Jobs at St. Olaf College (Now Hiring) — 6 open

The Department of Music at St. Olaf College invites applications for a part-time, one-semester faculty position in Church Music and Organ at the level of Adjunct Instructor or Assistant Professor, to begin September 1, 2026.  

The successful candidate will serve as Cantor of the Student Congregation, performing at daily chapel services and Sunday services as needed, and coordinating with other faculty to select organ students to perform at daily chapel services and Sunday services as needed. The successful candidate will also teach a small number of organ students. 

Salary: $6,500 - $7,500

Qualifications 
Masters degree in organ performance or sacred music required. DMA and prior experience teaching at the college level preferred.

About the Department 
The Department of Music, fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, is over 100 years strong and annually serves over 700 students (music majors and non-majors) in the classroom and large and small ensembles. We offer a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment as part of campus life that embraces the creative arts in general, and music in particular. St. Olaf College has a long legacy of musical excellence with seven choirs, two concert bands, two orchestras, two jazz bands, two handbell choirs, a collegium musicum, and a vibrant church music program. Several of our ensembles travel the world, have earned the American Prize, and have been featured in Downbeat Magazine. Many of our students attend competitive graduate programs for music performance, musicology, conducting, and composition. A number of our music majors double major in other academic areas and pursue professional degrees in vocation beyond music. 

For more information about the department, visit https://wp.stolaf.edu/music. 

We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to St. Olaf each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Community and Belonging webpage to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts. 

How to Apply 
A complete application includes the following: 

References: Provide contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship. 

Supporting Documents and URLS:

1. Cover letter outlining your qualifications and why you are interested in this particular position
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Portfolio of at least two recent performances (video preferred) and at least two videos of teaching at the college level.
   
   Review of applications will begin on immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position, department, or college may be directed to Louis Epstein, Department Chair, at [email protected]. 

Join Our Community - Work at St. Olaf!

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/

To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.

A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/

A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/

A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483

An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/

An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/

For Staff Application Assistance:

[email protected]

507-786-3068

For Faculty Application Assistance:
[email protected]
507-786-3356

Nondiscrimination Policy

St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance.  St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment. 

Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, [email protected], (507) 786-3465.