Job description
Salary: $57,000.00 – $59,000.00 Annually
Location: St. George 84770, UT
Job Type: Full-Time Faculty
Job Number: 26FAC909-1
Division: College of the Arts
Department: Theatre, Dance & Digital Film
Opening Date: 09/30/2025
Closing Date
Continuous
Position Announcement
The Utah Tech University Theatre Program seeks a dedicated and collaborative Scenic Designer and Technical Director to support its dynamic undergraduate program and production season. This position plays a vital role in overseeing scenic design and technical direction while mentoring students in professional production practices. This full-time, tenure-track position supports a four-show production season and teaches within a comprehensive theatre design and technology program. More information about the department and its associated programs and faculty can be found online at https://theatre.utahtech.edu/.
Responsibilities
- Teach 24-credit per academic year load, encompassing teaching responsibilities, reassigned time for production work, and mentoring student designers. This will be approximately four courses per semester with reassigned time for production work.
- Potential courses include Scenic Design, Stagecraft, Study of Period Styles and Decor, Scene Painting, Intro to Theatre, Script Analysis, and other courses based on expertise.
- Scenic design and technical direction for three productions per year, with an additional student-designed production under faculty supervision. Manage the design, construction, and completion of scenic elements and props. The season includes two fully produced plays, one musical, and a student-led production. Oversee scene shop operations and construction.
- Oversee the scenic design/props process, budget management, technical execution, shop maintenance, and safety training. Active participation in the scene shop is expected, including hands-on involvement in construction and collaboration with students. Supervise the scene shop foreman, student workers, and work-study students while collaborating with other departments using shared facilities. The production team currently includes a part-time scene shop supervisor, four work-study positions, opportunities for workshop credit, and support from a stagecraft class.
Additional Duties:
- Involvement in student recruitment and retention.
- Department service.
- Scholarly/creative activity typical of tenure-track faculty.
- Perform defined campus-wide duties, including holding office hours, attendance at department and division meetings, and adherence to college, division, and university policies and procedures.
- Communicate clearly with students, staff, and colleagues, both orally and in writing.
- Commitment to student recruitment, mentorship, and retention initiatives within the department and university.
Qualifications
- MFA in Scenic Design, Technical Direction, theatre technology or related field preferred.
- Demonstrated scenic design experience.
- Demonstrated technical direction experience.
- Demonstrated experience in scene and prop shop operations, including construction and painting.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the history of decoration, furnishings, and architecture.
- Demonstrated ability to use and teach typical computer programs for theatre design and technology (Vectorworks, AutoCAD, and/or Sketchup).
- Working efficiently within financial constraints.
- Demonstrated dedication to teaching students from a variety of backgrounds with differing levels of experience.
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate successfully as a member of a production team, fostering an inclusive learning environment, and proactively promote student success within an academic theatre program.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 1-3 years of college-level teaching experience with the ability to develop engaging coursework.
- Demonstrated experience with theatrical rigging.
- Preference given to candidates with expertise in design/technical experience for film and dance.
- Preference given to candidates with a strong secondary area of expertise within theatre, such as lighting and/or sound.
Supplemental Information
POSITION DETAILS, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Full-time (9-month) tenure-track faculty position. Faculty service begins August 2026, with pay and benefits starting July 1, 2026. Annual salary of $57,000-$59,000 depending on qualifications and experience, with additional compensation available for optional summer/overload teaching. Excellent benefits package included that begins on start date; includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, employee assistance and wellness programs, retirement plan contributions, and undergraduate tuition waivers for employees and eligible dependents. See https://humanresources.utahtech.edu/employee-benefits/ under “Benefits Summary” for more details.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY: Utah Tech University is an open, comprehensive, polytechnic institution, committed to exceptional student learning and success that has adopted an instructional approach of “active learning. active life” and a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. We seek faculty and staff committed to creating an active, applied, and career-oriented learning environment that is student-centered. Established in 1911 as a community college and in 2013 as a state university, our University is located in picturesque southwestern Utah, approximately 120 miles north of Las Vegas. The area is renowned for its red rocks, desert climate, over 300 days of sunshine annually, and featuring easy access to world-class outdoor recreational opportunities. Click here to learn more about the University.
Utah Tech University is a fast-growing Utah public institution of higher education, with more than 13,000 students. We offer over 250 programs, including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associates, certificates, endorsements, minors, and/or emphases. We seek faculty and staff committed to creating an active, applied, and career-oriented learning environment that is student-centered, who bring new ideas, possess values and career aspirations aligned with the University’s mission and vision, and are inspired to build a premier open, comprehensive, polytechnic university. Utah Tech University is an Equal Opportunity employer; the President and employees of the University are fully committed to equal opportunity within its employment programs and activities. Utah Tech does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state or local law.
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or the University’s non-discrimination policies:
- Director of Equal Opportunity Compliance / Title IX Coordinator: Hazel Sainsbury – [email protected], HCC 579, 435-652-7747.
- Deputy Title IX Coordinator: Brenda Medrano – [email protected], BROWN 102, 435-879-4769.
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://titleix.utahtech.edu/ or contact:
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, [email protected], 800-421-3481.
- U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, [email protected], 303-844-5695.
The University provides key institutional information regarding Academics, Campus Safety, Student Services, Employment Laws, and other requirements per the Higher Education Act and other consumer information requirements to prospective students, students, UT employees, and prospective employees online at https://utahtech.edu/right-to-know/ and https://police.utahtech.edu/clery-act/.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification.
Benefits
Highlights from Utah Tech’s benefits package include:
- 14.2% retirement contribution, paid 100% by the employer (no match required), vested on day 1 of full-time employment;
- Regular undergraduate tuition waiver (paid at 100%) for employee, spouse, and unmarried dependent children to take courses at Utah Tech;
- Full medical, dental, and vision plans, with low employee-paid premiums, that begins on day 1 of full-time employment;
- Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts available;
- Employer-paid basic life insurance & disability insurance coverage from day 1 of full-time employment;
- Generous staff leave accruals, plus 12 paid holidays per calendar year.
How to apply
Application review begins November 3, 2025; position open until filled. Candidates must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, contact information for three professional references (including email addresses), transcripts, and a Student Success Statement (1-2 pages about the candidate’s teaching or other professional experience working with a wide range of student academic preparedness). Please upload all the requested documents when you submit your application. Employment is contingent upon successful completion and certification of required degrees and upon successfully passing a background check. If, because of a disability, you need special services or facilities to apply for this opening, please call the Human Resources Office (435) 652-7520.
