The Opportunity
The College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 12-month tenured professor to serve as director of the School of Social Work. This position is located on the main campus with an anticipated start date of summer or fall of 2026. The college is seeking an innovative, energetic, inter-professional leader with the capacity to leverage the existing strengths of the school to create a meaningful impact on the college, university, and community. The selected candidate will be a visionary with the ability to lead the school through exciting changes as UCF strengthens its health and medical programming at the UCF Academic Health Sciences Center. The director oversees the school's faculty and staff, is a member of the college leadership team, and reports directly to the dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences.
The successful candidate will provide academic and administrative leadership (i.e., management of human resources, budget, enrollment, curriculum development, and program assessment, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation compliance and reporting, and academic programming) and will facilitate intra- and interdepartmental collaborations to enhance the impact of scholarship, teaching, and service. Furthermore, the candidate will support faculty in securing external funding, promote a collegial and collaborative environment, and be able to facilitate meaningful growth to fill the clinical social work and healthcare needs of the community.
CHPS is home to three schools, one department, and six centers and institutes and is a leader in creating positive community change by building partnerships that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. The college is a core member of the UCF Academic Health Sciences Center along with the existing Colleges of Nursing and Medicine.
The School of Social Work is recognized nationally for the superior quality of its educational offerings and its contributions to clinical social work, health care, scholarship, and service to our community. The school has 34 full-time faculty, 10 staff, adjunct faculty, and over 800 students. The school offers both a bachelor's and a master's degree in social work with proposals under review to launch DSW and PhD programs in the next three years. The BSW and MSW programs offer both face-to-face and online options. The MSW program is ranked in the top 25% nationally by U.S. News and World Report. The school is home to the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training. For more information about the school, visit our website at, https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/socialwork/.
UCF and its 12 colleges provide opportunities to more than 70,000 students, offering 111 bachelor's, 98 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral and specialist programs. Students come from all 50 states and over 147 countries. U.S. News & World Report ranked UCF among the top 5 most innovative public universities in its Best Colleges 2025 report. Additionally, UCF is one of 56 public universities with the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation in two categories: community engagement and very high research activity. As one of the largest universities in the country, UCF is committed to innovative community partnerships, world-class research with local and global impact, and the integration of technology and learning. For additional information about the University of Central Florida, please visit www.ucf.edu.
Minimum Qualifications:
A doctoral degree in social work or closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
An MSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program.
An outstanding record of teaching, research, and scholarly achievements commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of professor.
Demonstration of significant and successful administrative leadership experience in a university setting.
Knowledge of and experience with CSWE accreditation.
Experience in curriculum development and program assessment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven leadership with the ability to oversee social work programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
Experience overseeing complex budgets and accreditation processes, a history of federally funded research, effective communication, and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated commitment to fostering community and possess the ability to support the future growth and expansion of the school, including its healthcare emphasis.
Academic experience showing commitment and effective mentorship to faculty and staff within the school's programs while developing and implementing policies.
Experience cultivating collaborative relationships with university administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as creating partnerships both within and outside the college and university.
Additional Application Materials Required:
UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, candidates should upload:
A letter of application indicating qualifications for the position
A curriculum vitae
Copy of transcripts
Contact information for three to five professional references.
The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.
NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.
Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Jeffrey R. Stout, search committee chair, at: [email protected]
Special Instructions to the Applicants:
N/A
Job Close Date:
Open until filled
Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.
Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?
As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.
Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:
Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.
Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.
Retirement savings options.
Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.
Education assistance.
Flexible work environment.
And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.
Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.
Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:
Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.
The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.
Department
College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) - Social Work
Work Schedule
Varies
Type of Appointment
Regular
Expected Salary
Negotiable
As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.
UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.
If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email [email protected].
For general application or posting questions, please email [email protected].
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