Careers
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.
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
Presently, there are no faculty searches in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. View degree programs
School of Film and Animation
Tenure Track Faculty
Animation and Production
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.
Staff Openings
Postdoctoral Researcher in Preservation Science
Image Permanence Institute (IPI)
This 30-month postdoctoral position offers the opportunity to gain experience of applied materials characterization and data analytics within the cultural heritage field. The appointed researcher will conduct research using advanced thermo-mechanical analytical techniques and data analytics to quantify the impact of changing environments on the mechanical properties of plastic composites, with a view to identifying safe storage, display and handling conditions for historic plastics. This research forms the core of a three-year Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant designed to interrogate the relationship between temperature, equilibrium relative humidity, equilibrium moisture content and the mechanical properties of a range of plastics commonly housed in museum collections. The results will inform guidelines for sustainable preservation environmental management for plastics and plastic composite artifacts.
Preventive Conservation Specialist
Image Permanence Institute (IPI)
The Image Permanence Institute (IPI) is pleased to announce its opening for a Preventive Conservation Specialist. The Preventive Conservation Specialist will provide information and guidance to a range of collecting institutions on preventive conservation, the role of environment in preservation, and best practices for sustainable environmental management through a variety of consulting, outreach (teaching and publication), research, and technical support activities. IPI provides on- and off-site environmental consulting services which include environmental monitoring and data analysis, mechanical system analysis, identification of energy-saving opportunities, suggestions for mechanical system design and operation, and preservation commissioning. This position requires the ability to work independently and within cross-disciplinary collaborative environments, including with other IPI staff and external clients. Outreach activities include the development and presentation of workshops, seminars, webinars, and conference presentations on IPI's environmental projects, research activities, products and services. The Preventive Conservation Specialist will also be expected to prepare articles for both peer-reviewed journals and practical educational publications. Potential research activities include contributing to the development of research initiatives and successful 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 Art/School for American Crafts
The Senior Staff Assistant position is one of two reporting to the School of Art/School for American Craft’s School Director and is an important contributor to the success of the school and college. The Sr. Staff Assistant provides daily administrative support to the School Director, faculty, enrolled and prospective students and their families, alumni, the Dean’s Office, college staff, 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. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch, or until 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch.
Please note: Limited evening and weekend activities may necessitate working in addition to 40 hours per week.
Instructional Support Specialist - Digital Fabrication
CAD Operations
CAD Operations is searching for a full-time Instructional Support Specialist in its Digital Fabrication Lab. Instructional Support Specialists coordinate space, supervise student workers and manage facilities. They are responsible for supporting a wide array of technology and making resources, both analog and digital, that are used daily towards the satisfaction of curriculum within the School of Art, School for American Crafts, and School of Design.
These positions serve as an educational resource, providing advice and assistance to students, faculty and other staff in the areas of process, material application and related technology. They support the implementation of making resources and technology throughout the labs, shops, and studios within CAD.
Photographic Facilities Coordinator
CAD Operations
The College of Art and Design Operations team invites qualified candidates to apply for the Facilities Coordinator position in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences (SPAS). This hourly position reports directly to the SPAS Operations Manager. Overall responsibilities include managing the daily rental operations of the facilities, consisting of a multi-million dollar equipment inventory checkout system, computer labs, studios, darkrooms and related specialty spaces, along with managing a student staff of approximately 50. The ideal candidate will have extensive background and knowledge of imaging technologies, systems, equipment, software as well as analog systems and processes. 2D/3D and motion media experience is also a plus. Must have broad knowledge and understanding of the Adobe software suite and related image editing software, as well as digital capture and output technologies/workflows. Seeking a capable service technician with a strong analytical troubleshooting skillset. Excellent problem solving, communication and collaborative skills are also desirable.
Systems Administrator
CAD Operations
The College of Art and Design (CAD) invites qualified individuals to apply for the position of Systems Administrator. The Systems Administrator is part of a team of IT and Operations professionals who support the diverse and oftentimes unique computing needs of the faculty, staff and students within the College of Art and Design at RIT. The IT tech support team is responsible for designing, managing, maintaining and trouble-shooting enterprise solutions for diverse multidisciplinary user environments. The Systems Administrator is a critical team member in providing this support and requires an advanced skill set that includes management of cross-platform systems, and enterprise file and web hosting services.