Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, Scenic & Properties Design

Theatre & Cinema in The School of Performing Arts (SOPA) at Virginia Tech (www.sopa.vt.edu), is a program that emphasizes traditional and emerging technologies in theatre and the wider entertainment field. We are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. We seek a dynamic, energetic, and creative theatre artist with recent and continuing professional practice and an attention to detail suited to the artistry of design to teach graduate and undergraduate students in scenic design, properties design/execution, scenic artistry, and related crafts.

Duties and responsibilities of this position will include the design and/or supervision of scenic design, properties design, related artistry and crafts for all department productions in our annual season of events; instruction of courses with a hands-on approach; service as primary advisor to graduate and undergraduate students on all scenic design topics, projects, and theses; research suited to the candidate’s and school’s successful growth; student recruitment; service on school and university committees; occasional travel as appropriate to maintain an active agenda of creative activities necessary to maintain a national profile; and performance of additional duties as assigned by the Faculty Chair in Theatre and/or the Director of the School of Performing Arts. Initial two-year appointment begins August 10, 2025.

The School of Performing Arts (SOPA) along with the School of Architecture, the School of Design, and the School of Visual Arts comprise the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD). SOPA offers programs in music, theatre, and cinema at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Programs are delivered in Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District, which concentrates 11 performance spaces within a three-block area on the Blacksburg campus. Performance venues range from the 1,300-seat Moss Arts Center to a 101-seat experimental theatre.

MFA with a concentration in theatrical scenic design. Proficiency in scenic design, properties design and execution, scenic art, computer aided 2D/3D drafting and rendering, and model making. Ability to work at heights and a current valid driver's license.

Professional design experience in theatrical and entertainment venues. Academic experience teaching, recruiting, and supervising students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Experience in film and television design.

• Updated CV
• Cover letter expressing interest and qualifications
• Portfolio of artistic work (max 9MB)
• List and contact information for three professional references

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

Salary range is $60,000 - $70,000 per year

40+

May 27, 2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.