Job description
Mann Institute for Christian Faith & Learning
Assistant / Associate / Professor and Executive Director, Mann Institute
(Tenure Track, 12-month)
January 30, 2026
Samford University’s Mann Institute for Christian Faith & Learning invites individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for the position of Executive Director to be filled at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Professor beginning July 1, 2026. This full-time, tenure track faculty position is a 12-month appointment and will report directly to the Provost.
This position is responsible for the overall administration and management of the Mann Institute for Christian Faith and Learning. The Executive Director will serve as the primary representative for the Mann Institute for external facing stakeholders, will provide executive leadership in all facets, and will lead all scholarship and grant-related initiatives emanating from the Institute.
Position Responsibilities
Responsibilities include:
- In conjunction with the Provost and other University leaders, develop a strategic plan for the Mann Institute.
- Ensure synergy of Mann initiatives with the Samford University Strategic Plan, Fidelitas
- Oversight and management of annual budgets and the Mann Institute endowment
- Supervision of the Director and administrative assistant
- External relations, including:
- Coordination with appropriate national councils and organizations
- Relationship development with partner universities and colleges
- Relationship development with alumni, donors, and external stakeholders
- Development, maintenance, and expansion of relationships with granting institutions and foundations
- Oversight of scholarship-related programming and initiatives
- Secure, administrate, and assess grant-related initiatives
- Oversight of programs related to scholars in residence and scholar fellows
- Supervise and guide internally focused Mann Institute initiatives
- Teach two courses per academic year
Qualifications
Qualified candidates will hold a terminal degree in an appropriate field (e.g., Ph.D., DTh, or equivalent), have at least 10 years of employment in Christian Higher Education, a proven track record of scholarly contributions and success with grant funding related to faith and learning integration and vocational exploration. In addition, the successful candidate will have management/supervisory expertise in a higher education environment along with excellent oral and written communication skills. The successful candidate will have a faculty appointment to a department / school appropriate to their field of study.
A preference will be given to those who have strong organizational skills, strong connections among leading voices in the integration of faith and learning and vocational formation, experience in mentoring others in the domain of Christian theological scholarship.
About Samford University
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford (samford.edu) is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools with 450 full-time faculty. Samford is ranked #3 in the nation for career preparation and #7 in the nation for student learning opportunities as listed in The Wall Street Journal (2026). The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.
How to apply
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until March 15, 2026. Faculty rank and salary will be commensurate with education and experience. Candidates must successfully pass a background check, and applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position. Faculty rank and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
To apply, submit one PDF file comprised of:
- a letter of interest;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a statement of teaching philosophy;
- a description of research interest;
- an application for faculty position (see below);
- the faculty applicant Christian mission statement (see below);
- and a list of three professional references with contact information.
“Application for Faculty Position” can be found at:
https://www.samford.edu/departments/ files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf
“Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at:
Please submit all materials via e-mail in PDF format to:
Subject: Executive Director, Mann Institute
In accordance with applicable federal and state laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments, the University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, religion, or any other protected status under federal, state or local law applicable to the University, in its education policies, programs, and activities, in its admissions policies, in employment policies and practices, and all other areas of the University. As a faith-based institution, the University is exempted from certain laws and regulations concerning discrimination.
Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Institution that complies with applicable law prohibiting discrimination in its educational and employment policies and welcomes application for employment and educational programs from all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or national or ethnic origin
