Assistant Professor of Spanish; Academic General Faculty and Spanish Language Program Director

The University of Virginia’s Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese is a vibrant intellectual community that is pushing research and teaching in innovative directions, providing comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education, and engaging with local communities in significant ways. We welcome applications for an Assistant Professor of Spanish on the academic general faculty, expected to begin August 10, 2026. The core responsibilities of this position include teaching courses in Spanish language and culture (elementary and intermediate levels) each semester, overseeing the Spanish Language Program in the capacity of Language Program Director, beginning August 2027, and contributing actively to departmental service.

The Language Program Director oversees the curriculum and coordinates syllabi for Elementary Spanish through Advanced Intermediate Spanish courses (SPAN ), supervises faculty and graduate students teaching in the program in conjunction with course coordinators, carries out program assessment, and works with undergraduate students with specific needs in the program. This is a three-year, tenure-ineligible appointment with the possibility but not the guarantee of renewal.

The successful candidate will join a department with three robust undergraduate programs in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, and a graduate program in Spanish. The undergraduate Spanish Language Program is one of the largest units in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, serving over 600 students per semester, and is carried out by an energetic body of general faculty members and graduate students.

Instructors in the Language Program collaborate on course planning and take initiative in group and individual pedagogical projects. Most recently, a team of faculty have developed an open textbook for the intermediate level and are working on its equivalent for the advanced intermediate level. The ideal candidate will have enthusiasm for leading pedagogical innovation and the organizational skills necessary for doing so with success.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, applicants should hold a PhD in Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or a closely related field at the time of application. A minimum of four semesters of teaching experience at the college or university level in the U.S. is required. Native or near-native proficiency in Spanish and English is required. Demonstrated experience with language program direction, language pedagogy instruction, curriculum design and/or program assessment is strongly preferred.

Review of applications begins on March 26, 2026 and will continue until interviews have started. We will only consider complete applications.

 Please submit the following:

Questions about this position should be directed to Prof. Kate Neff at keb8a . The university will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) .

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