Chair of Bass

About the role

Berklee College of Music is the world’s leading institution for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts. Located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, Berklee serves a diverse community of more than 6,000 students from over 100 countries and is supported by internationally recognized faculty, dedicated staff, and a global alumni network whose nearly 400 Grammy Awards reflect Berklee’s lasting impact on the music of our time. Berklee seeks an accomplished musician-educator and experienced academic leader to serve as Chair of the Bass Department.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the academic and artistic direction of the Bass Department in alignment with Berklee’s mission and degree requirements.
• Oversee the development, implementation, review, and assessment of departmental curriculum to ensure academic rigor, consistency, relevance, and alignment with institutional learning outcomes and accreditation expectations.
• Guide curricular priorities emphasizing instrumental technique, performance health, reading proficiency, stylistic fluency, improvisation, ensemble performance, and professional preparation.
• Provide leadership and supervision for department faculty and staff in accordance with Berklee policies and the Faculty Union Agreement.
• Support faculty development across all ranks through mentorship, clear expectations, and consistent communication.
• Conduct faculty evaluations, including classroom observations, review of syllabi and instructional materials, analysis of student feedback, and preparation of written annual evaluations.
• Ensure fair, transparent, and equitable application of policies related to teaching assignments, workload, promotion, and performance improvement.
• Lead faculty recruitment and hiring processes in collaboration with the Dean, Human Resources, and in accordance with union guidelines.
• Support student recruitment, orientation, advising, and retention initiatives.
• Ensure students receive consistent academic guidance and access to appropriate support resources.
• Foster an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that supports artistic development, well-being, and academic success.
• Manage the Bass Department’s budget, facilities, and operational resources in collaboration with the Dean and divisional staff.
• Oversee departmental programming including concerts, masterclasses, clinics, visiting artists, and special initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate effective department meetings and coordinate departmental initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Represent the Bass Department within the Performance Division and across the institution.
• Participate in divisional and institutional committees and initiatives as assigned by the Dean.
• Represent Berklee externally through recruitment, conferences, performances, and partnership development activities, as appropriate.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise as a bass specialist with significant professional standing.
• Record of successful collegiate-level teaching.
• Demonstrated experience leading academic or artistic teams, arts administration, or comparable professional settings.
• Able to work effectively within a unionized academic environment and shared governance structure.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor faculty and support student success.
• Proficiency with instructional and administrative technologies.
• Ongoing professional engagement in the music industry.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise as a bass specialist with significant professional standing.
• Record of successful collegiate-level teaching.
• Demonstrated experience leading academic or artistic teams, arts administration, or comparable professional settings.
• Able to work effectively within a unionized academic environment and shared governance structure.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor faculty and support student success.
• Proficiency with instructional and administrative technologies.
• Ongoing professional engagement in the music industry.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices.