Chair of Bass

Job Description:

Berklee College of Music is the world’s leading institution for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts. Located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, Berklee serves a diverse community of more than 6,000 students from over 100 countries and is supported by internationally recognized faculty, dedicated staff, and a global alumni network whose nearly 400 Grammy Awards reflect Berklee’s lasting impact on the music of our time.

Berklee seeks an accomplished musician-educator and experienced academic leader to serve as Chair of the Bass Department. Reporting directly to the Dean of the Performance Division, the Chair provides academic, artistic, and administrative leadership for a dynamic department serving undergraduate and graduate bass principles - and a faculty of bass specialists across private instruction and bass labs.

This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Berklee continues to expand interdisciplinary learning, industry partnerships, and innovative performance opportunities for bass students worldwide.

This is a 12-month administrative position with teaching responsibilities as assigned and approved by the Dean. The Chair works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and divisional leadership to advance curricular excellence, support faculty development, promote student success, and ensure responsible stewardship of departmental resources in alignment with Berklee policies, Faculty Union Agreement provisions, and institutional priorities.

The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking leader deeply grounded in bass performance and pedagogy, with fluency across jazz, classical, rock, R&B, Latin, gospel, and other popular musical styles, and inspired by Berklee’s mission to educate adaptable, creative artists prepared for today’s and tomorrow’s music industry.

The Bass Department offers a comprehensive education in both acoustic and electric bass, recognizing the instrument’s central role as the foundation of rhythm and harmony as well as a multi-timbral, polyphonic voice in contemporary music.

The curriculum emphasizes:

• Instrumental technique and performance health

• Reading and interpretation of fully notated scores and chord-symbol lead sheets

• Stylistic fluency across jazz, popular, and classical traditions

• Improvisation and ensemble performance (small ensembles, rhythm sections, big bands, and orchestral settings)

• Professional performance practices, including appropriate use of music technology

Students are prepared not only as instrumentalists, but as adaptable, creative professionals with clear pathways to professional careers and/or graduate-level study. Department programming regularly includes concerts, masterclasses, and clinics with internationally recognized artists and educators.

• Provide leadership for the academic and artistic direction of the Bass Department in alignment with Berklee’s mission and degree requirements.

• Oversee the development, implementation, review, and assessment of departmental curriculum to ensure academic rigor, consistency, relevance, and alignment with institutional learning outcomes and accreditation expectations.

• Guide curricular priorities emphasizing instrumental technique, performance health, reading proficiency, stylistic fluency, improvisation, ensemble performance, and professional preparation.

• Provide leadership and supervision for department faculty and staff in accordance with Berklee policies and the Faculty Union Agreement.

• Support faculty development across all ranks through mentorship, clear expectations, and consistent communication.

• Conduct faculty evaluations, including classroom observations, review of syllabi and instructional materials, analysis of student feedback, and preparation of written annual evaluations.

• Ensure fair, transparent, and equitable application of policies related to teaching assignments, workload, promotion, and performance improvement.

• Lead faculty recruitment and hiring processes in collaboration with the Dean, Human Resources, and in accordance with union guidelines.

• Support student recruitment, orientation, advising, and retention initiatives.

• Ensure students receive consistent academic guidance and access to appropriate support resources.

• Foster an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that supports artistic development, well-being, and academic success.

• Manage the Bass Department’s budget, facilities, and operational resources in collaboration with the Dean and divisional staff.

• Oversee departmental programming including concerts, masterclasses, clinics, visiting artists, and special initiatives.

• Plan and facilitate effective department meetings and coordinate departmental initiatives from planning through implementation.

• Represent the Bass Department within the Performance Division and across the institution.

• Participate in divisional and institutional committees and initiatives as assigned by the Dean.

• Represent Berklee externally through recruitment, conferences, performances, and partnership development activities, as appropriate. Experience building or sustaining relationships with industry partners, artists, or creative organizations is valued.

• Teach courses or provide instruction as assigned and approved by the Dean.

• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position and as assigned.

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

• Demonstrated expertise as a bass specialist with significant professional standing.

• Record of successful collegiate-level teaching.

• Demonstrated experience leading academic or artistic teams, arts administration, or comparable professional settings.

• Ability to work effectively within a unionized academic environment and shared governance structure.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor faculty and support student success.

• Proficiency with instructional and administrative technologies.

• Ongoing professional engagement in the music industry.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices.

• Experience leading faculty and staff in higher education.

• Curriculum development and assessment experience.

• Budget management and strategic planning experience.

• Experience developing external partnerships or community engagement initiatives.

Electronic applications only. Submit required materials in PDF or Word format at berklee.edu/jobs, uploading all documents to the Resume/Cover Letter section. Applications will be reviewed by the Bass Chair Search Committee, Attn: Sean Skeete, Dean of the Performance Division.

• Letter of application

• Current résumé or curriculum vitae

• At least two letters of recommendation

• Links to representative performance materials (audio/video or professional websites)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The hiring range will be $150,000 - $170,000; salary dependent on relevant experience and education. Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about the benefits of working at Berklee.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Berklee College of Music is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable academic community. Candidates whose experiences and perspectives will contribute to this commitment are strongly encouraged to apply.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*