Lighting & Visual Design Professor and Production Director

Florida State University; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida State University’s School of Dance seeks an Open Rank Professor in Lighting and Visual Design who will also serve as Director of Production. This 9-month salaried, hybrid faculty-administrative role combines teaching, creative practice, student mentorship, production design, and oversight of all School productions.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, mentor students, supervise production crews, and lead planning for the annual production season,

Qualifications

• Terminal degree (M.F.A. or equivalent) in Lighting Design, Theatrical Design, Dance Production, Theatre, Dance, or closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in lighting design, with significant experience designing for dance performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in lighting design processes, technologies, and production practices.
• Evidence of achievement in creative and/or scholarly work.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching, mentoring, and collaborative artistic practice.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in lighting design, visual design, projection design, stage technology, and related areas of expertise.
• Develop and teach elective courses aligned with the candidate’s specialized knowledge and creative practice.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in coursework, production assignments, portfolio development, and professional preparation.
• Serve on graduate thesis and dissertation committees and support student research and creative activity.
• Supervise and guide student lighting and visual designers through all phases of production.
• Serve as the resident lighting designer for School of Dance productions.
• Design lighting and visual elements for departmental performances, concerts, and special events.
• Collaborate with faculty choreographers, guest artists, and production personnel to create cohesive artistic experiences.
• Integrate lighting, projection, digital media, and emerging technologies into performance environments as appropriate.
• Maintain an active record of creative and/or scholarly achievement consistent with tenure-track expectations.
• Provide leadership for the planning and execution of the School's annual production season.
• Coordinate the production calendar, including rehearsals, technical rehearsals, performances, and special events.
• Work closely with the Production Manager, Production Assistant, faculty, staff, and guest artists to ensure effective production operations.
• Supervise technical production personnel, student employees, and production crews.
• Manage production-related budgets, equipment inventories, and resource allocation.
• Oversee the maintenance and safe operation of lighting, projection, and production equipment.
• Ensure compliance with university and industry safety standards and best practices.
• Participate in School, College, and University governance through committee service and other assigned responsibilities.
• Contribute to recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives.
• Engage in professional service at the regional, national, and/or international levels.
• Support the School's mission through collaborative leadership and active participation in institutional initiatives.

Skills

Teaching

Mentoring

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Terminal degree in Lighting/Theatrical Design

Tools

Qlab

Vectorworks

LightWright

Eos systems

Dante software

Paradigm

Job description

Florida State University’s School of Dance seeks an Open Rank Professor in Lighting and Visual Design who will also serve as Director of Production. This 9-month salaried, hybrid faculty-administrative role combines teaching, creative practice, student mentorship, production design, and oversight of all School productions.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, mentor students, supervise production crews, and lead planning for the annual production season,