Careers
RIT’s College of Art and Design is one of the most dynamic colleges of art and design in the nation. With technology, the arts, and design at our core, we are a professional art school within a comprehensive technical university.
The College of Art and Design has five schools (art, crafts, design, film and animation, and photography), 140 faculty, and 60 staff members. We are a close-knit, collaborative community of artists, innovators and scientists.
We are committed to recruiting and hiring the most qualified individuals. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism, and inclusion in the workplace. Recognized as a prestigious “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, RIT takes enormous pride in its continuing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that advance a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
The RIT campus is just minutes away from downtown Rochester, N.Y. You can explore and enjoy the city’s entertainment, and cultural offerings. The city is large enough to provide the dining and nightlife opportunities you might expect in a bigger city, yet small and friendly enough to be inviting and accessible. RIT is also not far from the beautiful Finger Lakes region known for its lakes, wineries, and restaurants.
RIT and Rochester certainly have a lot to offer. We hope you consider applying!
Administration Opening
School Director
School of Design
The College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology seeks a visionary leader for the position of Director of the School of Design (SOD). The ideal candidate will be responsible for leading a diverse and accomplished faculty in the operation of the School’s highly regarded BFA, MFA and MS degree programs; mentoring and evaluating faculty and staff; and creating a supportive and stimulating environment for all students.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated passion for curriculum development and organizational management, and to work collaboratively to build on the School’s outstanding legacies to ensure a bright future. The School Director should be critically engaged in design’s future in leading areas such as health, sustainability, diversity in design, AI and machine learning, UI/UX, and XR. And be prepared to leverage RIT’s unique, comprehensive school of technology with our highly regarded college of arts, crafts and design.
Schools of Art and American Crafts
Tenure-Track Faculty
Metals & Jewelry Design
The School for American Crafts and School of Art welcome applications for a tenure-track position in Metals and Jewelry Design. The ideal candidate will be responsible for a full teaching load of courses for both BFA and MFA students. The range of student experience in the Metals and Jewelry Design program requires that the candidate demonstrate a mastery of design techniques along with technical skills including welding, a range of fabrication methods, casting, forming, and other skills associated with contemporary jewelry design and incorporating digital technologies. In addition, the candidate will be expected to contribute to the program through critiques, portfolio reviews, and curricular design.
School of Design
Tenure-Track Faculty in Motion Design
New Media Design, Visual Communication Design, and Graphic Design
The School of Design invites individuals to apply for a tenure track position to teach in the School of Design. We are seeking candidates with an expertise in motion design who are well-rounded visual designers. Ideal candidates will possess the ability to provide leadership and vision in integrating motion design into the Graphic Design, New Media Design and Visual Communication Design curriculums. Candidates should be qualified to teach throughout the curriculum. Expectations include teaching undergraduate and/or graduate studio and lecture courses; teaching a full load each term; participating in innovative teaching and curriculum development; rendering service to the school, college, university, and community; career advising and mentoring students; and participating in professional organizations important to the field of design.
Tenure-Track Faculty - 2 positions
3D Digital Design
The 3D Digital Design program is seeking applicants to teach primarily 3D Digital Design courses using real-time design software such as Unreal (or willing to transition Unity skills to Unreal curriculum) as well as standard 3D content creation software (like Maya/Blender) within a design curriculum. Expertise in other graphics software is important as well. The ability to teach a variety of some of the following content: modeling, lighting, materials, rendering, scripting, etc., as well as awareness or interest in adapting to emerging tools like XR, AI, virtual production, or the Metaverse, is particularly important. As our field is rapidly changing and adapting, a commitment to scholarship combined with constant professional development is key. Courses focus on 3D digital skills as they relate to design. Utilizing research, experimentation, critical thinking, creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a range of problem-solving principles, students learn to solve complex visual problems within the constraints of time, space, budget, and technology. Emphasis is also placed on the delivery of content in immersive environments with full-body input. In addition to a full teaching load each term, other responsibilities include advising students, assisting in curriculum development, pursuing research/scholarship, and providing service to the program and school. The candidate will teach primarily in the BFA program but may also have an opportunity to teach in an MFA program and sit on MFA thesis committees.
