Assistant/Associate Professor of Psychology

Job Description:

What We Need

Seattle Pacific University seeks an enthusiastic educator ready to join in SPU's mission in the Department of Psychology. We need a full-time, non-tenure track role beginning September 1, 2026. The area of expertise is open, with preference for candidates in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or those able to teach a range of Methods and Statistics courses. We are building a learning community rooted in Christian faith that values excellent teaching, student mentoring, and the ability to learn from one another through differences.

What You’ll Do

• Teach core undergraduate courses (e.g., General Psychology, Introduction to Statistics) and additional courses aligned to your expertise (e.g., I-O, Clinical, Forensic).

• Advise and mentor undergraduate students, supporting academic progress, vocational discernment, and professional development.

• Contribute service to the department, college, and university (e.g., committees, curriculum work, student engagement).

• Pursue scholarly activity as appropriate to a teaching-focused appointment (e.g., pedagogical scholarship, collaborative research, supervision of student research).

• Cultivate a classroom environment that values diverse perspectives, encourages dialogue across differences, and enriches the learning experience for all students.

What You Bring

• Education: Ph.D. in Psychology (ABD considered).

• Teaching: Evidence of successful undergraduate teaching and the ability to deliver courses across the curriculum—especially Methods/Statistics—and within your specialization.

• Scholarship: A clear research plan and emerging record of scholarly productivity appropriate to career stage.

• Professional Skills: Strong communication, collegiality, and a student-centered approach to advising and mentoring.

• Mission Alignment: A personal commitment to Christian faith, enthusiasm for supporting SPU’s mission, alignment with the University’s Statement of Faith, and willingness to uphold the lifestyle standards of our Christian community.

• Community Engagement: Demonstrated ability to engage a wide range of perspectives and experiences in teaching and mentoring, contributing to a learning community where differences are explored with humility and care.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Starting at: $71,000 depending on education/experience

• Faculty salaries are determined using nationally-normed, regionally-adjusted, discipline-specific CUPA-HR data and based on education and relevant experience.

• Benefits: SPU pays premiums for medical, dental, and vision for the full time employee; provides generous HSA contributions (as eligible); contributes 7% to a retirement account with immediate vesting (as eligible); and offers a tuition benefit for employees and qualified dependents.

How to Apply

Only applications submitted through SPU’s online Workday portal will be considered. (Internal applicants, please apply on the internal jobs site.)

Please prepare to complete/upload:

• SPU Faculty Application Form completed in Workday

• CV/Resume upload to Workday

• Cover letter upload to Workday

• Response to Faith statement completed in application

• Teaching philosophy completed in application

• Research trajectory narrative (~1pg) uploaded to Workday

• Optional supporting materials (e.g., representative syllabus, recent teaching evaluations, one or more recent publications)

Letters of Reference/Recommendation may be asked for at a later date.

Application Review: Applications collected immediately with application review in December, 2025.

Questions: Inquiries may be directed to Phillip M. Baker, PhD at bakerp5@spu.edu.

Additional Information:

We look froward to hearing how your unique talents, skills, and passions will make a difference in the lives of our students at Seattle Pacific University. Join us as we endeavor to engage the culture and change the world!