Fashion Institute of Technology - Full-Time Faculty Position in Fashion Design

School of Graduate Studies, Fashion Institute of Technology

Location: New York, USA

Role: Full-Time Faculty Position in Fashion Design

Application Closing Date: Open until filled

Role Starting Date: Fall 2023

 

Job Description

The School of Graduate Studies seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in the MFA Fashion Design Department with fashion design creation expertise. The full-time faculty member will be an experienced fashion designer with teaching and professional industry experience. The ideal candidate must demonstrate the ability to teach all first- and second-year courses in the areas of Fashion Creation and Thesis Research and Collection Development in the program curriculum (https://catalog.fitnyc.edu/graduate/academic-programs/master-of-fine-arts/fashiondesign/) as well as advanced garment-making skills to guide garment construction, fittings, pattern-making and finishings. The full-time faculty member will bring an informed perspective in the areas of sustainability, diversity, equity, inclusion, cultural appropriation, technology, innovation and other areas impacting the fashion industry.

The department offers a wide variety of courses and it is essential that the candidate has the ability to teach a range of courses in the MFA program, and brings professional experience in the fashion industry to the position. The candidate will have a versatile and creative perspective that includes demonstrated design experience across several markets (including women's and men's) and the ability to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues, students, administrators, industry partners, and external stakeholders to achieve program learning outcomes and advance the program's development.

The new full-time faculty member will work with the department chair and contribute to curriculum development, recruitment, admissions and student success, fashion showcase planning and execution, and external industry outreach to support program planning and development. The candidate will be expected to serve on college-wide, School, and department committees as required, and commit to advancing the department in ways that align with the goals of the FIT Strategic Plan.

The successful candidate will have a well-regarded or well-respected reputation as a creative in the fashion industry with a record of contributions in some or all of the following areas: professional accomplishments, fashion collections, and designs, exhibitions, presentations, lectures, press, publication, and projects. The ideal candidate will have a network of professional connections and affiliations in the field, including leading fashion creatives and international contacts in fashion brands, retailers, and industry leadership organizations.

 

About the Fashion Insitute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology, a part of the State University of New York, has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology for nearly 70 years. With a curriculum that provides a singular blend of hands-on, practical experience, classroom study, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, FIT offers a wide range of outstanding programs that are relevant to today's rapidly changing industries. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers more than 45 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the global marketplace.

With close ties to industry, FIT draws faculty from the city's art, business, and design elite, and from the rich academic community of the region. The College continually seeks creative faculty members who are passionate about their field and demonstrate exceptional professional capability in the core competencies of instruction design, learning enrichment, globalism, and use of technology, as well as mastery of established and emerging industry practices.

A vital and growing part of FIT's rich educational mix, the School of Graduate Studies provides advanced professional education in seven disciplines closely tied to the college's mission, promotion in the postbaccalaureate study of business, art, fashion, and design. The School is dedicated to advancing research in the creative industries and fostering collaboration and dialogue that links faculty and students to outstanding professionals and practitioners.

The Fashion and Textile Studies Department is unique in its focus and its mix of history, theory, and practical skills. Established in the 1980s, it was one of the first programs in the nation to specialize in fashion and textile history and conservation. The department is supported by the on-campus resources of the Museum at FIT and the Special Collections and College Archives, housed within the Gladys Marcus Library. The Fashion and Textile Studies MA program provides advanced academic and practical support for career paths that involve the study and interpretation of historic costume and textiles. Courses are developed and taught by both academics and independent practitioners and deliver key skill sets in the areas of historical research, writing, public presentations, exhibition planning, collections management, object documentation and analysis, and conservation. Students graduate prepared to pursue careers in museums, archives, historic houses, and auction houses, and for further study and academic careers. The program provides access to NYC museums and critical connections to the many worldwide museums that now employ our graduates.

