Assistant Professor of Lighting and Media Design and Theatre Technology

Department School of VPDA (CLA)
Position Title Assistant Professor
Job Title Assistant Professor of Lighting and Media Design and Theatre Technology
Appointment Type Academic Faculty
Job Location Corvallis
Benefits Eligible Full-Time, benefits eligible
Remote or Hybrid option?
Job Summary
The College of Liberal Arts invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Lighting and Media Design and Theatre Technology. This position within the School of Visual, Performing and Design Arts (SVPDA) is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor of Lighting and Theatrical Media Design and Technology.

The position comes with a combination of job duties including teaching, design, mentoring, and maintaining a current artistic and research profile. The designer will collaborate with Theatre Arts faculty in the artistic execution of design work related to the University Theatre (UT) season in the areas of lighting, projection, and sound design for on- and off-campus productions, while also mentoring students in these areas. Additional opportunities for design, collaboration, and interdisciplinary projects will exist with other areas of the School, particularly Music, as well as other programs on campus.

Candidates must demonstrate potential for successful undergraduate teaching and evidence of creative/scholarly productivity. One or more years of full-time teaching experience (beyond the graduate assistant level) is preferred. The faculty member in this role will be expected to maintain an active scholarly output and profile.

The arts are uniquely and prominently featured at Oregon State University (OSU), with new opportunities emerging in the Huang Collaborative Innovation Center's Extended Reality Theatre and the opening of the Patricia Valian Reser Center for Creative Arts (PRAx), which will serve as the new performance home for the School.
Why OSU?
Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job

Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don't wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

FACTS:

• Top 1.4% university in the world

• More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined

• 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.

• 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties

• 7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone

• 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates

• 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color

• 217k+ alumni worldwide

• For more interesting facts about OSU visit:

Locations:

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.

Oregon State's beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America's best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a comprehensive benefits package with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.

• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.

• Retirement savings paid by the university.

• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.

• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.

• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.

Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.
Key Responsibilities
45% Teaching and Assigned Duties
Teaching assignments will be determined by Area Coordinator and approved by the SVPDA Director. Assignments may include but are not limited to courses such as TA 245 (Lighting Design), TA 147 (Intro to Theatre), TA 242 (Visual Principles of Theatre) and additional special topics courses related to technical theatre, projection, sound, and stage management.

Teaching and mentoring of students also takes the form of designing for University Theatre (UT) productions. There are typically five such productions during the academic year (three Main Stage and two student-centered Lab Theatre productions). Under the direction of the UT Artistic Director and production director, the faculty member is responsible for the design, programming, and execution of the lighting, projection, and sound/media design for departmental productions. This work will be done in collaboration with the Technical Director and PRAx technical staff as well as student workers and Theatre Arts students.

The faculty member is responsible for recruiting, training, and mentoring student designers in the areas of lighting, projection design, and sound design for Lab Theatre productions and (when appropriate) mentoring student designers for Main Stage Productions. The faculty member will also be available to consult with OSU Music productions when appropriate design and/or to mentor student designers to support Music productions such as Opera Workshop.

45% Creative and Scholarly Work
The faculty member will maintain a current professional portfolio in design and research in the areas of artistic expertise. Artistic output and research may include peer-reviewed conference presentations, publication of articles, and/or guest designing in professional performing arts venues at the regional, national, and/or international levels.

To support both their own research and the theatre program, the faculty member is responsible for overseeing lighting and projection technology, writing, and submitting technology grants in these areas, and working with the UT Technical Director in maintaining lighting, projection, sound, and other related theatre technical equipment. Design work for OSU productions, as outlined above, will provide opportunities for research and creative output on campus, which will be expected alongside output beyond campus venues.

10% Service
Service to the theatre area, the School, College of Liberal Arts, and University. External service in professional organizations related to the field is also encouraged. Additional service may take place at the School or University level, through service to the profession, supervision of student employees, and/or through recruiting and outreach. It is likely that the faculty member will serve as area coordinator for Theatre within the first 2-3 years of arrival.
What You Will Need
Terminal degree, in a field related to Theatre Arts.
Demonstrable knowledge of lighting and projection design and related theatre technology.
Knowledge of current theatre topics and curriculum and experience teaching undergraduate students.
Record of creative/scholarly achievement and potential that aligns with an R1 research institution.
Record of and/or demonstrated interest in engaging, educating, and mentoring a diverse group of learners and enhancing diversity through teaching, outreach, or programming.
Ability to work collegially with other faculty, staff, and students.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
What We Would Like You to Have
History of success in program/curriculum development.
MFA or PhD in Lighting Design or related area in Theatre Arts.
Professional experience in lighting/projection/media design.
Membership in IATSE or similar organization.
Working Conditions / Work Schedule
Working environments will include theatre and other performance venue settings, and schedules will sometimes include intensive periods of rehearsals and performances. Physical requirements include the ability to lift 25 pounds.
Pay Method Salary
Pay Period 1st through the last day of the month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Recommended Full-Time Salary Range Salary is commensurate with skills, education and experience.