Associate Professor/Full Professor in Lighting Design

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

9d•$90,160 - $188,003

About The Position

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Theater invites applications for a full-time, tenured Senior Faculty position in Lighting Design at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor, beginning September 1, 2027. The successful candidate will be a committed, student-centered teacher and an accomplished professional practitioner with significant experience and artistic vision. They will collaborate effectively across budgets and performance spaces and teach lighting design from introductory through professional levels. Experience in related areas such as projection, video, immersive design, or virtual reality is desirable, and candidates able to integrate emerging technologies into teaching, creative practice, and production work are especially encouraged. The successful candidate will be an artist-scholar and teacher whose primary expertise is lighting design. They will develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in lighting design artistry and technology, including foundational and advanced coursework. Instruction may include 3D lighting visualization, programming, drafting, and lighting design applications for related creative fields. The faculty member will contribute to the department's production program by overseeing lighting design activities associated with the mainstage season. Duties include serving as lighting or production designer for selected productions; mentoring and supervising student lighting designers and related production personnel; attending design, production, and technical meetings; and participating in design and technical rehearsals as required. The candidate will maintain an active professional and creative practice in lighting design and contribute to the department's artistic and intellectual life through collaboration, mentoring, recruitment, advising, service, and shared governance. The position requires excellent administrative skills, significant leadership experience, and a record of scholarship, teaching, and service appropriate for a tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor at an R1 university. This is a 9-month academic-year appointment at 100% full-time equivalency with full benefits. The stated expected salary range is $90,160–$142,437 for an Associate Professor and $107,065–$188,003 for a Full Professor, commensurate with experience and determined by the University based on relevant factors. Application review begins November 20, 2026; applications received later may not be reviewed.

Requirements

MFA in Lighting Design or a terminal degree in a related field by the time of hire.
A record of teaching, research, and creative output appropriate for appointment as a tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor at an R1 research university.
Demonstrated excellence in teaching lighting design at the college level.
Substantial professional experience as a lighting designer, evidence of impact in the field, and evidence of ongoing creative achievement.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines.
Working knowledge of contemporary trends and technology.
Excellent administrative skills and significant leadership experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience and expertise in related theatrical design and technology areas such as projection design, video design, immersive design, or virtual reality.
Ability to integrate emerging technologies into teaching, creative practice, and production work.
Experience with Projection Design and Technology.
Diverse expertise or experience in theater-making.

Responsibilities

Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in lighting design artistry and technology, including foundational and advanced coursework.
Teach subject areas that may include 3D lighting visualization, programming, drafting, and lighting design applications for related creative fields.
Oversee lighting design activities associated with the department's mainstage season.
Serve as lighting designer or production designer for selected productions.
Mentor and supervise student lighting designers and related production personnel.
Attend design, production, and technical meetings and participate in design and technical rehearsals as required.
Maintain an active professional and creative practice in lighting design.
Contribute to the department through collaboration, mentoring, recruitment, advising, service, and shared governance.