Full-Time Faculty Position in Fashion Design Apparel Area, School of Art and Design

Company Description:

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 Fashion Department, Fashion Design Apparel Area in the School of Art and Design.

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.

The mission of FIT’s School of Art and Design is to educate the next generation of creative, socially responsible and globally relevant professionals able to succeed in the broad spectrum of art and design fields. The school challenges students to create new and valuable ideas through innovation, collaboration and experimentation.

FIT’s Fashion Design program has cultivated creative and innovative leaders who continue to disrupt the global fashion industry. As one of the world’s top programs, the Fashion Design program provides exclusive industry access while creating groundbreaking designs that are informed by market research and inspired by history, art, and culture. Exceptional faculty guide students to become not only a designer with their own creative vision, but a professional ready to succeed in this challenging field.

 

Job Description:

The School of Art and Design seeks a full-time faculty member in the Fashion Design Apparel Area. The successful candidate will be a seasoned fashion industry senior designer with design leadership experience, primarily in the segments of the industry that are using classic heritage skills in Sportswear, Special Occasion, Knitwear or Menswear. The ability to fluidly drape, pattern, sew intricately designed garments, execute original design sketches as well as strong design communication skills, within the specialized classifications, must be demonstrable within the candidate’s professional background. Thorough knowledge of current successful fashion practices across several methodologies, an understanding of market trends, and an appreciation of emerging technology are also a requirement. The new faculty member will serve the School of Art & Design and will participate in administrative activities as required. Responsibilities will include teaching innovative core AAS foundational courses in women’s wear and BFA specialization areas of Sportswear, Special Occasion, Knitwear, or Menswear courses.

The faculty member will engage in developing and implementing the curriculum in collaboration with departmental colleagues.

It is expected that the selected candidate will establish and/or build upon their personal areas of strength at the time of attaining tenure. Such areas might include, but are not limited to; relevant research such as sustainability, inclusive design, fashion show presentations or exhibitions, development of curriculum, grants, proposals, cultivation of industry support, or scholarly/creative work in another area.

The successful candidate will contribute to the Department, School, and College, beyond the classroom in curriculum development and with committee service.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

Globalism

• Possess an ability to think globally and demonstrate an awareness of the impact of design education, industry and the profession.
• Communicate and convey to students the ethical implications of design decisions affecting the global environment and people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of design in the context of broader social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological forces.
• Possess experience working with people from various cultural, racial, ethnic, religious and social groups that will support the education of a diverse student population.
• Demonstrate appreciation for cultural diversity and a positive approach to cultural differences.
• Engage in global cross-disciplinary discourse in the discipline of fashion design.

Instructional Design

• Demonstrate ability to utilize technology and electronic information to deliver course materials to students.
• Utilize instructional variety in order to accommodate students of different learning styles, abilities, demographics or diversity.
• Demonstrate ability to cultivate and foster critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy and creativity.
• Demonstrate implementation of instructional methodologies and practical applications that enrich students’ learning experience through innovative pedagogies, research, and/or creative scholarship.
• Demonstrate execution of socially responsible and sustainable design projects that instruct and inspire a diverse student population.
• Demonstrate experience in developing or teaching a curriculum that addresses diversity in design.

Learning Enrichment

• Embrace the role of faculty as facilitators, mentors, and integrators of information and knowledge.
• Possess a passion for learning with the ability to inspire interest, curiosity and creativity in students.
• Demonstrate responsiveness to industry changes and/or practices, including technology, and the ability to incorporate evolving changes in a progressive curriculum.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate a continued engagement in creative and/or scholarly work in the discipline of fashion design.
• Understand established and emerging fashion design practices and convey their importance to students.
• Possess the ability to organize and lead initiatives, for the department and the College.
• Demonstrate professional projects that illustrate a varied and innovative design portfolio of evidence-based projects.
• Demonstrate research ability, knowledge of, and engagement with industry competitions, exhibitions, publications and/or awards.

Technology

• Demonstrate technological skills in visual art related software and emerging technologies specifically used in the fashion design profession.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate through technology and utilization of the College course management system and campus portal.
• Demonstrate a commitment to maintaining currency in technological skills and knowledge.

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 required in Fashion Design or in related field(s).
• Six years of relevant industry experience as a senior-level fashion designer.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ten+ years as a senior-level fashion designer.
• Prior teaching experience.
• Master’s degree in Fashion Design or in related field(s).

 

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; Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Salary Schedules pg. 72.

Instructor: $65,207.33 – $75,971.53
Assistant Professor: $75,917.54 – $111,883.11
Associate Professor: $88,858.05 -133,780.10
Professor: $108,354.52 – $163,053.55

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.

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.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

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

Pay Equity by State Employers

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.

Visa Sponsorship 

This position may be eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

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 Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

This position will be required to constantly 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.

 

Application Instructions:

In order to considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:

• Letter of interest clearly indicating your qualifications for the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial Transcript*
• A minimum of three professional references, including names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contact information.
• Digital portfolio in .pdf format (less than 20 MB) with garment sketches/photo samples of current professional fashion design work OR a URL to a professional portfolio website.
• A .pdf (less than 20 MB) of your press kit or look book.

Candidates whose applications are accepted will be contacted by the search committee and will be requested to then submit the following:

• A PDF professional portfolio with five (5) additional samples of recent fashion design work (fashion sketches, 3D garment visuals and/or videos, and/or technical design packages).
• The search committee may assign select candidates a skills assessment project/test.
• A demonstration/teaching lesson is part of the interview/application process for finalists.

*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.

Returning Applicants – Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application materials.

This is a full-time, tenure-track position beginning in Fall 2025. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled, or until March 2025. First consideration will be given to completed applications received by October 1, 2024.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding his or her application status.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: www.fitnyc.edu.

 

The Fashion Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within the community.