How to Apply
**Interested candidates are required to prepare the following documents for consideration by 5/29/2024**
- Cover letter which effectively demonstrates the candidate's motivation, qualifications and professional goals related to the position
- Curriculum Vitae
- A one page statement that discusses/shares a recent experience, what they learned from this experience, and what they did with what they learned
In order for the Career Portal system to accept a cover letter and one page statement, please include these as a page of your curriculum vitae document.
**If selected for interview, candidates will be asked to provide three (3) professional letters of reference (All references will be confirmed)**
THESE MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY BY THE PERSON WRITING THE LETTER TO:
Erin Khang, LMSW - Director of Field Education
University of Michigan School of Social Work
Email: [email protected]
Job Summary
The field educator position in the School of Social Work, Office of Field Education is a complex and rigorous one that requires candidates to demonstrate a student-centered professional focus, a strong commitment to social work education, field education/practicum training, and social work values and ethics. Candidates must have professional experience collaborating in a team environment and demonstrate a strong work ethic. The ideal candidate must possess a LMSW licensure with a minimum of 3 years of professional LMSW experience, be well-versed in social work values and ethics, and demonstrate a substantial work ethic. The anticipated initial appointment begin date is 7/14/2025 and will run through 12/31/2026 at 100% effort, working with our online and on campus MSW students. There will be some evening and weekend events. We value our social work mission, values, and ethics and are eager to welcome a new team member who will contribute to our students' growth and the greater social work community.
Responsibilities*
Agency-Student-University Liaison:
- Student Support and Advising: Act as a primary liaison between students, field agencies, and the school to resolve any issues that arise during field placements and provide ongoing support and guidance in a timely manner.
- Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with field placement agencies to tailor student experiences to the educational objectives of the program, and ensure they meet the needs of online and potentially residential MSW students.
- Student Evaluation: Monitor students' performance in their field placements, provide constructive feedback, and assess students' competencies to ensure they meet the high standards of the program.
- Site Visits: Conduct field site visits (both virtual and in-person) as part of this liaison work to monitor compliance with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation standards, professional practice and ethical standards, and to evaluate student competency development. These visits also serve as an opportunity for ongoing dialogue with agencies to ensure mutual understanding of the role and expectations for field education placements.
Field Placement Coordination: Work closely with students to identify appropriate field placement opportunities that meet their educational and professional development needs, as well as program requirements.
Field Education Training: Organize and conduct orientation sessions, training, and workshops for students and field instructors to ensure they are well-prepared for the field education experience.
Field Connections Instruction: Host integrative field connection meetings that facilitate the connection of classroom learning with field practice, offering students structured support and reflection opportunities.
Teaching: Serve as the faculty instructor for field education courses (SW515 and SW691) and teach additional social work classes as assigned (course equivalent of 2 credits per academic year), effectively evaluate student performance, and assign student grades.
Curriculum Development: Participate in the ongoing development and refinement of field education curriculum and materials to ensure they align with accreditation standards and professional competencies.
Professional Licensure Maintenance: Uphold the standards of social work practice by maintaining active Michigan SW licensure and engaging in continuous professional development.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate effectively within a team environment to contribute to the overall goals of the Office of Field Education and the success of the social work program. Actively engage in all Office of Field Education team meetings and contribute to the Office of Field Education's strategic plans, priorities, and initiatives.
Quality Assurance: Engage in continuous quality improvement activities, evaluating the effectiveness of the field education program and implementing strategies to enhance its quality and impact.
Contribute to the UM School of Social Work Community: Demonstrate knowledge, skills and commitment to promote and advance the Schools' Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plans. Be active in School wide/University related professional activities representing the Office of Field Education (committees, work groups, school projects, student functions, etc.) promoting best practices in social work research, field practices, and student professional development. Exhibit the ability to collaborate closely on a daily basis with a professional team demonstrating a positive solution-focused, strengths-based approach.
Required Qualifications*
- MSW degree from a CSWE accredited program
- Michigan Licensure (LLMSW or LMSW)
- Three (3) + years post-masters professional social work experience
- Two (2) + years training MSW students
Desired Qualifications*
- Teaching and curricular development experience.
- Field Placing experience.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team and commit to a respectful, inclusive work environment.
- Possess superior professional judgment and excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Possess current and relevant technology-based skills- specifically google sheets and google docs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple demands and work effectively under pressure.
- Preferred professional experience in a structured field education program.
- Be flexible and willing to attend evening and weekend virtual meetings, student orientations, and field related informational webinars as assigned.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Union Affiliation
This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the U-M and the Lecturers Employee Organization, AFL-CIO, which contains and settles all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.
Application Deadline
In order to receive full consideration for your application, please submit your bid within the first ten calendar days of this posting. UM job openings of this nature are posted for a minimum of ten calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.