Non-Tenure Track Faculty
Industrial Design
The School of Design invites individuals to apply for a non-tenure track Lecturer position to teach in the Industrial Design (ID) program. The Industrial Design program focuses on developing strong conceptual and formal design skills. Students are engaged in the theory, process, and practice of design throughout the undergraduate and graduate curriculums. The Industrial Design program is consistently ranked amongst the top programs in the nation for undergraduate and graduate study.
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
James E McGhee Endowed Visiting Professor
The School of Photographic Arts and Sciences invites applicants to apply for a Non-Tenure Track Visiting position for the James E. McGhee Endowed Visiting Professor. This endowed position is a 2-3 year position with the option to renew and includes access to funds to support student success, industry partnerships, and student/faculty applied research.
The successful candidate will teach courses over the academic year that includes undergraduate and, potentially, graduate-level courses in photography, combined with design and moving media. The ideal candidate will contribute to the intersection of commercial photography and business for the school within the Visual Media BFA degree option and have a broad background in creative directing, branding, social media/content management, and/or graphic design. The successful candidate will be nimble, technologically savvy, and forward-thinking on the future of photography.
School of Film and Animation
Tenure Track Faculty
Animation
The School of Film and Animation in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology is accepting applications for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor position in Animation and Production. Active artists dedicated to the education of filmmakers/animators are encouraged to apply. The candidate should demonstrate substantial aptitude in stop motion and/or 2D animation production techniques. Courses will involve teaching undergraduate and graduate students the aesthetics and techniques of animation production, including fabrication and character/object performance. An extensive knowledge of animation filmmaking processes and current and emerging technologies in the animation art form is important. The successful candidate has a history of teaching animation production and is capable of inspiring a critical and creative environment in the classroom.
Tenure Track Faculty
Live-Action Production
The School of Film and Animation (SOFA) is inviting applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Live-Action Production. The Production Faculty member will teach courses in film production in at least two of the following areas: editing in AVID Media Composer and Premiere Pro, color grading using DaVinci Resolve and/or Baselight, as well as narrative and/or documentary storytelling.
Expertise in one or more of the following strengthens the application: basic film/digital production, basic sound design, screenwriting, business of film, and producing for features and/or broadcast. Courses will involve teaching undergraduate and graduate students the aesthetics and techniques of making films and focusing on a variety of skills and concepts in the production of narrative and documentary work.
Staff Openings
Preventive Conservation Specialist
Image Permanence Institute (IPI)
The Image Permanence Institute is looking for an early- to mid-career conservation professional (all disciplines are encouraged to apply) who is committed to supporting and assisting collecting institutions with essential preventive conservation activities. The Preventive Conservation Specialist’s primary role is to serve as a consultant to collecting institutions and provide information and guidance on the role of environment in preservation, and best practices for sustainable environmental management. Additional responsibilities include outreach (teaching and publication), research, and technical support activities. Outreach activities include the development and presentation of workshops, seminars, webinars, and conference presentations on IPI's environmental projects, research, products and services. The Preventive Conservation Specialist will also be expected to prepare articles for both peer-reviewed journals and practical educational publications. Contributions to research include collaborating on the development of research initiatives and grant applications in the area of preventive conservation, assistance with the implementation of ongoing IPI research, evaluation and analysis of research data, and preparation of reports.
Senior Staff Assistant
School of Design
The School of Design in RIT's College of Art and Design is seeking candidates for the position of Senior Staff Assistant. The Senior Staff Assistant works closely with another Senior Staff Assistant and reports to the School of Design’s School Director. The Sr. Staff Assistant provides administrative support to the School Director, faculty, enrolled and prospective students and their families, alumni, the Dean’s Office, and other internal and external stakeholders. After an initial training period, this position allows for the possibility to work four days on campus and one day remotely.