Assistant Professor, Visual and Performing Arts

Critical Playground LLC; Fairfield, Northern (CT, KY); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfield University in Connecticut seeks a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor in Film, Television, and Media Arts Production. We seek a practicing filmmaker with credits in directing, writing, or producing narrative work and a record of public exhibition.

The successful candidate will teach hands-on courses in filmmaking, screenwriting and editing, plus advanced producing and writing courses, maintain an active research/creative agenda, and contribute to service.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree (MFA preferred; PhD acceptable with relevant professional experience).
• Excellence in undergraduate teaching with emphasis on screenwriting instruction.
• Potential for academic career success.

Responsibilities

• Teach hands-on undergraduate filmmaking, short film screenwriting and editing.
• Teach advanced courses in producing and feature film/television screenwriting and directing.
• Maintain an active research/creative agenda and perform university service.

Skills

Directing

Screenwriting

Producing

Teaching

Education

MFA preferred

PhD acceptable with relevant experience

Tools

Film equipment

Post‑production suites

Arri lighting

Job description

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Job Description:

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Fairfield University seeks a full-time tenure-track faculty position in Film, Television, and Media Arts Production at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are looking for a practicing filmmaker, with a background in directing, writing and/ or producing work in narrative fiction, evidenced by a track record of public exhibition (such as film festivals).

The successful applicant will teach hands‑on, introductory courses in filmmaking, short film screenwriting and editing, as well as advanced courses in subjects that may include producing, feature film/ television screenwriting, directing. The ability to engage with Fairfield’s mission of fostering social justice and responsibility is preferred. The teaching load is three undergraduate courses each semester, with an active research/creative agenda and university service required for promotion and tenure. The appointment, pending final budget approval, will have a starting date of September 1, 2027.

Requirements:

Applicants are expected to have completed a terminal degree (MFA, preferred; PhD acceptable with relevant professional experience). Applicants must have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching, with experience in screenwriting instruction emphasized, and evidence of potential for academic career success.

Additional Information:

The Film, Television, and Media Arts (FTMA) program offers a major and a minor and is one of six programs in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. FTMA students build skills in both critical analysis and hands‑on production while acquiring a solid foundation in creating and reflecting on multimedia storytelling forms. Benefiting from the personal attention of a faculty comprised of scholars, artists, and industry professionals, students learn practices and skills at the cutting edge of the field and are mentored to understand the expressive power of media while discovering their own creative voice.

All FTMA courses are based in Fairfield’s newly renovated Media Center, featuring two studios, multiple post‑production suites, screening facilities, editing labs and a staffed equipment cage, with industry‑standard cinema gear ranging from RED cameras to Arri LED lighting. Just a short train ride away from midtown Manhattan, FTMA has strong links to the media industry in New York City, with many faculty and alumni based there. After graduation, most FTMA students acquire solid, entry‑level jobs in a variety of media fields or continue to develop their interest through graduate studies.

Category:

Academic – Faculty Tenure/Tenure Track

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.