Director, school of interiors

University of Kentucky College of Design; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky College of Design in Lexington, USA seeks a Director for its School of Interiors to guide curricular transformation, research impact, and national visibility. The appointment is a 12-month, associate or full professor with tenure, starting July 1, 2027, with 45% administration and 55% teaching/research.

The Director will articulate a shared vision, advocate for the program, and work with college leadership to manage resources, enrollment, and collaborative partnerships

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Interior Design or a closely related field.
• Proven excellence in teaching, research or creative practice.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience.
• Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to collaboration, shared governance and student success.

Responsibilities

• External engagement and visibility: serve as the public face of the School and position it within national and international design conversations.
• Student experience and outcomes: champion a rigorous, engaging and supportive student experience; encourage risk-taking and critical engagement.
• Faculty leadership and development: align faculty trajectories; oversee review, promotion and mentoring; elevate research and external recognition.
• Academic and intellectual leadership: lead curricular vision, guide curriculum development, assessment and accreditation; integrate research across studios and graduate work.
• Operations and program management: oversee budgets, staffing, course scheduling and resource alignment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Academic administration

Communication

Collaboration

Fundraising & partnerships

Education

Terminal degree in Interior Design or closely related field

Job description

The University of Kentucky is seeking a director for its school of interiors to join its faculty in Lexington, USA.

The director of the school of interiors in the department of psychology at the University of Kentucky will lead the next phase of the school’s development, working closely with faculty to articulate and advance a clear and compelling vision for the future of interior design education – one that builds on the school’s strengths in material exploration, interdisciplinary design, and human-centered inquiry while expanding its research impact, global reach and national visibility. We are seeking an outward-facing, service-oriented leader who listens, advocates and positions the school within evolving conversations across design, higher education and the profession.

The director will enter at a moment when the school is well-positioned for new opportunities. We are in a new building, have made significant faculty hires in recent years, will have completed reaccreditation in spring 2027 and have a curriculum transformation underway. The school is in an energetic and malleable phase with significant opportunity to shape its trajectory.

Job description

The director of the school of interiors is a full-time faculty position with administrative responsibilities. Administration is anticipated to be 45 per cent of the director’s distribution of effort, with the remaining 55 per cent allocated to teaching and research. Reporting to the dean of the college of design, the director is responsible for the overall academic, administrative and fiscal leadership of the School. They will provide leadership in defining the program’s strategic priorities and vision and in enhancing its visibility, brand and reputation.

In this role, the Director will be responsible for continuing to advance and strengthen curricular offerings; fostering excellence in teaching, research and engagement; strategically managing the program’s enrollment; overseeing the hiring of new full-time and part-time faculty; supporting the career advancement of faculty members; advancing innovation and multidisciplinary activities; and working collaboratively with College leadership and departmental faculty to effectively manage program resources. The Director should promote a work and learning environment that fosters entrepreneurship, growth, collaboration and shared governance.

The position will commence on July 1, 2027. This is a 12-month appointment at the rank of associate or full professor with tenure. The term of the administrative appointment is four years and is renewable for an additional four years. Salary is competitive and based on qualifications and experience.

Leadership profile

The ideal candidate will be an outward-facing, strategic leader who works closely with faculty to articulate and advance a shared vision for the school. They will be a strong listener, a clear communicator and an advocate for the program.

They will be able to build consensus, set direction and make decisions that move the school forward. This includes strengthening its intellectual contributions, expanding its reach and positioning it within evolving conversations in design, culture and the built environment.

An effective director will support people while also challenging the program to grow. They will recognize the school’s current momentum and guide it through this next phase with clarity, focus and purpose.

Key responsibilities and leadership priorities

External engagement and visibility:

• serve as the public face of the School and position it within national and international design conversations
• expand partnerships with industry, alumni, peer institutions and community organizations
• grow the School’s global footprint through study abroad and international research initiatives
• build upon and activate an Advisory Board and contribute to philanthropic efforts
• elevate the visibility of faculty research and creative work through strategic communication and outreach

Student experience and outcomes:

• champion a rigorous, engaging and supportive student experience
• encourage intellectual risk-taking and critical engagement in student work
• strengthen connections to professional practice, graduate education and interdisciplinary opportunities
• support pathways that connect undergraduate and graduate research and learning

Faculty leadership and development:

• build alignment across School faculty while supporting individual trajectories
• oversee review, promotion and mentoring processes
• support and elevate faculty research, creative activity and external recognition
• build upon a culture of shared governance, collaboration and mutual accountability

Academic and intellectual leadership:

• lead the intellectual and pedagogical direction of the school
• support a cohesive curricular vision aligned with the school’s mission and future trajectory
• advance a culture of critical inquiry, experimentation and design rigor
• guide curriculum development, assessment and accreditation
• strengthen the integration of research across studios, seminars and graduate work

Operations and program management:

• oversee budgets, staffing and day-to-day operations
• develop course schedules and faculty teaching assignments
• align resources with strategic priorities
• collaborate with College leadership on hiring, planning and resource allocation

Required qualifications:

• terminal degree in Interior Design or a closely related field
• record of excellence in teaching, research or creative practice sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor
• demonstrated academic leadership experience
• strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• commitment to collaboration, shared governance and student success

Preferred qualifications:

• national or international recognition in design research or practice
• experience leading program development or curricular transformation
• record of externally funded research or sustained professional engagement
• experience building strategic partnerships across academic, industry or community contexts
• ability to elevate program visibility and reputation