Assistant Professor, Sound Design

Columbia College Chicago actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion as vitally important to its present and future success. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff and faculty.

The Audio Arts and Acoustics Department of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in Sound Design beginning August 2023.

With its unique position as an audio-focused department in a vibrant urban media and performing arts institution, the department seeks an innovative and accomplished sound designer and educator to lead and coordinate its expanding sound design curriculum and programs, anchored in Audio Arts and Acoustics but spanning multiple media and performing arts disciplines, including Cinema and Television Arts, Interactive Arts and Media, Theatre and Music.

Candidates for this position should have a demonstrated record of creative, professional, or research accomplishments in sound design, with specific emphasis in at least two of the following areas:  linear visual media (film and/or television), non-linear media (games and/or interactive media), performance (theatre, music, dance), content creation (sample/sound effect libraries and/or software/hardware tools), and music composition. Regardless of specialization, the ideal candidate will demonstrate familiarity with current practices, technologies, and production workflows in all of these areas. We are most interested in candidates who can develop and maintain collaborative synergies in sound design across multiple disciplines and departments at the College.  

In addition to expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate and graduate education.

The Audio Arts and Acoustics Department is one of four departments in the School of Media Arts, which includes Cinema and Television Arts, Communication, and Interactive Arts and Media. As a metropolitan campus with deep connections to Chicago’s diverse media and information landscape, faculty and students in the School of Media Arts are part of a connected city-wide learning laboratory that prepares them to be empowered voices, deeply skilled artists and cultural producers, and leaders in the future of our collective media industries.
 
Duties & Responsibilities

• Teach at the undergraduate and, as appropriate, at the graduate level in areas assigned by the Department Chair.
• Deliver lesson plans in accordance with the learning objectives set for the course, including practical skills, methods, theories and techniques.
• Coordinate an interdisciplinary curriculum and program in Sound Design.
• Engage with broader scholarly and professional communities.
• Supervise, advise and mentor students.
• Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of a high-quality, inclusive curriculum.
• Commit to continuing professional development.
• Provide service to the college, profession and community.
• Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s, Doctorate, or other terminal degree in sound design, audio production, music technology or composition, or a related field.
• A portfolio of creative, professional, or research accomplishments in sound design, with focus in at least two of the following areas:  linear visual media (film and/or television), non-linear media (games and/or interactive media), performance (theatre, music, dance), content creation (sample/sound effect libraries and/or software/hardware tools) and music composition.

Desired Qualifications

• College teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Professional experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with immersive/spatial audio.
• Experience with audio programming (Python, C++, JUCE, Pure Data, Max. Supercollider, etc.).
• Experience with and evidence of commitment to the development of inclusive curriculum.

Application
To apply for this position, submit the following materials online:

• A letter outlining the applicant’s background, qualifications and vision for the position.
• A curriculum vitae.
• An Evidence of Inclusive Excellence Statement describing actions you have taken to support and advance diversity, equity, access and inclusion in service, teaching, or research/creative activity.  Please be succinct with your response.
• Contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the applicant.

We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work aligns with our commitment to dismantling systems of privilege and oppression. All faculty members are expected to advance the College's DEI mission. For more information on the office of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion please visit: colum.edu/diversity.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by November 28, 2022.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

About the College
Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit college for creatives serving nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Located in downtown Chicago’s South Loop, the College is centered in one of the world's most lively urban cultural areas. Its many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty and passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a sincere commitment to bringing diverse voices and experiences into proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position subject to a background screening.
• This is a non-union position.
• This position is overtime exempt.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.