Open Rank Teaching Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Strategic Communication

About the Job

Position Overview

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities seeks a full-time, open rank non-tenure track faculty member with a distinguished record of professional experience, to join our faculty in teaching the next generation of strategic communication (public relations and advertising) professionals. 

The professorship is an initial one semester position (spring semester 2025) with the potential for renewal for the 2025-26 academic year depending on experience and consistent with Hubbard contract guidelines. The appointment will be as a Term (non-tenured) faculty member that will begin on January 9, 2025.

The successful applicant will teach upper-level strategic communication majors how to strategize and innovate in a fast-changing media environment. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise as strategic communications professional, executive leadership experience, and the ability to inspire a diverse student body. 

In this role, the candidate will help students appreciate the role of ethical and responsible advertising, brand storytelling, and strategic communication across media. The School seeks someone who can teach basic to advanced courses in one or more of the following areas: digital advertising/AI, digital content creation, account management/brand planning, media planning/media buying, and/or digital strategy and analytics. The candidate should also have the ability to build and strengthen partnerships between faculty and students and the Twin Cities professional community. 

Contract Teaching Faculty are expected to be actively engaged in regional, national or international professional communities and participate in mentoring students for professional careers. Moreover, contract faculty may be asked to participate in curriculum development and assessment relevant to their area of professional expertise. New curricula or special projects courses may be in the area of social media, artificial intelligence, and digital advertising/media planning. 

This position is benefit-eligible, renewable and carries the title of Teaching Assistant Professor, Teaching Associate Professor or Teaching Professor depending on qualifications, including years of teaching and professional experience. The teaching load for contract teaching faculty positions is five courses per academic year. Additional summer employment may be available.

Annual Salary Range (across a 9-month appointment): $62,000-$95,000, dependent on qualifications and experience. Will be pro-rated accordingly for a spring semester contract.

Job Responsibilities:

75% Instruction and Course Preparation: The faculty member will teach 2-3 courses (6-9 credits) of undergraduate courses per academic semester in the area of advertising and strategic communication, as well as some core context courses. The teaching faculty member is expected to prepare and deliver lectures, develop activities, prepare homework assignments, quizzes and exams, hold office hours, assess student work, supervise teaching assistants (if appropriate) and manage the administration of the courses they are assigned to teach. Depending on professional expertise and program need, the faculty member may have an opportunity to teach in our professional M.A. program.

25% Service and Professional Development: In addition, the person in this position will be involved in the continuing improvement of courses, the development of new curriculum for the school (if needed), the development and implementation of assessment activities, and will be engaged in appropriate school service activities including curriculum-related school committees. The faculty member will be expected to participate in University workshops related to teaching, classroom technology, diversity and inclusion, and other related topics. The faculty member also receives professional development support to maintain membership in relevant professional societies and participate in student and faculty professional and career development activities.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications: 

• A professional M.A. or PhD in Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication or related field 
• 3 or more years of related professional experience

Preferred Qualifications: 

• PhD in Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication or related field 
• Experience teaching at the university level or training groups of professionals
• 5 years of major-market regional or national experience in advertising or strategic brand communication, or equivalent experience
• Executive-level leadership experience
• Interest and/or ability to teach strategic communication skills that integrate multimedia elements such as text, video, audio, photo, graphics and/or data
• Experience working in a digital environment and incorporating AI in their work
• Involvement and/or leadership in local, state, or national/international associations, such as the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation, International Association of Business Communicators, the Diversity Action Alliance, PRSA, etc.,or as a student chapter adviser 
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in both professional practices and as contributors to an inclusive working and learning environment

The Hubbard School is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages applicants from underrepresented groups to apply.

About the Department

About the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota is part of the College of Liberal Arts and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication. The Hubbard School offers majors in Strategic Communication – Advertising and Public Relations, Professional Journalism, and Media and Information; and minors in Media and Information and Digital Media Studies. The Hubbard School offers an academic M.A. and Ph.D. and a Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication.

Housed in Murphy Hall, a state-of-the-art facility for teaching and research of journalism, strategic communication, and emerging media studies, the Hubbard School is home to the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, the Minnesota Journalism Center, the Hubbard Digital Studios, and the Digital Information Research Center/Sevareid Library. Hubbard facilities also include the Murphy Hall conference center, multimedia classrooms, and psychophysiological communication research labs, and a focus group room, which is used to support graduate-level experimental research. For further information, please visit the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s website, at: https://cla.umn.edu/hsjmc

About the College of Liberal Arts

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over 20 buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, more than 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints—so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA

Working in CLA

Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online: University of Minnesota Employment system: https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job

To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach required materials listed below. Additional documents may be attached via the “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section. In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following materials as PDFs:

• Cover letter- In your cover letter make sure to identify the courses you can teach in strategic communication, how you ensure your teaching is diverse and inclusive, and a description of university-level teaching experience.
• Curriculum Vita
• A document including names and contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin Oct. 25, 2024. 

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.

For inquiries regarding the Contract Faculty in Strategic Communication position, please contact Dr. María Len-Ríos, Professor and Chair of the search committee, by email:. [email protected] will not be contacted before candidates are notified during the finalist stage. 

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).

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