Title: F0046 Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Drama & Theatre — Lighting & Sound Design

State Role Title: Assistant Professor

Hiring Range: Commensurate with credentials and experience

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Norfolk State University

Location: Norfolk State University

Agency Website: www.nsu.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Norfolk State University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts’ award-winning Drama & Theatre Program invites applicants for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor of Drama and Theatre in the disciplines of Lighting and Sound Design; the selected candidate begins August 2026. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

The primary responsibilities of this position include teaching in the disciplines of Lighting Design, Sound Design, Intro to Theatre, and/or other areas as qualified, while also serving as the Resident Lighting Designer for the NSU Theatre Company. This position will teach two courses per semester due to receiving 50% release time to support the NSU Theatre Company. This position will service and inventory all lighting and sound equipment, materials, and supplies. The candidate will supervise and train production crew and students in lighting and sound design and technology.

Integral to this position is maintaining regular office hours; maintaining high levels of professional development, research, creative activity and service; safely training students to work with tools and equipment; occasionally moving and transporting materials and equipment weighing up to 45 pounds; being available as needed during evening and weekend rehearsals and productions; practical initiative; cultivating respectful, courteous and cooperative relationships; implementing affirmative, efficient and ethical working practices. Successful employees derive deep personal fulfillment from their work in the theatre and from the exemplary completion of their duties and possess the flexibility required to respond to emergent challenges and opportunities.

The successful candidate will render professional lighting designs as assigned to include generating lighting plots, instrument schedules and channel lists; patching and programing instruments into lighting consoles; implement the focus and hang for all lighting designs, program lighting cues, provide cue sheets and other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will render professional sound designs and audio services as assigned to include creating, collecting, recording, editing and mixing sounds and soundscapes for productions; program digital and analog audio consoles; program playback software for recorded sound; set up all audio and speech reinforcement devices, speakers and monitors for productions and events; and serve as sound engineer as needed for live events.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.F.A. in Lighting Design.
• Experience and/or evidence of expert lighting design and electrician skills.
• Evidence of expertise in maintaining and utilizing moving, intelligent and LED lighting instruments.
• Knowledgeable of OSHA and industry safety compliance rules and possess extensive
knowledge of safe use of equipment.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to supervise construction crew.
• Commitment to mentoring students.

How to Apply
Candidates should submit:
1. State of Virginia application.
2. A cover letter of interest including courses taught.
3. Current Curriculum Vitae.
4. Philosophy of Teaching.
5. Provide a link to online portfolio of design work.
6. Transcripts of highest degree conferred (unofficial transcripts are accepted; however,
official transcripts are required of finalists).
7. Three letters of reference.
8. Some requirements must be saved into one file and attached as other to the state
application.

Additional Considerations

• A minimum of three years of successful teaching at the university level.
• Demonstrated proficiency with digital and analog sound reinforcement devices and the Dante Audio Network platform.
• Membership in professional organizations such as IATSE, USA, USITT, etc.
• Earned, current OSHA 30-Hour Training Program Certificate & DOL Card
• Experience serving as a Safety and Compliance Specialist for lighting and sound equipment.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application and/or résumé for this position must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia's Job Board/Recruitment Management System (RMS). Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and/or résumés will not be accepted. Applicants who possess an Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Form) as issued under the Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM) Policy 1.30 Layoff (Commonwealth of Virginia Employees Only), must attach these forms when submitting their state application and/or résumé. The decision to interview an applicant is based solely on the information received for this position from either the electronic application and/or resumé. RMS provides a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS account to check the status of your application for this position.
Norfolk State University conducts background checks on all candidates identified as a finalist for employment consideration. The type of background check(s) performed are dependent upon the type of position for which you have been identified as a finalist and may include criminal history, including sexual offender registry checks, reference checks, degree validation, DMV (driving) records, license verification, and credit report reviews. The results of background checks are made available to university employing officials. As a finalist, you will be required to sign an Authorization to Release form. Norfolk State University utilizes Form I-9 and E-Verify in the verification of eligibility for employment. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

EEO Statement
NSU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons and applicants, without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, religion, sexual orientation, sex (including pregnancy) or veteran status. NSU encourages and invites minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

Contact Information

Name: no name provided

Phone: no phone provided

Email: no email materials accepted

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.