"Non-Tenure Track Lighting Designer"

Description

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Hillsdale College invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure track, Lighting Designer to begin August 2026. This is an opportunity to join a growing, dynamic program committed to artistic excellence and hands-on student mentorship. The successful candidate will help shape the visual identity of our Tower Players and Tower Dancers productions and contribute to the expansion of the design area of our B.A. program.

The Lighting Designer will design and implement lighting for up to four mainstage productions each academic year, provide lighting support for our Performing Artist Series, support smaller student projects, and oversee a paid team of student assistants in the lighting studio. Applicants with experience in a secondary design area such as projection, scenic design, or sound design are encouraged to apply; these skills may lead to opportunities to develop their artistry in those disciplines as the program expands.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be a skilled instructor. The position presents opportunities to teach courses in lighting, general design, and potentially more broadly within the Department, such as the Understanding Theatre survey course.

Hillsdale College is a small (1500 students), fiercely independent Christian liberal arts college dedicated to the perpetuation of freedom through serious learning and moral formation. It is committed to the Western intellectual tradition and requires genuine excellence in undergraduate teaching. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the College’s mission statement: https://www.hillsdale.edu/about/mission/.

Qualifications

• MFA in Lighting Design or equivalent professional experience.
• Teaching experience at the college/university level, with a commitment to teaching, mentoring, and developing a strong academic production environment.
• Demonstrated skill in theatrical lighting design with successful production credits, proficiency in a secondary area of design.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary lighting systems, control consoles, and CADD.
• Excellent collaborative skills, experience supervising student or professional crews, and clear verbal and written communication.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials electronically:

1. Candidates should familiarize themselves with the College’s Mission Statement (https://www.hillsdale.edu/about/mission/) and include a response to it addressing their interest and ability to teach in light of its commitments.
2. Letter of application that presents (a) an approach to teaching in a BA theatre program; and (b) a statement of teaching philosophy at the undergraduate level.
3. Current curriculum vitae
4. Three (3) letters of recommendation
5. Access to portfolio materials, which may be electronic or Web-based
6. Copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts

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