Assistant Professor of Costume Design

Job Summary

East Tennessee State University Department of Theatre & Dance invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Costume Design to begin fall 2027.

The successful candidate will teach classes in Costume Design and related areas. The candidate will also be in the rotation to teach departmental general education courses as needed. The successful candidate will design costumes as part of the Department’s 4 to 5 show mainstage season; supervise and mentor student designers; participate in academic advising; conduct ongoing internal and external research/creative activity; serve on Department, College, and/or University Committees; and perform other service to the Department as required, including Department supported recruitment activities throughout the academic year.

The growing Department has 90+ majors, offers a BA in Theatre with concentrations in Design and Production, Musical Theatre, Physical Theatre, Acting, and General Theatre. The Department is accredited by National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). Productions are performed in the new (2021) 53 million-dollar state-of-the-art Martin Center for the Arts located on the ETSU Campus. The Martin Center facility holds support and teaching spaces (Theatre & Dance Costume Shop and Scene Shop) and three performance venues—the 1200-seat ETSU Foundation Grand Hall, the 200-seat Powell Recital Hall and the 200-seat black box theatre known as the Bert C. Bach Theatre. ETSU Department of Theatre & Dance’s primary performance venue is the Bert C. Bach Theatre.

The Bert C. Bach Theatre is a 57’x57’ black box theatre with two comfortably sized dressing rooms and a green room. The costume shop is a state-of-the-art teaching and production space with domestic and industrial level machines, including an embroidery machine, and a laundry facility dedicated to the Bach Theatre. Additionally, the costume shop features a separate dye room with a 40-gallon dye vat and a second dedicated laundry facility for dyeing. Storage space is located in the same hall adjacent to the costume shop; all are located on the main level of the ETSU Martin Center. Additional storage facilities are located on the main campus. All storage areas are new or newly refurbished.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A strong costume design portfolio that demonstrates expertise in the field is required.
• Excellent organization, communication, and collaborative skills are essential.
• Proficiency with digital and hand rendering techniques and experience with Musical Theatre and/or Dance Costuming are highly desired.
• The successful candidate should be capable of pattern drafting and/or draping and be able to supervise and demonstrate techniques for students in the costume shop. Proficiency with a variety of domestic and industrial machines is expected.

Required Qualifications

• MFA in Costume Design or related field.
• 2 or more years of undergraduate theatrical design teaching experience are required.
• Will accept Graduate Assistant teaching experiences as part of the 2 or more years.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Musical Theatre and/or Dance costuming is highly desirable. Proficiency with modern costume techniques and equipment is highly desirable.
• Secondary expertise in another area of design such as makeup design, hair and wigs, or other related areas is highly desirable.

Physical Demands

• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment.
• Must be comfortable working on ladders and at heights up to 10'.
• Must be able to navigate stairs and uneven walking surfaces.
• Must be able to bend and lift up to 50 lbs.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $64,000
• For more information on benefits, please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.

Application Instructions

• Exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants. 
• Documents needed to apply:
  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Transcripts
  • Portfolio
  • Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Approach to the Work
• Optional documents:
  • Certifications
  • Media File

ETSU is an equal opportunity employer.

University Overview

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution's mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement.

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position's essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.