Adjunct Assistant Professor in Lighting

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA invites applications for a full-time Assistant Adjunct Professor in Lighting within the Department of Theater, beginning March 1, 2027. The successful candidate will teach lighting design at undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise student projects, and contribute to curriculum development while maintaining a professional practice in lighting.

Candidates should have an MFA and at least two years of collegiate teaching experience, demonstrating a collaborative, inclusive approach to

Qualifications

• MFA is required.
• Minimum of two years teaching experience at the collegiate level.
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate lighting courses and supervise projects.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate lighting courses, including design and theory.
• Supervise and advise student lighting design projects for departmental productions and MFA theses.
• Mentor students in academic and career planning and serve on committees.

Skills

Lighting design

Collegiate teaching

Curriculum development

Student mentorship

Education

MFA

Job description

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Adjunct Professor

A reasonable estimated salary range for the position is $84,100 - $98,200, inclusive of the salary scale and offscale salary components.

Application Window

Open date: October 6, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Nov 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Thursday, Nov 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Position description

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Lighting

Announcing a search for a full-time Assistant Adjunct Professor position in the UCLA Department of Theater in the area of Lighting Design, beginning March 1, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Participate in teaching, research, and service as part of a world-class lighting design program at a research university.
• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate-level theater courses in lighting, including lighting design, fundamentals of theater design, and topics in theater design and technology.
• Supervise and advise student lighting design projects for departmental productions, including new and devised works, as well as MFA thesis productions and undergraduate capstone projects.
• Teach other courses in areas of theater expertise as needed.
• Mentor and advise students in academic and career planning.
• Serve on Department and University committees and participate in other service opportunities as appropriate.
• Maintain and grow an active professional and/or artistic practice in lighting.
• Perform other responsibilities as appropriate for an Assistant Adjunct Professor, including assisting with student recruitment, developing curriculum in consultation with the Chair and other department faculty, and contributing to area leadership.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• MFA

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ability to successfully teach at the collegiate level, including traditional and current design/practice.
• Success in lighting design at the professional level, including engagement with emerging technologies/practices.
• A collaborative approach to a general theater education that values development of students with a broad range of knowledge and skills in theater performance, production, and scholarship.
• Ability to work with a wide range of culturally diverse students.
• A commitment to experiential learning and dynamic pedagogical practice.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills that demonstrate collaborative engagement with students and colleagues.
• Multi-disciplinary approaches to creative projects.
• A minimum of two years teaching experience at the collegiate level.
• Dedication to institutional and community service.

Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and the names and contact information for three (3) professional references. Reference checks may be conducted for candidates who advance in the recruitment process. A cover letter, statement of teaching, and digital portfolio are also required. Please address your materials to the Chair of the Faculty Search Committee, Professor Adam Rigg.

School

http://www.tft.ucla.edu

Qualifications

An MFA is required

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Teaching
• Portfolio - Uploaded as a single pdf file. Can include URLS that link to externally hosted personal website or videos. As the University's Recruitment system only accepts PDF format, some applicants might simply include a PDF that contains an external URL to their portfolio if they maintain a website with examples of their work. Alternately a PDF with static images is also acceptable. There are no specific guidelines for the candidate portfolio.
• Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
• UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education. The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows: Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution Prompt for candidates for recruitment: Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Candidates should submit the names and contact information for three (3) professional references. Reference checks may be conducted for candidates who advance in the recruitment process.

About UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affr...

Job location

Los Angeles, CA