What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Director, Master of Social Work position at Whitworth University?
Whitworth University is a residential campus shaped by learning, curiosity, and community life. This role is based on campus and requires consistent, in-person engagement.
Position Summary
This is an administrative faculty position responsible for the leadership, development, and oversight of all aspects of the MSW Field Education Program in alignment with the CSWE 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). The Field Director will play a central role in building the field program infrastructure, cultivating community partnerships, developing the Field Manual, and ensuring compliance with CSWE accreditation requirements.
The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Program Director and MSW faculty to ensure that field education is fully integrated with classroom instruction and aligned with the program’s Student Learning Outcomes and competencies.
Core Responsibilities
Teaching | 55%
- Teach 16 credits. Courses will include Field Education Seminar courses in the Fall, Spring, and Summer.
- Facilitate reflective, competency-based seminar learning aligned with CSWE EPAS standards.
- Provide consultation and mentorship to students related to professional development, ethical practice, and integration of theory and practice.
- Collaborate with MSW faculty to ensure vertical integration of competencies across the curriculum.
- Provide leadership and oversight of the MSW Field Education Program.
- Develop and maintain the MSW Field Manual in compliance with CSWE EPAS standards.
- Establish, cultivate, and sustain relationships with healthcare, behavioral health, and community-based agencies for student placements.
- Recruit, orient, and support MSW field instructors and agency partners.
- Ensure that field placements meet CSWE requirements regarding supervision, learning contracts, competency evaluation, and required hours.
- Monitor and assess student progress in field placement.
- Collaborate with faculty to ensure integration of field and coursework across the curriculum.
- Maintain documentation and data necessary for accreditation reporting and continuous program improvement.
- Participate in CSWE accreditation processes, including preparation for Benchmark reviews and site visits.
- Support ongoing assessment of student achievement of CSWE competencies.
Qualifications and Core Competencies
- Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Minimum of two years of post-MSW professional experience in healthcare and/or behavioral health settings.
- Experience supervisions MSW students in field education.
- Demonstrated commitments to ethical, culturally responsive, anti-oppressive social work practice.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with community agencies, faculty, students, and administrators.
- Commitment to providing an equitable, just, and inclusive learning environment for all students.
- A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning.
- Ten (10) or more years of professional social work practice experience in healthcare or behavioral health within the local or regional community.
- Experience teaching in a CSWE-accredited MSW field education program.
- Demonstrated experience with CSWE accreditation processes and documentation.
- Doctor of Social Work (DSW) or related doctoral degree.
- Experience developing field manuals, learning contracts, and competency-based evaluation systems.
- Experience building and sustaining agency partnerships across diverse service systems.
- Demonstrated leadership in advancing anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and justice-informed social work education.
Other Details
Whitworth University is a Christian liberal arts university. Our shared mission is to provide our diverse students with an education of mind and heart, equipping them to honor God, follow Christ, and serve humanity. We seek candidates who are willing to engage with the university’s mission and integrate their Christian faith into their work.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, faith statement, and contact information for at least three professional references. A background check and sexual misconduct check will be required of the successful candidate.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain valid work authorization throughout the duration of employment, including those on OPT. Whitworth University does not offer visa sponsorship for this position.
You are on this webpage because a position at Whitworth sparked your curiosity. If you find yourself questioning hitting the apply button because you might not meet 100% of the qualifications, we think you should do it! When you click apply and submit an application, your application is reviewed by a committee of real, living, and breathing human beings who want to understand your background, experience and skills to find ways you relate to the key competencies needed for success in the position.
Whitworth complies with all federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws that are applicable to religious nonprofit institutions and does not engage in unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, sex, or disability. With our Christ-centered commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community, the university encourages applications from populations underrepresented at Whitworth including members of racial/ethnic communities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Online applications are stored on a secure site. Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the information submitted.
It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
At Whitworth University, we are committed to supporting the well-being of our faculty, staff, and their families by offering an extensive benefits package. Eligible employees can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Employer-matched 403 (b) retirement plan
- Tuition remission programs available for employees, their spouses, and dependents
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Accrued vacation and sick leave based on full-time equivalency (FTE). All staff accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month and 10 to 20 days of vacation per year, depending on employee category.
- 2 days of Floating Holiday leave based on full-time equivalency (FTE)
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program
- Resources for Christian vocation and calling
- No cost access to the University Recreation Center (UREC) and the Megan E. Thompson Aquatic Center
- 15 paid holidays throughout the year