Doctorate Of Social Work (Dsw) Program Director

Milwaukee, WI

Full Time

JR10003990

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Position Title:

Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) Program Director

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Teaching Associate Professor

Job Duties:

The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare invites applications for the position of Program Director for a new Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program, launching in Fall 2026. This is a full-time academic staff role from a university that is one of a few nationwide that has earned a Research 1 (R1) designation and a community engaged designation from the Carnegie Classification system. The DSW Program Director will provide visionary leadership to develop and implement the DSW program in alignment with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards and accreditation requirements. Emphasis is placed on integrating evidence-based approaches throughout the curriculum to prepare advanced practitioner-scholars to address complex community needs. Focal areas include advanced practice (e.g., trauma counseling and motivational interviewing), applied research methods (implementation and evaluation science), and dissemination practices (university teaching and organizational leadership). The ideal candidate will be an experienced social work educator and leader who can foster academic excellence, support faculty and students, and build community partnerships that reflect the university's access mission.

This is a 9 or 12 month fixed renewable academic staff position reporting to the Social Work Executive Committee. 9-month appointments will come with one unit of summer program director service and potential for up to two additional summer units, dependent on course availability and external funding.

The desired start date will be as soon as possible with teaching to begin when the program has started to enroll students.

Work is primarily performed on the UW-Milwaukee campus. After the initial training period, there may be the option to work partially remote, with supervisor approval.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Administration:

• Provide overall leadership for the DSW program, including strategic planning, program implementation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Oversee day-to-day program operations - scheduling, admissions processes, and student services - to ensure smooth delivery of the program.

Curriculum Development & Accreditation:

• Chair the DSW Program Committee and oversee the development of curriculum and educational policies in collaboration with the faculty.
• Ensure the DSW curriculum meets CSWE's Accreditation Standards for practice doctorate programs and incorporates relevant content and competencies. Lead the preparation of accreditation self-studies, reports, and site visits to achieve and maintain CSWE accreditation compliance.
• Ensure alignment to Higher Learning Commission (HLC) best practices in university faculty oversight of curriculum.

Teaching & Mentorship:

• Hold an appointment (Associate or Full Teaching Professor) in the Department of Social Work and teach in the DSW program (with a reduced teaching load commensurate with administrative duties).
• Provide high-quality instruction in coursework in areas of expertise (e.g. advanced practice, trauma-informed interventions, leadership) up to two courses per semester.
• Mentor and advise DSW students, including guiding them through capstone projects and doctoral scholarship.
• Serve as academic advisor to DSW students until project advisors are assigned and respond to student concerns or academic issues in the program.

Student Progress & Support:

• Oversee student recruitment and retention efforts for the DSW.
• Conduct regular reviews of each student's progress toward degree completion and intervene as needed to support timely completion.
• Coordinate with faculty mentors to problem-solve any academic or capstone issues, ensuring each student receives the guidance necessary to succeed from admission to graduation.

Community Engagement:

• Foster strong partnerships with community agencies, organizations, and stakeholders, particularly in the urban environment the university serves. Promote community-engaged experiential learning opportunities that benefit both DSW students and the community.
• Chair the DSW Program Advisory Committee and oversee integration of Committee recommendations into the program.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with department faculty and staff to develop teaching strategies relevant to the discipline
• Facilitates classroom, online and/or laboratory instruction, including assessment of student performance
• Develops and designs curriculum and instructional material relevant to a course of instruction
• May supervise student employees involved in development or delivery of instruction
• Contributes to the strategic development of curriculum and academic content through various mediums to ensure the integrity of the educational mission of the work unit
• Advises students on academic and career direction within a specific field of study
• Contributes to the development of teaching and learning scholarly work including publications and presentations

Department:

Accredited by the CSWE, the Social Work Department is housed in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare in the College of Community Engagement and Professions. The Department confers BSW and MSW degrees, and with the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, jointly offers a PhD degree in Social Welfare. The doctoral program prepares students for leadership roles such as university faculty, program evaluators, and policy analysts. The MSW program, which offers both online and in-person curricular options, emphasizes generalist practice. In addition, students can complete accredited programming in substance abuse counseling and school social work along with interdisciplinary certificates in trauma-informed care, applied gerontology, and nonprofit management. MSW students can also earn coordinated degrees with various programs such as criminal justice and criminology (CJC).

Compensation:

$90,000-$100,000, annual basis, final hiring salary based on experience

Required Qualifications:

• Educational Credentials: A MSW and DSW or PhD in social work.
• Social Work Practice Experience: A minimum of two years post-MSW professional social work practice experience.
• Higher Education Instructional Experience: A minimum of two years independent teaching experience in a higher education setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Administrative Leadership in Social Work Education: Experience serving as a director or coordinator of an academic program, especially a graduate or doctoral program in social work.
• Curriculum and Program Development: Experience in developing new academic programs or curricula, particularly at the graduate level.
• Licensure: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or equivalent licensure (or eligibility for licensure) is strongly preferred, given the practice-oriented nature of the DSW program and the need to supervise clinical education components.
• Innovative Pedagogy: Familiarity with online or hybrid instructional delivery and innovative teaching methods for adult learners.
• Evaluation and Research: Experience conducting program evaluation and/or applied research.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and detailed resume/CV that addresses your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified. In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. Questions about the position should be directed to Jackson Prowse at prowse@uwm.edu. To receive consideration, please submit application materials by the application deadline of November 2, 2025.