stooping and reaching. Constant communication using both spoken and written means. May be required to lift/carry up to 25 lbs.
The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Work Environment/Work Week/Travel
Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment.
Work performed during standard business hours. May require additional work hours outside standard business hours due to business needs. May require travel to other campus sites and school sites.
Hiring Range $64,480 - $80,000 per year. We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Special Instructions
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, we will begin reviewing applications after November 1, 2023.

Please upload the following:
  • A letter of interest explaining:
    • How minimum qualifications are met
    • Relevant experiences that have prepared you to lead this type of program

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • List of Professional References
Contact Information
Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Laura Hallberg at [email protected]. Questions about the online application process can be directed to [email protected]
Contact Email [email protected]

Reference Letter Information


Are Applicants Required to Submit References for This Posting? Yes
Minimum Number of References 3
Maximum Number of References 3
Background Check Statement

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.
AA/EEO Policy Statement

University of the Pacific is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity. In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Pacific is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff and does not discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability.

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