Senior Writing Center Instructor
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar

Salary: Commensurate with experience and training
10-month position (annual appointment dates are August 10-June 9)

Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: August 10, 2025

Review of Applications: Review of applications continues until the position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due January 17, 2025.

The Opportunity
The Senior Writing Center Instructor is a 10-month position classified as a University and Academic Professional. The position reports directly to the Director of Libraries. The primary functions of this position are (1) to guide, assist, and support students to become capable in their writing abilities, successful in their written assignments, and confident in their communication skills and (2) to support the educational mission of the Writing Center in partnership with the Writing Center Coordinator and (3) to serve as the lead liaison to the school’s MFA program.

The Senior Writing Center Instructor works with students primarily in one-to-one appointments, although some work may occur in small groups or in classroom settings. This work requires extensive knowledge of the writing process, fluency in English, and significant ability to teach all levels of students in an English-as-a-second-language environment. The incumbent must have a clear understanding of the role of the Writing Center in support of the broader academic mission and in the context of an arts and design curriculum.

In addition, the Senior Writing Center Instructor develops workshops, training materials, resources, and assessment to facilitate the work of the Writing Center and to support the students' learning experience. The Senior Writing Center Instructor supports the reporting of statistical data, as required by the department.

The Senior Writing Center Instructor also interacts with all university faculty to stay current with the requirements of written course assignments. The Senior Writing Center Instructor may be asked to disseminate reports on work done with students; discusses students’ special writing needs with faculty and/or counselors as necessary; and may function as a representative of or liaison for the Writing Center, either alone or in collaboration with other Writing Center Instructors, both in-house and externally; is responsible for use and upkeep of the Writing Center and its materials; participates in staff and professional development activities; and initiates and/or develops Writing Center workshops.

Working under the direction of the Director of Libraries, and in partnership with the Writing Center Coordinator, the Senior Writing Center Instructor will be responsible for:

• Providing to VCUQatar students educational instruction and guidance concerning all aspects of written English composition (including, but not limited to, planning, drafting, revising, and technicalities of using the English language);
• Serving as the lead liaison to the school’s MFA program and providing direct support to MFA students
• Understanding writing as a process and teaching that process to students from diverse cultural backgrounds and levels of academic preparation;
• Assisting VCUQatar administration, faculty, and staff with composition queries/issues when requested;
• Initiating recommendations to the Director of Libraries to enhance students’ learning and the work of the

Writing Center;

• Notifying the relevant professor or the university counselors of special concerns observed while working with a student;
• Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism;
• Creating appointment reports, forwarding a copy to the student’s professor (unless expressly asked not to

do so by the student), and filing a copy in the Writing Center appointment files;

• Thinking critically, analytically, and creatively;
• Assisting in discussion, research, and access to materials available in the Writing Center;
• Conducting Writing Center workshops or making presentations about aspects of composition or writing center work, or assisting with workshops and presentations as requested;
• Developing assessment instruments for the Writing Center;
• Collecting data regarding Writing Center activities and service;
• Reporting on Writing Center activities and service to the administration;
• Interacting with writing center colleagues in the other universities of Education City;
• Participating in professional organizations;
• Maintaining and disseminating sufficient and appropriate materials and equipment in the Writing Center;
• Participating in staff and professional development activities to keep abreast of university policies and changes, curriculum developments and requirements, best practices in writing pedagogy
• Using English language use, and other information relevant to the efficient and professional operation of the Writing Center.
• Demonstrating strong commitment to diversity and inclusive practices.

The Writing Center is part of the Library department, which includes an Art and Design Library, a Materials Library, and Innovative Media Studios.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position may be expected to train and supervise peer tutors.

Work schedule:
The Senior Writing Center Instructor works full time Sunday through Thursday. During periods of especially heavy student demand for appointments, such as near the end of a semester, the Senior Writing Center Instructor works as needed to accommodate peak demand appointment requests.

This is a benefited 10-month professional staff position in a fast-paced and high volume environment. Competitive international salary, health benefits, leave and retirement plans are available and based on a 10-month work period. The 10-month work period aligns with the academic calendar and is effective for the period beginning August 10 through June 9 each year.

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development Opportunities

VCUarts Qatar:
VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts (VCUarts). Located in Richmond, Virginia, VCUarts (confidential is a top-ranked public art school in the U.S. VCUarts Qatar was established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, interior design, kinetic imaging, and painting & printmaking; a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUarts Qatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from 34 countries.

VCUarts Qatar is dedicated to global outreach and education and provides students with an environment for cross-cultural exchange that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation. Examples of this mission are the two significant international conferences hosted by VCUarts Qatar—the biennial design conference, Tasmeem and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. VCUarts Qatar attracts globally recognized designers, artists and scholars while fostering partnerships within the region, and beyond, that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. Having established itself as a center of excellence for education and research, VCUarts Qatar has substantial involvement with the influential art and design world of the Middle East and is a catalyst for the growth and development of these fields in the region. VCUarts Qatar has over 120 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of over 300 students. VCUarts Qatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre multiversity campus. VCUarts Qatar was joined by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.

Qatar, with English as the standard second language, is a progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, while honoring a rich tradition that is evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. Al-Wakrah Stadium, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, designed by the defunct deconstructivist architect Zaha Hadid was inaugurated in 2021. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in March 2019 while the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The U.S. Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

VCUarts:
Ranked by US News & World Report as a top five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The school includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree or equivalent in English, Teaching Writing, Communication, Education, or other field relevant to addressing students’ English-as-Second-Language (ESL) communication needs; or equivalent training, education, and experience
• Fluency in both written and spoken English
• A strong conviction that all students have the ability to achieve and to improve their written communication skills
• Extensive knowledge of learning theories and evaluation methods;
• Experience in teaching and learning styles, with a strong emphasis on one-on-one, individualized instruction in the area of language acquisition and academic composition
• Experience in developing and evaluating materials of both print and electronic formats
• Excellent time management skills
• Superb interpersonal communication skills
• Highly developed organizational skills
• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• A high level of accuracy, work ethics, diligence, confidentiality, and professionalism
• Self-motivation for working an independently to meet Writing Center goals with minimal supervision
• Experience working with online teaching modalities.
• Team spirit for working collaboratively
• Ability to assess students’ needs and recognize potentially serious learning, behavioral, or other problems

relevant to communicating well in English and succeeding in coursework

• Familiarity with research methods, resources, and documentation across disciplines
• Positive attitude and desire to be in a service-oriented environment that result in the ability to create a positive learning environment for all students
• Significant knowledge and skill in using a computer in teaching the writing process; excellent skills in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience in a higher education arts and design context is strongly preferred.
• Prior public speaking and presentation development skills is strongly preferred.