Job Description

EMPLOYMENT TERMS : 9-month, tenure-track

PRIMARY DUTY : The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach undergraduate courses in scenic design, lighting design, stagecraft, drafting, Theatre Appreciation, and other theatre courses based on need, experience and qualifications; to design corresponding elements (or supervise student designers and shop workers) for all theatre productions; and to work in support of departmental production activities.
The Theatre Program at Northwest provides a rigorous, student-centered education that encourages risk-taking, exploration, and collaboration. We are a vibrant faculty with a vision for revitalizing our program to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We seek a dynamic colleague in design and technical theatre to help shape the curriculum and grow the program over the next several years. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching design and technical theatre skills within a robust and collaborative theatre program at a regional comprehensive state university. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the ability to work with diverse populations, work collegially, and develop and maintain effective professional relationships within a multi- disciplinary department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Teach courses and coordinate related activities (i.e. supervise and mentor students’ creative activities, coordinate the department’s Lab Series season, supervise student designers and shop workers) that incorporate rigorous critical thinking, challenging problem solving, and sound and creative artistic principles to prepare students for success as professional theater designers. Engage in creative professional activity and in service activities that support the success of the program and department.

• Teach lower- and upper-division theatrical design courses [i.e. Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Stagecraft, Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)], as well as teach Theatre Appreciation.
• Maintain, develop, and foster strong relationships with regional professional theatres, the arts community, and university alumni.
• Teach other courses in theatre (when so qualified and as needed) and perform other program-related duties as assigned by the chair.
• Perform service including participation in recruitment efforts.
• Engage in ongoing professional development in the field.
• Engage in student support by advising and mentoring students.
• Engage in department and university service.

REQUIREMENTS:
Education: MFA or equivalent terminal degree
Experience: Extensive experience with depth of understanding of, and ability to teach Vectorworks or Auto-CAD to beginning and advanced students
Skills: Demonstrated ability in scenic and lighting design for a variety of performance venues and modalities.

WORKING CONDITIONS : Highly collaborative academic environment in a Fine and Performing Arts Department at a regional, comprehensive university. Faculty use Canvas, an online learning management system, and are provided a laptop computer.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES : Supervision of student designers and shop workers. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the potential to supervise student employees.

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Laptop computer, PC-based hardware and software, online course and information management systems as needed, university instruments.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds.

COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at

UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 10,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwestplaces a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jump start on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area and Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.

The University also is a national model for student success and career placement with 96 percent of graduates securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.Designated the Missouri Arboretum, the Northwest campus was named one of the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.”

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Consideration of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

DATE AVAILABLE: August 2025

TO APPLY: Please fill out a Northwest application online to reach our employment opportunities listing. You will also need to submit application materials below in order for your application materials to be complete. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1127 or email [email protected] for more information.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, a pdf or weblink to your professional portfolio, and the names of at least three professional references with current email addresses.

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:

Dr. Rachel Day, Search Committee/Department Chair

The Office of Human Resource prides itself in offering a full, competitive benefits package with providers, who we feel, will offer the best service possible to the employees. Full-time employees are offered Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-term Disability insurance options as well as retirement plans upon employment at the University. For more information on each of these topics, please contact the office of Human Resources at (660) 562-1127 or via email at [email protected].

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