Assistant Professor of Graphic Communication - Business Management, Production, Operations, and Integrated Marketing Communications (27/28)

Cal Poly • San Luis Obispo, CA

22d • $90,276 - $98,244 • Onsite

About The Position

The Graphic Communication Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, seeks a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in graphic communication management and print production. The anticipated start date is approximately August 12, 2027. Expertise should include one or more of color management, manufacturing operations, marketing and sales strategy, integrated marketing communications, and human resource leadership.

Teaching may include management, manufacturing, operations, project management, integrated marketing, sales, strategy, human resource management, and color management. The successful candidate will combine university-level teaching experience and research potential with professional expertise in graphic communication and business leadership. They will prepare students for work in sales, marketing, operations, color management, and strategic leadership, particularly in printing, graphic arts, or print production.

The role calls for a broad combination of technical, managerial, and strategic skills. The candidate should be able to teach and lead print-production operations, quality and color-management workflows, and business decision-making, connecting these topics with marketing, sales, and integrated communication campaigns. Relevant skills include print and prepress technologies; color measurement, calibration, profiling, proofing, and process control; production planning and quality assurance; pricing, customer relationship management, and sales forecasting; and coordinated print and digital marketing initiatives. Strong leadership, communication, team-building, conflict-resolution, employee-development, and ethical decision-making skills are also expected.

Faculty balance teaching with research and professional development, including publication, student supervision and advising, and service at the department, college, and university levels. The typical teaching load is 12 units per semester, with a course-load reduction in each of the first two years to support development of a research and professional-development program. Subject to planning and approval, the university may transition to year-round semester-based operations. Under that arrangement, full-time academic-year faculty may teach in two consecutive semesters out of three; teaching in a third semester may be available for additional compensation, depending on departmental needs and university policy.

Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department is a nationally recognized, accredited Learn by Doing program. It prepares students to design, produce, manage, and distribute visual communication across print, packaging, digital, and interactive media, integrating design, technology, business, and strategic problem-solving through hands-on laboratory and classroom experiences.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related Graphic Communication field or a closely related field, completed and awarded by the time of appointment.
• Documented experience in university teaching, research, and/or industry in one or more listed areas: color management for digital and printed media; digital and conventional printing technologies; packaging development and production; print production and converting workflows; materials for Graphic Communication applications; data management and data integration or visualization; emerging print-production technologies; strategic planning for graphic communication; operational planning, process improvement, or sales operations; Integrated Marketing Communications; or Human Resource Management.
• Demonstrated teaching or training experience in higher education or professional/industry settings.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of English.
• Expertise in one or more of color management, manufacturing operations, marketing and sales strategy, integrated marketing communications, and human resource leadership.
• Ability to teach and lead print-production operations, quality and color-management workflows, and business decision-making, connecting them to marketing, sales, and integrated communication campaigns.
• Strong leadership, communication, team-building, conflict-resolution, employee-development, and ethical decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

• Terminal degree (Ph.D., DBA, or Ed.D.) in Graphic Communication, Business, Marketing, Operations Management, Strategy, or a related discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience in graphic communications, ideally spanning commercial print, packaging, or a print-service provider.
• Direct experience in the printing, graphic arts, or print production industry, with exposure to operational workflows, strategic decision-making, and B2B sales and operations, particularly in technical or manufacturing sectors.
• Experience with data-driven decision-making using sales analytics tools, market research methodologies, operations management software, or CRM systems.
• Expertise in inventory management and control models, production scheduling and materials management, and supply chain management, including logistics, supplier and customer service management, capacity planning, process design, and layout planning.
• Expertise in team building, leadership development, and management fundamentals, including decision-making and analytics, ethics and responsibility, organizational culture and change, strategic management and planning, HR systems, motivation theory, and the global environment.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma, or similar credentials.
• Published research or professional contributions in sales, marketing, operations, strategy, or graphic communication.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary settings.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment.
• Relevant work experience and professional capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses that may include management, manufacturing, operations, project management, integrated marketing, sales, strategy, human resource management, and color management.
• Lead and teach print-production operations, quality and color-management workflows, and business decision-making, connecting these areas to marketing, sales, and integrated communication campaigns.
• Balance teaching with an active program of research and professional development, including publication.
• Supervise and advise students.
• Participate in service activities at the department, college, and university levels.
• Translate current industry practices into effective university instruction.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior