Faculty Position in Interior Design

Kansas State University; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas State University in Manhattan seeks a collaborative interior design educator for a 9-month appointment, potentially as a tenure-track Assistant Professor or Professor of Practice. The role emphasizes teaching studios, collaboration, and integrating contemporary practices.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will teach design studios, contribute to curriculum development, and participate in governance and service.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Interior Design or related field.
• Minimum 3 years professional practice; NCIDQ preferred for Tenure-Track.
• Proficiency with Revit, Enscape, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Ability to teach design studios and collaborate in a shared leadership model.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate interior design studios and courses across the curriculum.
• Contribute to curriculum development and continuous program improvement.
• Engage in committee work and service to department and college.

Skills

Collaboration

Team-based teaching

Curriculum development

Communication

Education

Master's degree or higher in Interior Design or related field

Tools

Revit

Enscape

Adobe Creative Cloud

AutoCAD

Job description

About This Role

The Interior Design program at Kansas State University invites applications for a 9-month faculty position beginning August 2027. The successful candidate may be appointed as either a tenure-track Assistant Professor or Professor of Practice, depending on qualifications and professional experience. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Our program is distinguished by the scholarly and professional expertise of its faculty and a shared commitment to preparing entry-level interior design professionals. Our curriculum emphasizes collaboration, human-centered and evidence-based design, technical competency, and design approaches that promote health, well-being, and responsible professional practice.

We seek a collaborative, future-oriented colleague who brings creative energy, professional expertise, and a commitment to interior design education. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to contribute to a team-based teaching environment and to integrate contemporary professional practice into the curriculum.

SHARED TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will teach design studios and other courses across the Interior Design curriculum. Candidates should be prepared to integrate contemporary methods and technologies into studio instruction and demonstrate proficiency with software commonly used in professional practice, including Revit, Enscape, and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach in design studios and in two or more of the following curricular areas: evidence-based design; history and theory of interior design; materials and construction; textiles; construction documents; building systems and technology; and digital visualization.

Studio courses are commonly co-taught. Candidates should therefore demonstrate collaborative professional and/or teaching experience and an ability to contribute effectively to shared course leadership, curriculum coordination, and student learning.

APPOINTMENT PATHWAYS

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

The tenure-track appointment supports the university's integrated mission of teaching, research/creative scholarship, and service.

Teaching

65–70%
Teach undergraduate interior design studios and other courses aligned with the candidate's expertise and program needs. Contribute to collaborative teaching, curriculum development, and continuous improvement of the Interior Design program.

Research and Creative Scholarship

25–30%
Develop and sustain a focused program of research and/or creative scholarship informed by the candidate's academic preparation, professional expertise, teaching interests, or emerging areas of inquiry. The successful candidate's scholarly and creative work will contribute to advancement within the discipline and form an important basis for tenure and promotion.

Service

5–10%
Contribute to departmental governance; college and university committees and initiatives; student, professional, and community engagement; and relevant disciplinary or professional organizations.

Professor of Practice

The Professor of Practice appointment emphasizes teaching excellence, professional expertise, and engagement with the Interior Design program and profession.

Teaching

80–90%
Teach undergraduate interior design studios and other courses aligned with the candidate's professional expertise and program needs. Bring substantial professional practice experience into the classroom and contribute to collaborative teaching, curriculum development, and the integration of current professional standards, technologies, and methods.

Service

10–20%
Contribute to departmental governance, program and college initiatives, student engagement, and professional communities. The successful candidate will help strengthen connections among the program, alumni, practitioners, and the broader interior design profession.

About Us

The Interior Design program at Kansas State University offers a four-year, first-professional Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. The program is part of the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design (IAID) within the College of Architecture, Planning and Design (APDesign). In 2025, Interior Design celebrated 100 years of design education at Kansas State University.

The program enrolls approximately 137 students and is supported by five full-time faculty. It is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and Kansas State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Our students have earned recognition through national and international design competitions and are valued by employers for their professional preparation, collaborative abilities, and workplace readiness. The 2025 graduating class achieved 100% employment in the field by January 1, 2026.

As part of APDesign, Interior Design faculty and students have opportunities to collaborate with programs in Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Regional & Community Planning. APDesign is housed in the Seaton and Regnier Hall complex, which provides contemporary teaching, research, and collaborative spaces and approximately 20,000 square feet of fabrication and research laboratories.

The Interior Design faculty approach design education as a collaborative endeavor. Faculty co-teach studios, coordinate learning across the curriculum, and continually evaluate courses and pedagogical approaches to respond to changes in professional practice, technology, research, and societal needs. We seek a colleague who will contribute to this culture while bringing new perspectives and expertise to the program.

Our curriculum prepares interior designers to address complex human and societal needs through evidence-based, human-centered design while meeting professional responsibilities and client expectations. We value intellectual diversity, collaboration, innovation, ethical professional practice, and the role of design in supporting human health and well-being.

Additional information may be found at www.ksu.edu (university), apdesign.k-state.edu (college),apdesign.k-state.edu/IAID (department), and www.manhattan.org (community).

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications

For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

• Master's degree or higher in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three years of professional practice experience in interior design, interior architecture, architecture, or a closely related field and qualified for NCIDQ examination.
• Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, and visual communication appropriate to the design disciplines.
• Demonstrated proficiency with contemporary digital design and visualization tools used in professional practice, including Revit and Adobe Creative Cloud, with experience in Enscape, AutoCAD, and/or comparable platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative professional and/or teaching environments.
• Demonstrated potential to establish and sustain a scholarly and/or creative agenda related to the candidate's academic preparation, professional expertise, or areas of design inquiry.

For Professor of Practice

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional practice experience in interior design, interior architecture, architecture, or a closely related field.
• Current NCIDQ certification.
• Demonstrated record of professional accomplishment and leadership appropriate to a practice-based faculty appointment.
• Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, and visual communication appropriate to the design disciplines.
• Demonstrated proficiency with contemporary digital design and visualization tools used in professional practice, including Revit and Adobe Creative Cloud, with experience in Enscape, AutoCAD, and/or comparable platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative professional and/or teaching environments.

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications

For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

• PhD or other terminal degree in Interior Design or a related field.
• More than three years of professional practice experience.
• NCIDQ certification and/or architectural licensure.
• Professional certifications or credentials relevant to the discipline, such as WELL, EDAC, LEED, or NKBA credentials.
• Experience teaching undergraduate design studios, including collaborative or co-teaching environments.
• Ability to develop and teach courses in multiple areas of the required interior design curriculum.
• Evidence of an emerging or established record of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity.
• Record of service to academic and/or professional communities.

For Professor of Practice

• 15 or more years of professional practice experience.
• Master's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Architectural licensure and/or additional professional certifications relevant to the discipline, such as WELL, EDAC, LEED, or NKBA credentials.
• Evidence of leadership in project delivery, design practice, firm leadership, or other areas relevant to interior design education.
• Previous teaching, mentoring, professional training, or studio instruction experience.
• Demonstrated ability to teach multiple levels of undergraduate design studio and contribute to co-teaching leadership.
• Ability to develop and teach courses in multiple areas of the required interior design curriculum.
• Record of leadership or service within professional organizations and/or the broader design community.

Sponsorship Eligibility

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Application Window

Applications close on: December 15, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$70,000-$78,000