"Full-Time Faculty Position in Home Products Development, School of Business and Technology"

Job Details

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), an internationally renowned college of art and design, business and technology, of the State University of New York, invites nominations and applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in the Home Products Development department of the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and 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.

The Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology educates students for management and leadership roles within the fashion and related creative industries. Our curriculum integrates a deep appreciation of how markets, business environments, advanced business technology and competition can be managed in a global context. The Baker School provides a professional faculty and business climate that enables students to be immediately valuable contributors to their industries.

The Baker School of Business and Technology collaborates with both the School of Art and Design, and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose courses help students to better understand themselves, others, and their place in an increasingly complex world. The Baker School co-operates to design curricular and educational experiences that help hone general skills and behaviors that employers increasingly demand: critical thinking and problem solving skills, a strong sense of professional and ethical responsibility, social skills, the ability to work productively in teams, and good oral and written communications skills.

The vision of the School is to be the most academically recognized school of excellence where students come to learn about the business of the core industries that we serve-the creative, fashion and design industries-and where industry, government and associations see creative alliances for the development of ideas, solution innovation, future thinking, and problem solving.

Seven of the ten Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is dedicated to promoting continuous improvement in the practice of business in every industry worldwide.

The Home Products Development program offers a specialized curriculum that prepares students for dynamic careers in the home textiles, housewares, and furnishings sectors. With an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and market relevance across both hard and soft home categories, the program integrates industry-specific knowledge in product development, materials, manufacturing, product management, and consumer lifestyles. Students learn to translate market insights into commercially viable product concepts, working collaboratively to develop fluency in visual, written, and oral communication. Experiential learning is central to the program, with robust industry engagement that ensures graduates enter the field with industry-specific knowledge, professional skills, and critical thinking required for success.

The Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology seeks a dedicated full-time faculty member with a strong background in the home furnishings industries, and a commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success.

The candidate will be well versed in emerging trends and industry advancements, with a passion to empower students to succeed academically and professionally. Candidates will have experience in market analysis, product development cycles, and product management as it relates to the housewares, tabletop, decorative, textile and furniture sectors to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field's principles, strategies, brands, and companies. Primary responsibility is teaching with an emphasis on applied instruction with a forward focus on integrating industry-relevant technologies, sustainability practices, and innovation.

The successful candidate will be actively engaged with industry, serving as an advocate for the program internally and externally. Additional qualifications include a strong industry network, ability to cultivate partnerships across industry and academia, and leadership capabilities to assume the appointed role of Associate Chairperson.

As Associate Chairperson, the candidate will serve as the program's head, working in partnership with the dean's office to oversee the day-to-day operations and strategic vision of the program. Duties include managing the departmental operations, including course scheduling, budget planning, assessment, and faculty support. Represent the program to internal and external stakeholders, including prospective students, advisory boards and industry partners.

The new faculty member will play a key role in supporting the school and department's strategic initiatives, developing and enhancing the curriculum, and maintaining operations within the department. Additional responsibilities include advising and mentoring students, promoting the academic program, engaging with alumni, industry, and building and sustaining partnerships. The new faculty member will serve on department, school, and college-wide committees, support accreditation, and participate in administrative duties as required.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

• Globalism: Understanding of the global nature of the home furnishings industry. Show awareness of professional, ethical, and social responsibility. Respect for all racial, ethnic, religious, social, and gender groups, integrating this respect into teaching. Embrace sustainability as a key aspect of the teaching experience.
• Instructional Design: Combine business practices with classroom learning for a rigorous academic experience. Develop multiple assessment methods to accommodate various learning styles. Maintain industry connections to introduce new methodologies into the curriculum. Use the college's learning management system for assessment monitoring, and reporting. Create collaborative, real-world problem-solving experiences. Incorporate instructional methods to service all students.
• Learning Enrichment: Inspire student's interest, curiosity, creativity, and love of learning. Use various instructional methods to foster critical thinking, design thinking, creative problem-solving and team-building skills. Integrate interdisciplinary learning into the curriculum. Stay current with industry trends and technology, incorporating them into the curriculum. Embrace new pedagogy forms, including online teaching, blended classes, workshops, flipped classrooms, and experiential learning. Support all student learning styles and abilities.
• Professionalism: Engage in industry-related activities to enhance the discipline. Participate in relevant fashion business conferences. Maintain a network of alumni and industry experts for internships, mentors, curriculum development, guest speaking, and graduate placement. Stay current and engaged in the primary teaching discipline. Model professional behavior to prepare students for related industry fields.
• Technology: Utilize course management systems and multimedia technology in the classroom. Demonstrate effective use of industry-specific technology. Use appropriate technology to communicate with and engage students outside the classroom.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in the home furnishings or home products industry. Leadership or managerial experience in the home industry. The candidate will be required to obtain a master's degree within 3 years of their appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or master's degree in a field related, or enrolled in a master's degree program, in progress, to completion.
• College-level teaching experience or equivalent instructional experience.

Additional Information: Please note, all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary: The final starting salary and appointment rank will be based on education level and cumulative experience. Salary Schedules: Instructor: $69,346.37 - $80,793.82; Assistant Professor: $80,736.40 - $118,984.88; Associate Professor: $94,498.31 - $142,271.78; Professor: $115,232.32 - $173,403.37.

Benefits: The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures, including Retirement Plans, Health Care Plan and Dental Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Account, Commuter Benefit Plan, FIT Tuition Exemption Program, and Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Application Instructions: In order to be considered for this position, please submit the following documents online: Letter of interest clearly indicating your qualifications for the position, Curriculum Vitae, Teaching Philosophy Statement, Research Philosophy Statement, Unofficial Transcript, A minimum of three professional references, including names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contact information, A list of three references for recommendation letters.

Official transcripts are required within the first 30 days of hire. Applicants with foreign degrees must submit a completed credential evaluation comparing their foreign academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S. This is a full-time, tenure-track position beginning in Fall 2026. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.