 

Requirements

Successful candidates will excel in the following competencies:

Globalism

  • Demonstrate creative industry awareness and experience in fashion and practices in the international market and broad global knowledge.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate a broad range of cross-cultural and inclusive values in relation to fashion, personal design practice, and the professional fashion community.
  • Demonstrate ability to work effectively with colleagues from multicultural backgrounds.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement with industry colleagues worldwide, through professional work experiences and networks.

Instructional Design

  • Demonstrate passion for design and supporting designers and the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrate ability to guide thesis collection concept development and research as well as the development and construction of the thesis collection garments, including fitting sessions.
  • Design and deliver fashion course content balancing the importance of creative practice with practical application.
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate studio practice fitting sessions and demonstrations with related curricula through various research tools and resources.
  • Demonstrate commitment to the field of fashion, design and related career paths, inclusive of connections to industry partners and companies and leadership organizations.
  • Adapt course content to align with changing global industry issues, while respecting local issues and challenges.
  • Demonstrate fluency in current fashion industry technology and with specialized equipment required in the program studio environment.
  • Demonstrate a capacity for mentoring and guiding advanced students through an intense and rigorous curriculum.

Learning Enrichment

  • Demonstrate utilization of a variety of instructional delivery methods, including instructional garment fitting, draping and construction sessions, that foster critical thinking and creative problem solving within the field of fashion design.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to facilitating fashion and creative industry networks, professional experience, and other real-world opportunities for students.
  • Demonstrate a passion for learning and an ability to inspire interest, curiosity, and creativity in advanced students.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary and experiential learning approaches.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to advancing the department and its curriculum by participating in the department's regular assessment process and other program initiatives to update program courses and curricula structure.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to fostering and cultivating constructive and respectful student interaction, collaboration, and creativity in the classroom.
  • Demonstrate the ability to guide students in developing a fashion design practice in the context of critical thinking, research, problem solving, visual and verbal communication and presentation skills.

Professionalism

  • Maintain active engagement and currency in creative and/or academic activities relevant to the fashion and design community.
  • Applies creative, design and industry practices and topics in studio and classroom contexts.
  • Demonstrate willingness to share professional contacts and opportunities to achieve department and college goals.
  • Demonstrate willingness to serve as a college representative on matters related to fashion and design, as well as issues related to the department and its mission.
  • Engage in creative and/or scholarly activities within the fashion, design, and artistic disciplines.

Technology

  • Demonstrate proficiency in technological skills relevant to fashion design and a commitment to innovation and state-of-the-art approaches.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to building expertise and leading students in the development and currency of fashion design technological skills.
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate through technology and to adapt delivery of course content and management utilizing campus-wide technology.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Candidates must have a fashion-related graduate degree, six plus (6+) years industry experience, college-level teaching experience, and experience working in academic and/or professional settings.

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Preference will be given to candidates with a terminal degree, ideally a fashion design MFA degree, with a record of demonstrated creative work in the fashion industry, and teaching experience at the graduate level.

 

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

This position will be required to continuously read and comprehend, occasionally perform calculations, constantly verbally communicate, frequently analyze, and constantly write. The working conditions for this position will be any combination of the classroom, lab, and/or office space. Certain roles may be required to handle machinery and chemicals. The physical requirement for this position will require occasional sitting, constant standing, occasional bending, frequent walking, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.

 

Additional Information:

This full-time, tenure-track faculty position will begin Fall 2023. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. The salary and appointment rank will be based on education level and cumulative experience. Please note a background check is required for appointment to this position.

Link to FIT Benefits for Full-Time Faculty

Collective Bargaining Salary Schedules (page 72); Successor Agreement (page 6)

Hiring Salary: $69,475 per year; per CBA, the salary and appointment rank will be based on education level and cumulative experience.

 

Application Instructions:

For consideration, please provide:

  • Letter of interest clearly indicating your qualifications for the position
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Fashion design portfolio demonstrating range and depth of work
  • A minimum of three professional references, including names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contact information.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually. Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: www.fitnyc.edu.

Returning Applicants - Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application material.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu.

The College reserves the right to select one or more candidates after having been duly reviewed and presented to the President in conformance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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