Teaching Assistant Professor, Music, Assistant Director of Bands

Salary/Position Classification

• $59,000+ Contract, Dependent on Experience, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• 100% Remote Work Availability: No
• Hybrid Work Availability (requires some time on campus): No

Purpose Of Position

The Department of Music at the University of North Dakota is seeking an energetic and dynamic full-time, benefitted Teaching Assistant Professor to serve as Director of Athletic Bands/Assistant Director of Bands. The position begins July 1, 2026 and is contingent upon availability of funding.

The mission of the University of North Dakota Department of Music is to inspire our students and community through education, performance, scholarship, and human relationships in music. The professional and liberal arts degrees of the Department of Music provide rigorous courses of study that cultivate the highest degree of artistry, innovative teaching, professionalism, and critical inquiry. The University of North Dakota is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. 

Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, it is the state’s flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study and enrolls nearly 16,000 students. It is the home of the state’s only School of Law and School of Medicine. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 57,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public-school system, high quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and a cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks’ advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America’s Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Duties & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will receive a contract that allocates 90% towards teaching and 10% to service.   

• As Director of Athletic Bands, the successful candidate will lead the Pride of the North Marching Band including selection of music, writing of halftime show(s), overseeing the athletic band budget, managing four ¼ time assistants, overseeing the men’s hockey, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball bands including the direction of twenty-two non-football games, and other duties associated with athletic bands.   
• As Assistant Director of Bands, the successful candidate will oversee the UND Jazz program including direction of the One O‘clock Jazz Ensemble, the university’s premiere jazz band.  This will include the audition of members, selection of music, rehearsing the ensemble, and presenting four concerts per year. 

All faculty are expected to contribute to service within the department, college, university, and community and to participate in the department’s recruitment and outreach initiatives.  UND and the College of Arts & Sciences value diverse perspectives and seek applicants who are committed to helping students from underrepresented backgrounds succeed. 

Required Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Evidence of the ability to teach, inspire, and mentor students
• Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students
• Ability to work with and engage diverse students and colleagues within and outside the Department of Music
• Ability to adapt to current methods of teaching

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in music completed by June 1, 2026
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• DMA, PhD, or ABD completed by June 1, 2026
• Experience directing marching and athletic bands
• Experience directing jazz ensembles
• Experience performing jazz
• Experience in diverse programming

To Apply

To assure full consideration, applications must be received by 11/03/2025 and include the following materials:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• Video examples of marching band performances and/or rehearsals
• Video examples of jazz performances and/or rehearsals
• Unofficial academic transcripts. Please note that the selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts upon hire.

Position is open until filled. 

Questions can be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. James Popejoy at (james.popejoy@und.edu).