Job Details

Department Chairperson - Director of Theatre and Dance

Position Number: 9969237
Location: Lubbock, United States
Position Type: Fine and Applied Arts - Theatre and Dance

Department Chairperson - Director of Theatre and Dance

46695BR
Position DescriptionThe School of Theatre & Dance in the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenured Professor to begin Summer 2027. The successful candidate will be an innovative, dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader to provide intellectual and strategic leadership for teaching, research, service, and outreach and engagement endeavors in the School of Theatre & Dance. This is an opportunity to join an engaged community of artists and educators who are dedicated to the advancement of the arts through traditional practice, innovative technologies, and multidisciplinary collaborations. The appointment is a full-time, 12-month, tenured Associate or Professor position. The Director, in coordination with the Dean and Provost, will: lead academic programs in collaboration with the faculty and program directors; provide guidance and vision for the unit; manage personnel and budgets; foster faculty, staff, and student success; and strengthen connections with professional and industry partners. As an accomplished professional, the Director will also contribute as a faculty member through teaching and research and creative activity. The new director is expected to begin the appointment in the summer of 2027 and reports to the Dean of the College.Among other duties, the Director will provide, through shared governance process, leadership and direction to the unit, execution of the unit's strategic plan; manage school personnel; administer the academic programs with the assistance of program directors; develop and sustain connections with related professional and industry entities to promote teaching, research, development, and outreach; oversee the School's production season, performance facilities, and production operations; effectively represent the school to internal and external entities; effectively manage the School's budget to sustain a culture of fiscal responsibility and health; establish and uphold School policies, clarify roles and decision-making authority, and oversee the use of School facilities and personnel by internal and external partners; and promote the success of the faculty, staff, and students in the school.Leadership Priorities Include: Develop a compelling, collaborative vision for the School that advances excellence in theatre and dance education, scholarship, and creative practice.Support student success through rigorous instruction, mentorship, meaningful performance opportunities, and professional preparation.Champion faculty scholarship and creative achievement, faculty development, and effective support for professional staff.Steward financial, human, production, and physical resources with sound judgment and fiscal responsibility.Build productive relationships across the College, University, arts professions, alumni, and the broader community.All prospective employees are encouraged to visit ttu.edu/employment to learn more about becoming a part of our campus community.

Position Description
The School of Theatre & Dance in the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenured Professor to begin Summer 2027. The successful candidate will be an innovative, dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader to provide intellectual and strategic leadership for teaching, research, service, and outreach and engagement endeavors in the School of Theatre & Dance.

This is an opportunity to join an engaged community of artists and educators who are dedicated to the advancement of the arts through traditional practice, innovative technologies, and multidisciplinary collaborations. The appointment is a full-time, 12-month, tenured Associate or Professor position. The Director, in coordination with the Dean and Provost, will: lead academic programs in collaboration with the faculty and program directors; provide guidance and vision for the unit; manage personnel and budgets; foster faculty, staff, and student success; and strengthen connections with professional and industry partners. As an accomplished professional, the Director will also contribute as a faculty member through teaching and research and creative activity. The new director is expected to begin the appointment in the summer of 2027 and reports to the Dean of the College.

Among other duties, the Director will provide, through shared governance process, leadership and direction to the unit, execution of the unit's strategic plan; manage school personnel; administer the academic programs with the assistance of program directors; develop and sustain connections with related professional and industry entities to promote teaching, research, development, and outreach; oversee the School's production season, performance facilities, and production operations; effectively represent the school to internal and external entities; effectively manage the School's budget to sustain a culture of fiscal responsibility and health; establish and uphold School policies, clarify roles and decision-making authority, and oversee the use of School facilities and personnel by internal and external partners; and promote the success of the faculty, staff, and students in the school.

