Director of Student Placements and Instructor

Position DetailsPosition Information Job Title Director of Student Placements and Instructor Department School of Education Faculty Division Provost Terms and Hours Full Time Faculty on a 12-month fiscal year assignment Salary Range Annual salaries for the 2026-2027 academic year have not yet been determined. The 2025-2026 12-month annual salary for a Director of Student Placements is $ 78,457 Benefits Medical and dental insurance, life insurance, sick time and vacation time consistent with University policies, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account benefits, tuition remission benefits generally starting after 90 days (employee) or 2 years (spouse and children) of employment, and retirement contributions generally starting after 2 years of continuous full time employment. (Benefits are subject to all relevant University policies, practices, contracts, and any other relevant materials.)Job Summary The University of Portland is a primarily undergraduate institution comprising four professional schools and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which houses our strong liberal arts Core Curriculum, required of all students. The University Core provides students in all disciplines a unifying set of experiences and promotes engagement with the Six Core Habits of Heart and Mind, which include "Global and Historical Consciousness" and "Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and the Common Good."The School of Education prepares teachers and school leaders to educate the whole person in the tradition of the Holy Cross. The School prepares individuals at all stages of their careers to become exceptional professional educators who teach and lead. As the premier program in the Portland metropolitan area, the School partners with over 100 schools and 18 school systems, offering an undergraduate degree and several graduate programs for baccalaureate- and master's-prepared educators. All programs within the School of Education are designed to include a sequence of courses and field work that focus on student learning and development, pedagogical knowledge, an understanding of cultural and special needs diversity, the use of technological skills, an integration of foundational theory with practice, and a strong emphasis on reflection and inquiry.The Director of Student Placements oversees all aspects of clinical placements (fieldwork, practicums, and student teaching) for undergraduate and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) candidates. This position has supervisory duties and works cooperatively with School of Education administration, faculty, and staff to manage all aspects of clinical supervision. This position also has teaching duties, serves on School of Education standing committees, and works closely with faculty and staff to plan and implement program curriculum, instruction, and assessment revisions.Core Duties University of Portland faculty teach, advise, and serve the School and the University. Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to excellent teaching, including attention to evidence-based instructional practices. Duties of this position include:Coordinate and oversee all undergraduate and MAT clinical placements (fieldwork, practicums, and student teaching).Work with school districts to secure clinical placements.Generate, maintain, and track the status of contracts and agreements with each school district that hosts candidates for clinical placements.Assign students to clinical placements.Coordinate and ensure completion of all required teacher candidates' background check requirements, including fingerprinting.Coordinate and manage Student Teaching Orientations (currently three times per year).Review, update, and inventory all clinical evaluation forms, both hard copy and electronic, annually and as needed.Distribute, collect, and track the completion of all clinical evaluations.Maintain various clinical placement databases and provide clinical experience data for accreditation and reports.Hire, train, supervise, mentor, and support all University Supervisors and Cooperating Teachers.Hire, train, mentor, and support university supervisors and other qualified individuals to score Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) mandated teacher performance assessments.Provide support to undergraduate and MAT candidates.Answer candidate questions about clinical placements, clinical evaluations, and performance assessments.Inform the Initial Licensure Division Chair about any significant academic, clinical, and licensure issues.Advise student teachers about placements, support, and intervention for improvement.Closely monitor and meet regularly with candidates who are on Plans of Assistance along with the Division Chair and the candidate's University Supervisor.Work with internal and external partners to support candidates as they complete performance assessments.Support candidates' job search processes and track the employment of graduates.Serve as instructor of record for student teaching courses during fall, spring, and summer semesters, including managing and documenting assessments by University Supervisors and Cooperating Teachers and submitting final grades.Address challenging situations in field experiences and with teacher candidates, University Supervisors, Cooperating Teachers, and school personnel as needed; keep the Division Chair informed of any significant issues requiring the activation of Plans of Assistance or withdrawal from placement.Contribute to School of Education and UP by participating in meetings and serving on committees as requested.May supervise staff positions.May teach courses in coordination with division chairs.Other duties as required.Education & Experience Required: Master's degree in education or related field.Required: Five years of relevant work experience, such as experience in P-12 school settings as teacher and/or administrator with strong recommendations from P-12 colleagues, supervisors and/or employers.Preferred: Experience teaching in higher education.Preferred: Experience in P-12 school administration.Preferred: Experience mentoring, serving as cooperating teacher, and/or supervising pre-service or beginning teachers.Certifications & Licenses Required: Current, previously held, or eligible for P-12 teacher licensure.Preferred: Current, previously held, or eligible for Administrator (IAL or CAL) licensure.Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Demonstrated effectiveness in inclusive and student-centered teaching and mentoring.Strong orientation towards continued learning and applying learning in the teaching environment.Ability to act as a strong diplomatic leader with clinical partnerships and placements.Strong orientation towards taking initiative and ownership of projects and assignments and being proactive with projects, assignments, and process improvements; strong ability in following through with and completing projects.Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.Ability to routinely and independently exercise sound judgment in making decisions.Ability to be an effective supervisor.Competence with and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff.Demonstrated lived experience, knowledge, skills, and/or success in diversity, equity, and inclusion work within or transferable to higher education.Commitment to collegial collaboration (e.g., teaching, research, or service) both within the school and across the University.Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle sensitive and personal information with sound judgment, tact, and discretion.Proficient computer skills and demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office software, email applications, and database software; ability to quickly learn and use new technologies and applications in depth.Physical Requirements Frequently: sit, perform desk-based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.Occasionally: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.Occasionally: ability to attend events and activities on or off campus.Occasionally: ability to drive or commute to multiple school sites, primarily in the Portland metro area.Working Condition Hours of employment: sometimes may require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects or class schedules.Stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.Work Standards Respect for the University's mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University's mission statement states in relevant part: "we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world." The University's Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: "Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity."Promote culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.Compliance with laws and policies and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to, the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University.Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with in his or her University capacity.Posting Detail Information Posting Number F065-2025 Estimated Start Date 06/01/2026 Open Date 03/09/2026 Close DateOpen Until Filled No Special Instructions Summary To apply, please complete the online application. The documents that must be uploaded include the following:Cover letter of application that addresses the position qualifications, your specific areas of expertise, and how you can support the University of Portland mission and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as noted below;Curriculum vitae;A brief (approximately two pages) of statement of philosophy for pre-service teacher development ("teaching philosophy") that includes a discussion of how you have or would foster an inclusive learning environment for all students, especially those from diverse backgrounds;Unofficial transcriptsCopies of present or past licensesThe names and contact information for three professional references (at least one must be able to address teaching experience and teaching effectiveness; please indicate the teaching reference in your letter of application). Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation; the committee will conduct reference checks at a later stage of the hiring process.Inquiries about this position can be made to the dean, Dr. John Watzke at . For full consideration, applications must be received by April 10, 2026. While applications may be accepted after this date, it is not guaranteed that they will be considered. Finalists may be asked to submit additional materials at a later date. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the search committee.The University of Portland is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.A background investigation check is required before final hiring procedures can be completed for all faculty and staff positions.

Created: 2026-04-02