Description

Position Summary
Department: School of Graduate and Professional Studies
Reports To: Dean of School of Graduate and Professional Studies
Status/Time Commitment: Full-time with faculty rank, tenure track, 10-month appointment
Rank: Assistant Professor
Start Date: 07/01/2026 or when position is filled

Position Overview

A unique opportunity to join the School of Graduate and Professional Studies as a bilingual (Spanish-English) tenure-track Assistant Professor. This full-time, 10-month faculty appointment blends academic teaching, community impact, and international collaboration—offering a dynamic platform to shape both seminary education and church leadership development.

About the Role

This position is supported by a multi-million-dollar grant from Lilly Foundation, Inc. and serves both Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary (FPBS) and partner church-serving institutions. The role is thoughtfully divided between two complementary areas of impact:

• Graduate Teaching & Curriculum Leadership (50%)
  • Deliver high-quality, graduate-level instruction in English, contributing to seminary degree programs in divinity and ministry. Engage students through in-person, online, and hybrid learning environments while helping shape future leaders in faith-based contexts.
• Bilingual Ministry & Community Engagement (50%)
  • Collaborate with denominational partners and a university-affiliated center to design and deliver continuing education programs in Spanish for pastors and church leaders. This includes developing culturally relevant materials and participating in community-based teaching initiatives across diverse settings.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Direct involvement in a well-funded, mission-driven initiative with lasting impact
• Opportunity to influence both academic programs and real-world ministry leadership
• Engagement with diverse communities across the U.S. and Canada
• A balanced role that integrates teaching, curriculum development, and outreach
• Alignment with the values of the Fresno Pacific Idea and a Christ-centered educational mission

Based at the main campus of Fresno Pacific University, this role offers a meaningful blend of scholarship, service, and leadership for those passionate about advancing theological education and supporting the global church.

 
Essential Functions
 

• Teach graduate courses within Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary (FPBS) in theology, biblical studies, and practical ministry. Specific teaching assignments may vary based on the faculty member’s expertise and/or the needs of the seminary.
• Teach under the direction of the Seminary Department Chair, with input from Seminary Disciplinary Lead in ministry.
• Teach and develop learning materials in Spanish for the following affiliated organizations: Fresno Pacific University Center for Community Transformation (an award-wining social enterprise organization), Vineyard USA, and the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (denominations).
• Actively participate in seminary student life and university meetings/events. This includes, but is not limited to, seminary-related community events, common meals, seminars, conferences, department meetings, graduate and professional studies meetings, and university faculty senate meetings. 
• Represent seminary to university committee and broader community as requested by the Department Chair.
• Provide mentoring, advising and guidance to students enrolled in seminary ministry degree programs.
• Engage in on-going relationships and partnerships with external organizations, ministries, and churches.
• Participate in the recruitment of new students for seminary ministry degree programs.
• Actively align with the vision of the seminary’s ministry programs. This includes offering spiritually experiential courses, which are broadly evangelical, for a non-traditional and diverse student body who are personally passionate about their faith in Jesus.
• Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students in an academic context that integrates your Christian faith and learning. 
• Embrace the mission, vision, and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm the FPU Faith Expectations, and support the ideals and practices articulated in "The Fresno Pacific Idea”
• Other job duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required:

• Earned terminal degree in appropriate field of study (ABD candidates considered; completion of a terminal degree is a requisite for continued employment). 
• Fluent in both Spanish and English, including reading, writing, and speaking.
• Prior experience and demonstrated success teaching in areas such as theology and biblical studies, particularly for spiritually passionate Christians, in both formal and informal settings.
• Demonstrated success in curriculum development and teaching in different instructional modalities, including blended and fully online courses with nontraditional adult learners.
• Record or promise of scholarly achievement.
• Ability to work collegially with students, staff, faculty, pastors, and denominational and non-profit leaders.
• Ability to teach and work with people from diverse cultural and ecclesiastical backgrounds, offering meaningful instruction, even with those who have quite different theological and cultural values than faculty.
• Strong relational, oral, and written communication skills, in both Spanish and English.
• Deep commitment to the Christian faith and the University’s mission of Christ-centered teaching, learning, and involvement in a local church. 
• Broad agreement with the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith and a willingness to build positive relationships with the Mennonite Brethren Church, Vineyard USA churches, and a broad network of evangelical churches.

Preferred:

• Successful ministry leadership experience.

Environmental Conditions:

• Indoors in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation, up to eight hours per day.
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
• Public contact positions require professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming. 

Physical Demands:

• This position typically functions indoors in an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with business office equipment. The position may involve travel for meetings and events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position 80 % of the time, be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery etc., operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry. 
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to forty pounds. Employees must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
• Reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.
   
  

University Information
Required Documents:

• Cover Letter 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statements: brief statement (1 page or less) on each of the following topics:
  • Philosophy of Education
  • Relationship & Commitment to Jesus Christ and the Church
  • Relating Christian faith to discipline and teaching
• Official Transcripts (showing highest degree earned)
• 2 Letters of Recommendation 
• Faith Reference Letter
  • This person should have extensive knowledge of your Christian life and relationship with Jesus Christ. This knowledge should be expressed in the letter.

$78,037.44 to $92,851.50 is the starting annual salary for this role and reflects what Fresno Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, Fresno Pacific University offers a competitive benefits package.

Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU’s Human Resources Department at [email protected].  As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University’s governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.