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Assistant Professor of Teaching—Technical Direction. The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of California, Davis invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor in Technical Direction to begin July 1, 2025. The Assistant Teaching Professor position is a full-time Academic Senate faculty position with potential for security of employment akin to tenure. The ideal candidate will have a passion for arts education, a strong sense of collaborative best practices, creative vision, communication skills, excellent technical skills and expertise, and be able to maintain high quality and standards within a safe and supportive work environment following the American National Standards Institute and the University of California requirements. We seek applicants who express an indication of awareness of inequities and challenges in education faced by historically underrepresented students and faculty, and the negative consequences of underutilization.

The Department of Theatre and Dance currently produces three mainstage shows and one showcase during the academic year. Facilities include a 450-seat proscenium main stage a 200-seat thrust stage, a flexible black box, and two studio spaces. There are four full-time professors, five classified staff, and several lecturers.

The Technical Director oversees all technical aspects of traditional theatre and dance offerings and interdisciplinary productions (such as installation and mixed reality performances) including support for faculty and guest artist initiatives. In addition to classroom instruction, the Technical Director serves as a mentor/advisor for student creative research, including honors and capstone projects. This hands-on position requires a strong background in theatre production to perform tasks such as training students and part-time staff in technical theatre areas. Production responsibilities will include managing the scenic shop and supervising students and may include design for mainstage productions. This position is exempt and requires in-person work on campus, particularly during evenings and weekends, especially during production periods. The teaching load, reflective of a primary focus on the teaching mission, is 6 courses/year (2 per quarter) with a one course reduction in the first year; however, in practice this candidate will deliver a balance of classroom teaching and production supervision responsibilities, typically 3 or 4 classroom instruction assignments along with production responsibilities, including technical direction and supervision.

Qualified candidates will hold an MFA and/or Ph.D. (ideally in theatre or technical theatre, though other degrees will be considered) and have 5 years of experience in technical direction in university or professional theatre production, demonstrated ability to maintain a safe work environment, and experience with student supervision and instruction. Ideal candidates will have classroom teaching experience in technical production, stagecraft, and other areas, and a commitment to collaboration and student success. The successful candidate will offer a clearly articulated vision of how their work will contribute to the University’s mission of serving the needs of our diverse state and student population.

As one of the country’s leading public research universities, UC Davis seeks candidates with a demonstrable record of and exceptional potential for creative research, teaching, and inclusive excellence. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the barriers preventing full participation of members from historically underrepresented groups, individuals self-identifying as LGTBQIA+, veterans, individuals with disabilities, economically disadvantaged groups, first-generation, undocumented students, or students with any intersections in between. The department is committed to cultivating an expansive vision that elevates its profile as an innovative leader in undergraduate theatre training, and centers social justice, anti-racism, and anti-ableism in all aspects of its work.

Applications should include
• a detailed cover letter that specifically addresses relevant experience
• a complete CV
• three reference letters that address the candidate’s work in technical theatre and/or pedagogy
• statement of contributions to diversity
• syllabus for a technical theatre class

Applications should be received by December 6, 2024 to ensure full consideration.
Applications should be submitted electronically through the online application form found at:https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06802
Salary Range:
The minimum salary is $94,700, and the maximum is $117,900.

About the University of California, Davis

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation.

With this commitment, UC Davis conducts a reference check on all first choice candidates for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions. The reference check involves contacting the administration of the applicant’s previous institution(s) to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University’s Faculty Code of Conduct.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search for assistant professor to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” into RECRUIT as part of their application.

If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists considered for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions will be subject to reference checks.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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 categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their "Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

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.