The Department of Music at the University of North Dakota is seeking an energetic and dynamic full-time, benefitted Teaching Assistant Professor to serve as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. We seek a visionary and hardworking colleague who is student-centered and will foster and reinforce excellence, build strong campus and community connections, and lead with integrity. The successful candidate will assist in the logistical planning, instruction, and performances of the Pride of the North Marching and Athletic Bands and directly oversee the POTN Drumline and Front Ensemble. Responsibilities may include additional ensemble instruction based on the candidate’s expertise. The department is particularly interested in candidates who have experience in jazz, rock, and pop ensembles. The position begins August 1, 2026, and is contingent upon availability of funding.

The mission of the University of North Dakota Department of Music is to inspire our students and community through education, performance, scholarship, and human relationships in music. The professional and liberal arts degrees of the Department of Music provide rigorous courses of study that cultivate the highest degree of artistry, innovative teaching, professionalism, and critical inquiry. The University of North Dakota is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, it is the state’s flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study with nearly 16,000 students. It is the home of the state’s only School of Law and School of Medicine. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of approximately 60,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public-school system, high-quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks’ advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America’s Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Duties & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will receive a contract that allocates 90% toward teaching and 10% to service. As Assistant Director of Athletic Bands, the successful candidate will:

Assist with the operation and instruction of the 150-member Pride of the North Marching Band, working closely with the Director to select and arrange music, produce pregame and halftime show(s), plan and implement rehearsal plans, and train and manage student assistants.

Assist in leading athletic band performances at UND athletic and community events. This may include performances at UND football, men’s hockey, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and booster luncheons, as well as other events on UND’s Campus and the Greater Grand Forks Community. These duties require frequent evening and weekend work and travel.

Lead athletic travel bands in conjunction with the Director of Athletic Bands. This may include NCAA Division I regional and national tournaments for Basketball and Hockey, and the FCS Football National Championship Game.

Oversee and direct the UND Drumline and Front Ensemble, which performs during the fall and spring semesters. This will include recruitment, placement auditions, music selection, ensemble rehearsals, and performance oversight.

Assist with a week-long band camp, training students prior to the start of the semester.

Teach an additional course or ensemble in the department of music consistent with the candidate’s qualifications, with a preference for modern or commercial music.

All faculty are expected to contribute to service within the department, college, university, and community and to participate in the department’s recruitment and outreach initiatives. UND and the College of Arts & Sciences value diverse perspectives and seek applicants who are committed to helping students from across the university, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, succeed. The institution encourages faculty to engage in routine professional development as a core aspect of their professional practice. This includes participating in activities that enhance knowledge, skills, and effectiveness, and that support continued growth in response to evolving institutional and disciplinary needs.

Required Competencies

Excellent written and oral communication skills
Evidence of the ability to teach, inspire, and mentor students
Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students
Ability to work with and engage diverse students and colleagues within and outside the Department of Music
Ability to adapt to current methods of teaching

Minimum Requirements

Master’s degree in music completed by July 31, 2026
Experience leading marching and athletic bands as a director or staff member at the collegiate level
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

DMA or Ph.D. completed by July 31, 2026
Experience teaching percussion and percussion ensembles
Experience leading collegiate drumlines and front ensembles
Experience with front ensemble electronics, sound systems, and marching band technology
Experience arranging for drumline and front ensemble
Experience performing in jazz, rock, and pop ensembles
Experience in diverse programming

To Apply

To assure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:55pm CST on May 25, 2026 and include the following materials:

Letter of application
Curriculum Vitae
Contact information for three references
A PDF document with links to the following:
- Marching Band performance and/or rehearsal videos in which the candidate has a significant role in the production, rehearsal, or performance. Please specify the candidate’s role in each link (i.e. arranger, percussion arranger, performer, assistant director, graduate assistant, etc).
- Video examples of past drumline performances and/or rehearsals. Please specify the candidate’s role in each link.
- Performance videos, recordings or pdfs of the candidate’s arrangements for Drumline/Front Ensemble. This may include cadences, percussion parts to arranged show music, or other percussion ensemble arrangements
- Videos of the candidate in performance (concert percussion, solo, and drumline performance videos are all welcome and encouraged).
Unofficial academic transcripts. Please note that the selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts upon hire.