Assistant Professor of Scenic Design

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Theater seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Scenic Design, with a start date of September 1, 2027. The successful candidate will be an artist and teacher whose primary specialty is scenic design and who brings expertise in another area of theater-making, such as other design areas, directing, or puppetry. Experience with projection design or other technologies is desirable. The candidate will teach foundational and advanced courses, including topics such as computer-assisted drafting, and courses that may appeal to the general student body. A student-centered, mentorship-based approach and significant industry connections are important to the role. The position contributes to the creative and scholarly mission of a flagship R1 university. The successful candidate is expected to sustain creative and/or scholarly work and professional engagement with the potential to earn national recognition and develop an international reputation in scenic design and related fields. The Department is interested in an artist-scholar whose practice advances the discipline, contributes to contemporary conversations in theater and performance, and creates opportunities for collaboration and impact beyond the university. The candidate should be flexible, collaborative, communicative, and adventurous, with diverse theater-making expertise adaptable to varied budgets and spaces; experience in other creative industries may also be relevant. The appointment carries a 2-2 teaching load. In addition to teaching, the faculty member will design scenery, scenic art, and properties for the Department's main-stage season and supervise student designers and artisans. The role includes participation in design and production meetings and design and technical rehearsals, collaboration across production areas, and close work with scene shop faculty and staff. The faculty member will also provide service to the department, college, and university and maintain a robust portfolio of creative achievement. This is a 9-month academic-year appointment at 100% full-time equivalency with full benefits. Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment with minimal physical exertion. The position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Requirements

MFA in Design or a terminal degree in a related field by the time of hire.
Demonstrated excellence in teaching design at the college level.
Substantial professional experience as a designer with evidence of impact in the field.
Evidence of a significant and growing record of creative and/or scholarly achievement, with potential for national recognition and an international reputation appropriate for tenure at a research-intensive university.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines and build community partnerships.
Working knowledge of current and/or emerging design technologies and software, such as digital media or projection design.
Ability to balance teaching and mentorship with professional work appropriate for tenure and promotion at a major public research university.

Nice To Haves

Experience in projection design or other technologies.
Expertise in another area of theater, such as other design areas, directing, or puppetry.
Diverse theater-making expertise adaptable to a range of budgets and spaces.
Experience in other creative industries.
Significant industry connections that can contribute to student learning and experiences.

Responsibilities

Teach a 2-2 course load, including foundational design courses, advanced topics such as computer-assisted drafting, and courses that can appeal to the general student body.
Design scenery, scenic art, and properties for the Department of Theater's main-stage season.
Supervise student designers and artisans.
Attend design and production meetings, as well as design and technical rehearsals.
Collaborate with all production areas and work closely with scene shop faculty and staff.
Provide service to the department, college, and university.
Maintain a robust portfolio and active program of creative and/or scholarly achievement and professional engagement.
Mentor students using a student-centered approach and contribute industry connections to student learning and experiences.