F230301 – Assistant Teaching Professor, Entertainment Technology – Theatre and Dance at University (2024)

Full-time

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Position Summary:

The Department of Theatre & Dance at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York (UB), invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor (official state title: Clinical Assistant Professor) in Entertainment Technology. This is a full-time (10 month) non-tenure-track faculty position with an emphasis on teaching, recruitment, and artistic service. The initial appointment will be for a three-year term with opportunity for renewal.

This position will have a 3-3 teaching load and service to the Design and Technology program and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Depending on rotation, semester, and faculty expertise, teaching responsibilities may include:

• TH106 – Intro to Technical Theatre (To be updated to Entertainment Technology)
• TH199 – UB Seminar – Live Event Production
• TH332 – Lighting Design 1
• TH440 – Studies in Design (sound, lighting, and video technology)
• The opportunity to create a Sound Design Course
• The opportunity to create a large seated or online course for non-majors interested in live event design and technology

The position will also regularly leading TH349 – Technical Studio (sound, lighting, and video technology), which involves:

• Coordinating and directing the work of students assigned to design and technology roles within the THD production season;
• Assuring compliance with safety standards; and
• Teaching and mentoring across subject areas including sound consoles/live sound mix, theatre dimming and other electrical and digital stage systems, computer networking and show control systems for live and recorded events.

Artistic Service may include:

• Providing instructional, operational, and technical support for audio, video, lighting, and other technical systems for THD lab spaces in the CFA (Drama Theatre, Black Box Theatre, Rehearsal Workshop, Dance Studios), Alumni Arena (AA188 and AA190), and Katharine Cornell Theatre. Work includes but is not limited to setup; strike; sound, lighting, video, and power operation; maintenance and repair of equipment used; and onsite support of technical coursework, faculty research, performances, and academic ad-hoc events.
• Acting as the lighting and sound supervisor for the KCT, which includes supervising technical rehearsals and performances at the KCT, including those for groups renting the facilities. This includes maintaining familiarity with and working knowledge of KCT equipment, maintaining and gaining understanding of how new media may enhance KCT and departmental productions, and bringing technical/equipment issues promptly to the attention of appropriate faculty. This role also attends technical rehearsals at the KCT.
• Installing and skillfully operating sound, lighting, power, and video production equipment at varied locations. In consultation with production management and technical direction, determining safe and effective equipment deployment required for specific projects.
• Facilitating and managing the integration of new media for departmental productions and/or for general use in studios, labs, and theatres.

Other service may include:

• Building strategic relationships with professional theatres and organizations.
• Contributing to development and implementation of the technical theatre certificate program.
• Maintaining regular office hours, contributing to department and system-
• wide committees, and attending department meetings.
• Participating in recruitment and retention initiatives as well as interdisciplinary projects within and outside the University.

Outstanding Benefits Package

Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.

About the Department
UB’s Department of Theatre and Dance has a dynamic and interdisciplinary faculty, delivering in-depth curriculums that prepare students for a broad range of professional careers. Our programs include BA and BFA in Dance, Theatre Performance, Theatre Studies, Music Theatre, and Design Technology, as well as a graduate program that offers a MA and PhD in Theatre Performance and an MFA in Dance. In addition to producing a full season of performance events with UB’s Center for the Arts and Katharine Cornell Theatre, we host numerous guest artists, guest directors, and scholars. The department is a hub for interdisciplinary arts activity within the university, intersecting with Music, Visual Studies, Media Study, Architecture, Poetry, the Humanities Institute, and the Arts Collaboratory.

About The University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo (UB) #ubuffalo is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for our excellence and our impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.

About Buffalo
Buffalo, NY is a vibrant arts and cultural center that includes over twenty theatres, several professional and community dance companies, and numerous art galleries. It is home to well-known cultural organizations including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Ujima Theatre Company, ArtPark, Squeaky Wheel Media Arts Center, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, African American Cultural Center, Just Buffalo Literary Center, Burchfield Penney Art Center and more. Buffalo is centrally located, with easy access to major metropolitan hubs in the Northeast including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. Located on Lake Erie, just south of Niagara Falls, Buffalo’s surrounding natural areas, state parks, beaches, rivers, and ski areas provide abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure.

University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree (e.g., MFA, PhD).
• Higher education teaching experience. Experience in instructing and leading student production crews.
• Portfolio demonstrating a wide range of professional skills in entertainment technology including but not limited to sound, light, and video.
• Proficiency in Mac and PC environments including proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, and online organizational tools.
• Understanding of digital audio systems which utilize a combination of software, hardware, and network protocols.
• Ability to utilize digital audio consoles to provide sound reinforcement in performance.
• Proficiency in sound editing (Pro Tools) and engineering (Yamaha Consoles), theatre electricity, and audio and visual playback (QLab).
• Familiarity with modern lighting consoles.
• Understanding of basic video projection set up including best practices for individual situations, lens selection, cable management, source management, and monitoring options.
• Strong communication, organizational, supervisory, interpersonal skills, and ability to work with a wide range of people. Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate situational leadership on events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing a student-centered curriculum and learning outcomes from a contemporary social, cultural, and pedagogic lens.
• Experience in working with diverse populations.
• Experience with student retention, recruitment, and interviews.
• Online teaching experience, experience teaching a large, seated course and or general education curriculum.
• Understanding of programming logic and skills used in advanced digital lighting systems.
• Advanced level of proficiency on equipment and systems used in modern entertainment industry such as video production equipment, Adobe Creative Suite, as VR technology.
• Experience in supporting creative research or working as a creative research collaborator.

Physical Demands:

• Position requires flexibility with the work schedule. Evening and weekend hours are required.
• Ability to move up to 50lbs with the use of a cart or dolly.
• Must be able to work at heights, which can include weight loading and working from an elevated work platform.
• Must be able to remain is stationary position, move, and position self to maintain efficient function

Special Instructions Summary:

To apply please submit a letter of interest addressing how your qualifications are well matched to the position description, a current CV or resume, and 5-10 work samples (can be pdf portfolio or link to a web portfolio).

All application materials should be submitted via UB Jobs. Application materials submitted directly to the posting contact will not be acknowledged and cannot be considered.

FTE: 1.0

University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and in keeping with our commitment, encourages women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans to apply.