Leadership Priorities Include:

Develop a compelling, collaborative vision for the School that advances excellence in theatre and dance education, scholarship, and creative practice.
Support student success through rigorous instruction, mentorship, meaningful performance opportunities, and professional preparation.
Champion faculty scholarship and creative achievement, faculty development, and effective support for professional staff.
Steward financial, human, production, and physical resources with sound judgment and fiscal responsibility.
Build productive relationships across the College, University, arts professions, alumni, and the broader community.

All prospective employees are encouraged to visit ttu.edu/employment to learn more about becoming a part of our campus community.

About the University
Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas - hard work, grit and authenticity - the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

About the College
Home to more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students and approximately 150 full-time faculty members, TCVPA offers a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs spanning the visual, performing, and interdisciplinary arts. The College is distinguished as one of the few arts colleges at a public university in Texas to maintain national accreditation in art and design, music, theatre, and dance, reflecting its commitment to excellence across all disciplines. Along with this longstanding commitment to disciplinary excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration thrives as a defining characteristic of the College. We are a Values Based Organization, and a creative community with the resources of a world-class public university. Our students from all over the world shine with Texas-sized ambition, curiosity, and compassion. Faculty and students regularly engage across artistic disciplines and with partners throughout the university and broader community to address complex cultural, social, and creative challenges. Signature degree programs such as the Ph.D. in Fine Arts and the Bachelor of Arts in Arts Media and Technology exemplify the College's commitment to crossing traditional boundaries and fostering innovative approaches to artistic inquiry and expression.

The College's vibrant schedule of performances, exhibitions, productions, scholarly activities, both on and off campus, often in collaboration with community partnerships, serves audiences across West Texas while extending its reach nationally and internationally. Through research, creative activity, and public engagement, TCVPA contributes significantly to the cultural and intellectual life of Texas Tech University, the South Plains region, and the broader arts community.

Aligned with Texas Tech University's strategic vision, the College seeks to expand its impact through innovative teaching, transformative creative practice, meaningful community engagement, and research that advances understanding of the arts and their role in society. TCVPA embraces the belief that the arts are essential to fostering creativity, critical thinking,
cultural understanding, and civic engagement. With 35 community partnerships and 36 outreach programs, it is a place where diverse perspectives and artistic voices are celebrated. The College is committed to creating a dynamic environment that empowers students, faculty, and staff to thrive and contribute meaningfully to an increasingly interconnected world.

About the Department/School/Area
The School of Theatre & Dance is NAST accredited and offers the BA in Dance, BA in Theatre Arts; BFA in Theatre Arts: acting, design, musical theatre; BFA in Dance, MA in Dance Studies; MA in Theatre Arts; MFA in Theatre Arts: Arts Administration, Design, and Performance and Pedagogy; PhD. in Fine Arts with a Track in Theatre and multiple concentration options. A faculty of 22 full-time professors serve approximately 140 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students. Technical and administrative support includes a total of 8 staff positions. The School's resources include a state-of-the-art facility which opened in January 2023, the nationally renowned Marfa Intensive and WildWind Performance Lab programs, and annual participation in the Tennessee Williams Festival. For more information, visit www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/.

Major/Essential Functions
In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a dynamic student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with a breadth of student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

Faculty Qualifications

A terminal degree in a discipline represented within the School of Theatre & Dance.
A record of progressive administrative leadership or arts management experience in an academic, professional, or artistic organization.
A record of scholarly and/or creative achievements commensurate for an appointment at, or promotion to, the rank of Professor with tenure at Texas Tech University.
A demonstrated excellence in teaching and student mentorship.

Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

Experience in engaging and supporting community, alumni and donor relations.
Demonstrated success in strategic planning and organizational leadership, including experience managing personnel, budgets, operations, student success and institutional priorities across theatre and dance programs.
Experience working collaboratively across multiple disciplines and supporting innovation, interdisciplinary teaching, research, creative activity, and programming.

Experience with program assessment, academic review, accreditation, and/or continuous improvement processes.
Experience supervising and supporting development of professional staff and faculty
Be conversant in, and able to navigate, all disciplines represented in the School of Theatre & Dance

Duty Point
TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

To apply, visit workattexastech.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.