Open Rank Professor, 9 Month Salaried - School of Dance

School of Dance

Teaching and Student Mentorship

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in lighting design, visual design, projection design, stage technology, and related areas of expertise.
• Develop and teach elective courses aligned with the candidate's specialized knowledge and creative practice.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in coursework, production assignments, portfolio development, and professional preparation.
• Serve on graduate thesis and dissertation committees and support student research and creative activity.
• Supervise and guide student lighting and visual designers through all phases of production.

Creative Activity and Production Design

• Serve as the resident lighting designer for School of Dance productions.
• Design lighting and visual elements for departmental performances, concerts, and special events.
• Collaborate with faculty choreographers, guest artists, and production personnel to create cohesive artistic experiences.
• Integrate lighting, projection, digital media, and emerging technologies into performance environments as appropriate.
• Maintain an active record of creative and/or scholarly achievement consistent with tenure-track expectations.

Director of Production

• Provide leadership for the planning and execution of the School's annual production season.
• Coordinate the production calendar, including rehearsals, technical rehearsals, performances, and special events.
• Work closely with the Production Manager, Production Assistant, faculty, staff, and guest artists to ensure effective production operations.
• Supervise technical production personnel, student employees, and production crews.
• Manage production-related budgets, equipment inventories, and resource allocation.
• Oversee the maintenance and safe operation of lighting, projection, and production equipment.
• Ensure compliance with university and industry safety standards and best practices.

Service and Leadership

• Participate in School, College, and University governance through committee service and other assigned responsibilities.
• Contribute to recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives.
• Engage in professional service at the regional, national, and/or international levels.
• Support the School's mission through collaborative leadership and active participation in institutional initiatives.

• Terminal degree (M.F.A. or equivalent) in Lighting Design, Theatrical Design, Dance Production, Theatre, Dance, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in lighting design, with significant experience designing for dance performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in lighting design processes, technologies, and production practices.
• Evidence of achievement in creative and/or scholarly work.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching, mentoring, and collaborative artistic practice.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and project management skills.

• Successful university-level teaching experience.
• Experience supervising production operations, technical staff, and production budgets.
• Experience with Qlab, Vectorworks software, LightWright, Eos systems, Dante software, and Paradigm.
• Expertise in one or more complementary areas such as: Projection or media design, Costume design, Scenic design, Filmmaking or digital media production, Musical composition or sound design, Dance technology, Related movement or dance practices
• Experience working across interdisciplinary artistic environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence and student-centered learning.

The Florida State University School of Dance seeks a dynamic artist and collaborative leader to fill an Open Rank faculty position in Lighting and Visual Design while serving as Director of Production. This hybrid faculty-administrative position combines teaching, creative research, student mentorship, production design, and oversight of the School's production operations.

The successful candidate will maintain an active program of creative and/or scholarly activity, teach undergraduate and graduate courses in lighting and visual design, mentor student artists and designers, and provide leadership for the planning, coordination, and execution of all School of Dance productions.

The College of Fine Arts at Florida State University is dedicated to fostering artistic excellence, creative exploration, and scholarly inquiry across a variety of disciplines. Our renowned faculty and staff educate and empower students to become visionary performers, artists, educators, art historians, designers, curators, art therapists, researchers, and arts administrators who shape the future of the visual arts, healing arts, performing arts, and design. Through passionate teaching, community engagement, innovative research, and artistic practice we enrich lives, elevate artistic expression, and inspire positive change and well-being in society.

Dance has been included in Florida State University’s offerings for over 90 years, with a major degree program for more than sixty of those years. It has been recognized as a leader among college dance programs. Graduates of our programs include dancers, teachers, scholars, and leaders in companies, schools, universities, and art organizations in the United States and abroad. Montgomery Hall is one of the best dance facilities in the nation. The Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) is an internationally recognized dance research center and part of the School of Dance. This unique and visionary institute brings a steady stream of prominent and emerging dance artists to campus to create and develop the work that the rest of the world will experience in years to come. Add to this mix an esteemed faculty and talented students, and it is easy to see why we are excited for what is to come.

Associate Professor Daniel Smith, Search Committee Chair

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news!

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Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include education details even if attaching a Vita.

Candidates who currently hold tenure and are seeking appointment with tenure at Florida State University will need to submit the materials for evaluation if selected. These materials are required to support the tenure review process at the time of hire. Finalists may be asked to provide the below additional documentation as part of the evaluation.

• Examples of excellence in research or creative activity or excellence in teaching.
• CV
• One-page statement of their accomplishments over the last five years.
• Discussion of their teaching, research and service (no longer than six pages).
• Three outside letters of recommendation directed specifically to Florida State University. No professional relationships should exist between the candidate and the external reviewer. Relationships include, but are not limited to, student- teacher (including dissertation committee chairs and members), colleagues in graduate school, former departmental colleagues, collaborators, and co-authors.

This is a Faculty position.

This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

This position is being advertised as open until filled.

FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.