Published on February 27, 2013

Application review begins: March 2013, position open until filled

The Center for Engineering Learning & Teaching (CELT) in the UW College of Engineering currently has an outstanding opportunity for an Instructional Consultant Writing Specialist for Engineering. The responsibilities of this position include developing and supporting effective writing instruction in engineering departments. This position reports directly to CELT’s Associate Director and will collaborate with CELT’s instructional development team in the design of a new Engineering Writing & Communication Development (EWCD) program.

The person in this position will have responsibility for managing and serving as lead facilitator and instructional consultant for EWCD workshops, discussions, and consultations. This person will help engineering faculty to integrate 3-4 writing credits in department curricula across the CoE, including develop writing assignments, implement writing instruction, and assess writing. See full job description below.

We welcome applications from candidates who have experience working with engineering faculty and who value the opportunity to facilitate curricular transformations. This is a full-time, 12-month position; salary is commensurate with candidate experience and qualifications. This position is funded for two years with continuance of the position dependent upon positive review of the program. We will begin reviewing applications March 1st, and will conduct a first round of interviews on campus or via Skype. We hope to have the successful candidate in place by June, 2013.

About CELT:

Founded in 1998, CELT is the first center in the nation in a College of Engineering to combine a research and faculty development mission.  The teaching and learning requirements of the dynamic profession of engineering are best met by building the engineering education research base and grounding work with engineering faculty in excellent scholarship.  CELT plays a critical role in instructional excellence in the UW College of Engineering through faculty development programs that promote quality teaching and research and education partnerships with engineering faculty and staff.  http://depts.washington.edu/celtweb/

 About the UW College of Engineering:

The UW college of Engineering is a diverse community of innovators working to dramatically improve the quality of life in our state, our nation, and the world. We do it by leading in engineering discovery, innovation, education, and engagement.  We are comprised of ten engineering departments, over 235 faculty members, more than 4,000 undergraduates, and about 1,800 Graduate students. http://www.engr.washington.edu/

About the position: Instructional Consultant Writing Specialist for Engineering

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as a core member of the CELT instructional development team

  • Take primary responsibility in the design, facilitation, and assessment of a coherent and responsive Engineering Writing and Communication Development (EWCD) program
  • Assist individual or groups of engineering faculty members in designing, incorporating, and assessing discipline-relevant writing instruction materials and practices
  • Participate in planning, implementing, and assessing the EWCD program’s short-and long-term vision and programming
  • Write, edit, and publish programmatic materials and descriptions of activities on the CELT website
  • Maintain regular communication with faculty members in engineering departments
  • Maintain regular communication with CELT team members about activities
  • Co-supervise graduate research assistants as relevant to specific projects
  • Contribute as needed to CELT’s mission

2. Manage and serve as lead facilitator and instructional consultant for EWCD instructional development activities

  • Collaborate with the CELT instructional development team on designing, delivering, and assessing EWCD workshops, seminars, and discussions
  • Create print and online publicity materials for EWCD events, manage registrations and post-event documentation
  • Conduct individual and group teaching consultations, in both face-to-face and online formats, with faculty members, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants from UW college of Engineering
  • Collaborate with the CELT instructional development team on the design and facilitation of writing focused development activities for graduate teaching assistants from UW college of Engineering
  • Develop and disseminate instructional support materials focused on integrating relevant writing and writing instruction into engineering courses
  • Maintain database records of all instructional support activity

3.  Contribute to CELT scholarship locally, regionally, and nationally

  • Contribute to grant applications and reports as needed
  • Disseminate EWCD program findings by presenting at academic conferences
  • Keep current with writing in the disciplines, engineering education, and faculty development scholarship

Requirements:

Master’s degree in Composition, Rhetoric, Curriculum and Instruction, Technical Communication, Engineering Education, or related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant work experience.

  • Professional experience organizing and delivering instructional support in a post-secondary institution writing or faculty-development program. This support can have been offered in a variety of modes, but must have included live workshops and instructional consultations.
  • Experience in positions that balance individual efforts with closely collaborative endeavors
  • Outstanding communication abilities (written and spoken communication)
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively, efficiently and equitably with faculty, staff, students and administrators in a collegial environment.
  • Physical ability to lift and convey 20 LBs of workshop materials to classrooms and departmental meeting rooms on the campus of the University of Washington

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

  • PhD
  • More than two years of experience working in a post-secondary institution’s writing program
  • More than two years’ experience teaching writing or teaching with writing (as instructor of record) in a postsecondary institution
  • More than two years of experience facilitating teaching workshops and consultations to faculty members and graduate student instructors.
  • Experience teaching or facilitating the teaching of other engineering communication topics (e.g. oral and visual presentations, preparing data representations).
  • Experience integrating writing and writing instruction within undergraduate engineering disciplines
  • Experience with educational technologies
  • Experience consulting with engineering faculty members on issues related to teaching writing
  • Publications focused on writing/teaching, published in peer-reviewed academic journals
  • Experience with NSF grant proposals
  • Experience with website design and construction

To apply:  Please go to http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/jobs/  Please reference job # 92405

The University of Washington is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. The University is building a culturally diverse faculty and staff and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans.