Chair, Industrial Design
San Francisco Campus
Full-Time, (37.5 Hours/Week), Exempt
Job #1968
October 2011
About California College of the Arts
Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is an independent art college with undergraduate programs in architecture, design, fine arts, visual studies, and writing. The college also has graduate programs in architecture, curatorial practice, design, design strategy, fine arts, visual and critical studies and writing. Through these programs, the college has created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment. Diverse cultural perspectives enrich the CCA community and the college believes that continuing to expand the horizons of the students and faculty is essential to achieving its educational objectives. With campuses in Oakland and San Francisco, CCA currently enrolls 1,930 full-time students.
Summary
California College of the Arts (CCA) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Industrial Design Program.
The CCA Industrial Design program
The Industrial Design program at CCA offers a fully accredited four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design. Industrial Design is among the fastest growing programs at CCA and reflects the dynamic nature of the field. Specific areas of interest include sustainability, urban mobility, design research, community engagement, and cultural analysis. For more information about the program mission, visit http://www.cca.edu/academics/industrial-design
Industrial Design in the San Francisco Bay Area
CCA is situated in the San Francisco Bay Area at the intersection of art and commerce, of high style and DIY, of global awareness and local engagement. The Bay Area is a growth center for a range of sectors, including high-technology, social media, green industry, sports and recreation, biotech, health and medicine, innovative non-profits and humanitarian design, venture capital and entrepreneurship—all areas that provide unmatched opportunities for curriculum development and student, faculty and professional relationships.
Report to: Director of the Design Division
Department: Industrial Design
Responsibilities
About the Chair position
The profession of industrial design is expanding to more areas of influence than ever before. Designers have the opportunity to impact social, environmental and political outcomes. Consequently, the way we educate designers matters now more than ever. Merging visionary leadership, curriculum development, and professional and community connections, the Industrial Design Chair plays an essential role in shaping the next generation of industrial designers, who will tackle some of the most pressing concerns of our time.
The Chair of Industrial Design is a key player in the CCA and surrounding communities with access to the Bay Area’s most notable practitioners. The successful candidate will approach the development of a practical and critical design curriculum as a creative and intellectual opportunity and demonstrate a capacity to incorporate diverse cultural and practical perspectives in shaping curriculum, directing pedagogy, and building community.
The chair position is a full-time position throughout the 9.5-month academic year. A program manager provides administrative and organizational support, and faculty coordinators assist with specific aspects of the program, including internships, student reviews, technology support, sustainability and semantics. The director and assistant director of Design provide guidance and oversight for curriculum development, faculty selection, scheduling and accreditation reviews.
Specific Responsibilities of the Chair of Industrial Design
• Lead the program in attracting and retaining the most promising Industrial Design students.
• Design a curriculum that combines skills acquisition, design research, conceptual thinking, and professional preparation.
• Encourage collaboration between Industrial Design and other CCA programs.
• Establish external relationships with the professional design community, including sponsored studio partnerships.
• Promote the visibility of the Industrial Design program locally, nationally and globally.
• Hire and mentor faculty to reflect a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
• Organize subject-specific student workshops throughout the academic year.
• Teach at least one class per semester.
• Direct the academic and administrative operations of the program.
• Oversee ongoing program assessment and prepare for accreditation reviews.
Minimum Qualifications
Professional experience in the field of industrial design and its related practices: research, prototyping, manufacturing, materials, sustainability, human factors, interaction, design history and criticism, etc. Experience in design education, including teaching and a demonstrated capacity for curricular and extracurricular program development. Proven management experience in an academic or professional setting.
The ideal candidate will articulate a vision for the future of the program and the field that merges creativity, curiosity and craft. He/she will demonstrate the ability to lead faculty, students and staff, and address diverse design practices that combine professional development,
cultural awareness, and community engagement.
Salary
Salary is commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.
Application Instructions
Applicants are invited to submit their CV and a letter of interest that addresses their vision for the future of Industrial Design, in both education and the profession, as well as their philosophy of leadership and pedagogy. Applicants should also submit the names and contact information of three professional and academic references. Submit materials to:
California College of the Arts
Human Resources (Job #1968)
5212 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94618-1487
fax 510.594.3681
employment@cca.edu
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin January 17, 2012. Recommended document file formats are Word or PDF. If there are multiple attachments, we recommend compressing/zipping your files into a zip format file. NOTE: If you wish to be notified of the status of your application for this position, please provide a current email address on your resume or cover letter.
CCA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.