Description
2026 Communication Department Director Position
About Wenzhou-Kean University:
Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), located in Wenzhou, China, one of three Sino-American universities along with NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University, is approved by the Ministry of Education of China. Launched in 2012, WKU offers a unique model of higher education in partnership with Kean University, a comprehensive, public university in the state of New Jersey that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls about 5,200 undergraduate and graduate students, and it is now in the midst of a rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next three years. All instruction is in English, and all curriculum is provided by Kean University.
In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education for offering 8 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs. WKU highly values research-powered teaching and learning, and the average number of faculty publications and the Field-weighted Citation Impact are among the best of leading Chinese academic institutions.
Wenzhou is one of the most vibrant and economically advanced developed cities on China’s East Coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.
About the Job:
The Department Director is both a tenure track faculty member with an academic rank and an academic administrator who assumes a pivotal role in providing academic leadership, articulating the department's goals and needs, and shaping the vision of the department to elevate its educational quality and academic reputation. The core administrative responsibilities of the Department Director encompass, but are not confined to, the following:
grow and develop the program(s) to enhance its academic reputation and national presence;
assist in recruitment events such as high school visits and open houses;
course scheduling and assignment of other responsibilities to faculty;
manage Department budget and allocate resources efficiently;
annually evaluate faculty performance in teaching, scholarship, student advising, and service.
Following the assessment, engage in one-on-one discussions with each faculty member to review the evaluation results and collaboratively formulate improvement plans. The assessment of the Department Director, in conjunction with evaluations conducted by the ARTP committee and the deans, plays a crucial role in fostering the ongoing enhancement of faculty members' performance in teaching, research, and service.
conduct classroom observation, complete observation reports, review portfolios for reappointment applications, provide written evaluations to Lecturers, and make recommendations on reappointment or non-reappointment of Lecturers to the Dean;
in collaboration with administrative departments, develop and implement plans to recruit, advise, mentor, retain, and graduate students in a timely manner;
adjudicate students concerns and grievances in a fair and consistent manner while upholding University policies and processes;
maintain professional decorum and create a climate of collegiality among faculty, staff, and students;
conduct curricular review and communicate the needs to the WKU Campus Dean who will work with Kean USA for curriculum revisions;
oversee graduation audit, accreditation process and assessment activities including gathering data and preparing reports;
appoint faculty search committee and monitor the search progress;
provide mentorship to new faculty and support professional development;
conduct Department faculty meetings at least once a month;
supervise administrative staff;
coordinate with WKU administration on department-related matters;
establish connections with industry, government agencies, and the local community to develop research collaboration, facilitate technology transfer, and create internship and community engagement opportunities for students; contribute to the technological, economic, and cultural development of the local community through these initiatives;
foster collaboration with external professional organizations and communities.
The Department Director will be a full time, 10-month tenure-track Assistant/Associate/Full Professor. Each term is set for three years, allowing the incumbent Department Director to reapply, alongside other candidates, for the subsequent term. Department Directors are required to be on campus at least four days a week (Monday through Friday) throughout the contract period exclusive of university holidays and winter break, with a requirement of at least seven hours per day, to assist faculty and students, and perform administrative duties. Upon receiving approval from the dean, Department Directors have the option to work remotely during the winter semester. However, it is important that they remain available to respond promptly to students and faculty throughout the winter semester. A Department Director can hold the position for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Tenure track faculty members typically teach 24 credits per academic year. However, the Department Director is granted 12 credits reassigned time for administrative duties per academic year. In the summer, if deemed necessary by the department and upon request from the dean, Department Directors are anticipated to commit to a minimum of three days per week for four weeks following the conclusion of their 10-month contract. This commitment aims to fulfill the administrative responsibilities of the department during the summer period. The summer duty will be remunerated with a 3-credit overload, or alternatively, through approval of the dean, can be exchanged for 3-credit reassigned time in the fall or spring semester.
Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in Communication Studies or related field is required. Candidates with doctorate degrees from reputable universities (Carnegie R1 institutions or comparable research institutions with strong academic reputation in the fields) are encouraged to apply. Previous administrative experience managing faculty and students is desired. Candidates with experience developing postgraduate programs are strongly encouraged to apply.
As a tenure track faculty member, the Department Director should possess a strong track record of publication in Communication or closely related fields, and be ready to lead their research groups independently. Candidates should additionally be able to teach a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate Communication courses, including by not limited to Public Relations, Digital Media, Organizational Communication, Journalism and Intercultural Communication.
These positions are full-time assignments appointed on a 3-year contract at the first instance. The university will provide start-up grants (up to 80,000 RMB) in support of their research programs. After joining WKU, faculty will apply to a variety of internal research funds including international research collaboration grants (up to 80,000 RMB per project) as well as external grants at the municipal, provincial, and national levels. Tenure-track faculty are also expected to provide service to the university and/or professional community.
Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include day, evening and weekend. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to improve the teaching/learning process is highly desirable. All faculty may be required to teach General Education courses as needed. Opportunities are also available to teach disciplinary support courses.
Faculty positions at WKU offer:
Annual salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience with the range from USD $64,000-$72,000 for Assistant Professor and USD $68,000-$75,000 for Associate Professor. Salary of extraordinary candidates shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. The University will provide start-up grants to support tenure-track faculty to start their research programs. A well-rounded healthcare coverage, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000 and shuttle bus to campus for work. WKU tuition waiver up to 50% for spouse/dependent children of faculty for undergraduate programs. The university provides financial assistance for academic travel. The opportunity to teach high-quality students. About 50% of graduates have been admitted to graduate schools at the World’s Top 50 Universities, and about 60% of graduates at the World’s Top 100 Universities.
Application Information:
Applicants are REQUIRED to apply online. To receive full consideration by the search committee, candidates need to submit the following documents via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/177528).
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled. Candidates should send cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, a research statement describing research interests, past accomplishments in research, and future research plans, unofficial transcripts, 3 most representative peer-reviewed academic publications and the email contact information of three professional references, include references/names of potential referees from a current or recent direct supervisor. Please note that your immediate supervisor may be contacted for the purpose of conducting a reference check. Three current letters of recommendation (within the last 3 months) will be required before advancement. Official transcripts for all degrees are required before appointment.
Background Screening:
Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings.
