Associate Professor/Full Professor in Lighting Design

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

About The Position

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Theater invites applications for a full-time, tenured Senior Faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor in Lighting Design. The position is scheduled to begin 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 teach lighting design from introductory through professional levels, collaborate across budgets and performance spaces, and contribute to the Department’s production program and academic life. Experience in related theatrical design and technology areas—including projection, video, immersive design, or virtual reality—is desirable, and candidates who integrate emerging technologies into teaching, creative practice, and production work are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate 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 oversee lighting design activities associated with the 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. The candidate will maintain an active professional and creative practice in lighting design and contribute to the artistic and intellectual life of the Department through collaboration, mentoring, recruitment, advising, service, and shared governance. The role calls for strong 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 nine-month academic-year appointment at 100% full-time equivalency with full benefits. The expected salary range is $90,160–$142,437 for an Associate Professor and $107,065–$188,003 for a Full Professor; salary is commensurate with experience and determined by the University based on relevant factors.

Requirements

MFA in Lighting Design or a terminal degree in a related field by the time of hire.
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 experience as a professional lighting designer and evidence of impact in the field.
Evidence of ongoing creative achievement.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines.
Working knowledge of contemporary trends and technology.
Excellent administrative skills and significant leadership experience.
Ability to teach lighting design from the introductory through the professional level.
Student-centered mentoring approach and ability to collaborate effectively across a range of budgets and performance spaces.

Nice To Haves

Experience and expertise in related theatrical design and technology, 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 topics 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’s artistic and intellectual life through collaboration, mentoring, recruitment, advising, service, and participation in shared governance.