Assistant Chair, Film Scoring

Job Description:

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Berklee is the world's largest independent music college and the premier institution for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts. Founded on jazz and popular music rooted in the African cultural diaspora, our comprehensive curriculum is distinctly contemporary in its content and approach, and embraces the principal musical movements of our time. 

The Berklee community consists of 4,600 talented and diverse students from across the globe, 630 internationally respected faculty, over 500 dedicated staff, and an extended family of alumni, whose 200+ Grammy awards testify to their contributions to the music of today. The recent merger with The Boston Conservatory, which includes the disciplines of dance, theatre, opera and more, has made Berklee an exciting place of unending new and creative possibilities. Magic happens here!

The Film Scoring department's comprehensive and innovative curriculum offers students a unique opportunity to learn the art, craft, and tools of scoring for a variety of media with a professionally active faculty. Distinguished Film Scoring alums include Howard Shore B.M. '69 (Lord of the Rings), Alan Silvestri B.M. '70 (Back to the Future) and Ramin Djawadi B.M. '98 (Game of Thrones) and many more. Looking towards the future, the Department aims to greatly expand its Games and Interactive Media Scoring offerings.

Reporting to the Chair of the Film Scoring Department, the Assistant Chair will be a future-oriented music professional, educator, and team player. The successful candidate will be an individual who embraces diversity in individuals, perspectives, and musical styles and foster community to help students feel welcome and comfortable as members of Berklee’s Film Scoring community. 

The Assistant Chair partners with the Chair on the academic, administrative, and managerial leadership of the department. The next Assistant Chair of Film Scoring will work closely with the Chair to build on the 40-year legacy of the department, which was the first in the world to offer an undergraduate degree in Film Scoring and a subsequent Minor in Video Game Scoring. The Assistant Chair will also help the Chair launch the first undergraduate degree program at Berklee in twenty-five years called Games and Interactive Media Scoring which will be offered starting in the fall of 2022.

The Assistant Chair must possess excellent interpersonal, managerial, and organizational skills to navigate in a large, complex academic setting. The Assistant Chair will collaborate with the Chair to build relationships with partners internally and externally and be able to balance the needs of senior leadership, faculty, and students.

The ideal candidate will be dedicated to the aesthetic traditions and innovative technical advances in contemporary scoring in various media genres, will have a demonstrated appreciation of all styles of contemporary music and current musical trends, will have outstanding communication, interpersonal, and consensus-building skills, and will enjoy working collaboratively and collegially with a wide variety of constituents. A commitment to the experience of students, strong initiative, and a positive attitude is essential. 

Responsibilities:

The Assistant Chair, in partnership with the Chair, will be responsible for a variety of administrative and management duties, including but not limited to:

• Reviewing, developing, and overseeing of curriculum that continues to meet the educational needs of our students and lift the reputation of the department worldwide

• Advising on curricular technology

• Advising students in terms of academics and career planning in addition to resolving a wide range of student matters

• Participating in the hiring, mentoring, and performance evaluation of best-in-class faculty and staff

• Developing, planning, and attending department clinics, weekly seminars, and guest artist visits that enhance the student experience

• Attending outreach events and liaising with prospective students and their parents to increase awareness of the Film Scoring department’s legacy and educational opportunities

• Serving on college-wide, divisional, and departmental committees that support Berklee’s strategic direction as well as the development and practical application of policies and practices for the Institution

• Participating in budget management for the department

• Teaching (typically 1-2 courses per semester)

Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent professional experience 

• Presents at least three years of experience as an active composer, music editor, orchestrator, conductor, or music executive in film, television, or video games

• Strong preference for teaching and administrative experience in higher education

• Thorough knowledge of current practices and technological advances in the film scoring industry

• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills

• Extremely organized with demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities/projects and meet deadlines

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in prior employment opportunities, and to supporting a diverse workplace with a multicultural student body

• Experience managing in a faculty union environment is preferable

Electronic applications only. Please submit the following materials in one PDF/Word document at https://www.berklee.edu/jobs . Address your materials to: Film Scoring Department Assistant Chair Search, Attn: Sean McMahon, Chair, Film Scoring Department.

• Letter of Application that addresses the applicant’s capabilities, experiences, and interests

• A current resume or CV (including industry credits)

• Names and contact information for at least three (3) references

• Links to websites or online resources with representative samples of your professional work

The start date is to be determined, but will likely be early-mid 2022. This is a twelve-month position. Initial appointment is for three years. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position will remain open for applications until filled.

Berklee College of Music is committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

The above information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by individuals within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position will remain open for applications until filled.

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.