FIT NYC Full-Time Faculty Position in Home Products Development, School of Business and Technology

Job Description:

The Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology seeks a dedicated full-time faculty member with a strong background in the home furnishings industries, and a commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success.

The candidate will be well versed in emerging trends and industry advancements, with a passion to empower students to succeed academically and professionally. Candidates will have experience in market analysis, product development cycles, and product management as it relates to the housewares, tabletop, decorative, textile and furniture sectors to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field's principles, strategies, brands, and companies. Primary responsibility is teaching with an emphasis on applied instruction with a forward focus on integrating industry-relevant technologies, sustainability practices, and innovation.

The successful candidate will be actively engaged with industry, serving as an advocate for the program internally and externally. Additional qualifications include a strong industry network, ability to cultivate partnerships across industry and academia, and leadership capabilities to assume the appointed role of Associate Chairperson.

As Associate Chairperson, the candidate will serve as the program's head, working in partnership with the dean's office to oversee the day-to-day operations and strategic vision of the program. Duties include managing the departmental operations, including course scheduling, budget planning, assessment, and faculty support. Represent the program to internal and external stakeholders, including prospective students, advisory boards and industry partners.

The new faculty member will play a key role in supporting the school and department's strategic initiatives, developing and enhancing the curriculum, and maintaining operations within the department. Additional responsibilities include advising and mentoring students, promoting the academic program, engaging with alumni, industry, and building and sustaining partnerships. The new faculty member will serve on department, school, and college-wide committees, support accreditation, and participate in administrative duties as required.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

Globalism

• Understanding of the global nature of the home furnishings industry.
• Show awareness of professional, ethical, and social responsibility.
• Respect for all racial, ethnic, religious, social, and gender groups, integrating this respect into teaching.
• Embrace sustainability as a key aspect of the teaching experience.

Instructional Design

• Combine business practices with classroom learning for a rigorous academic experience.
• Develop multiple assessment methods to accommodate various learning styles.
• Maintain industry connections to introduce new methodologies into the curriculum.
• Use the college's learning management system for assessment monitoring, and reporting.
• Create collaborative, real-world problem-solving experiences.
• Incorporate instructional methods to service all students.

Learning Enrichment

• Inspire student's interest, curiosity, creativity, and love of learning..
• Use various instructional methods to foster critical thinking, design thinking, creative problem-solving and team-building skills.
• Integrate interdisciplinary learning into the curriculum.
• Stay current with industry trends and technology, incorporating them into the curriculum.
• Embrace new pedagogy forms, including online teaching, blended classes, workshops, flipped classrooms, and experiential learning.
• Support all student learning styles and abilities.

Professionalism

• Engage in industry-related activities to enhance the discipline.
• Participate in relevant fashion business conferences.
• Maintain a network of alumni and industry experts for internships, mentors, curriculum development, guest speaking, and graduate placement.
• Stay current and engaged in the primary teaching discipline.
• Model professional behavior to prepare students for related industry fields.

Technology

• Utilize course management systems and multimedia technology in the classroom.
• Demonstrate effective use of industry-specific technology.
• Use appropriate technology to communicate with and engage students outside the classroom.

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 in a related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in the home furnishings or home products industry. Leadership or managerial experience in the home industry.
• The candidate will be required to obtain a master's degree within 3 years of their appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or master's degree in a field related, or enrolled in a master's degree program, in progress, to completion.
• College-level teaching experience or equivalent instructional experience.

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 pgs. 73-74.

Instructor: $69,346.37 - $80,793.82
Assistant Professor: $80,736.40 - $118,984.88
Associate Professor: $94,498.31 - $142,271.78
Professor: $115,232.32 - $173,403.37

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. For any employees who may require sponsorship in order to lawfully work in the United States, FIT reserves complete discretion whether to pursue such sponsorship or to cancel, discontinue, or withdraw such sponsorship at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating 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 on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected 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 veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360.

Annual Security Report

The safety and well-being of FIT's students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of paramount importance. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, FIT publishes an annual report containing crime statistics and statements of security policy, accessible here: Safety Statistics . A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request by contacting Public Safety's administrative office number at (212) 217-4999.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

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 be considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:

• Letter of interest clearly indicating your qualifications for the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy Statement
• Research Philosophy Statement
• Unofficial Transcript*
• A minimum of three professional references, including names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contact information
• A list of three references for recommendation letters; references may be contacted at a later stage

*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 2026. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

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: http://www.fitnyc.edu .

About Fashion Institute of Technology:

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 Home Products Development department of the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology.

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 Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology educates students for management and leadership roles within the fashion and related creative industries. Our curriculum integrates a deep appreciation of how markets, business environments, advanced business technology and competition can be managed in a global context. The Baker School provides a professional faculty and business climate that enables students to be immediately valuable contributors to their industries.

The Baker School of Business and Technology collaborates with both the School of Art and Design, and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose courses help students to better understand themselves, others, and their place in an increasingly complex world. The Baker School co-operates to design curricular and educational experiences that help hone general skills and behaviors that employers increasingly demand: critical thinking and problem solving skills, a strong sense of professional and ethical responsibility, social skills, the ability to work productively in teams, and good oral and written communications skills.

The vision of the School is to be the most academically recognized school of excellence where students come to learn about the business of the core industries that we serve-the creative, fashion and design industries-and where industry, government and associations see creative alliances for the development of ideas, solution innovation, future thinking, and problem solving.

Seven of the ten Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is dedicated to promoting continuous improvement in the practice of business in every industry worldwide.

The Home Products Development program offers a specialized curriculum that prepares students for dynamic careers in the home textiles, housewares, and furnishings sectors. With an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and market relevance across both hard and soft home categories, the program integrates industry-specific knowledge in product development, materials, manufacturing, product management, and consumer lifestyles. Students learn to translate market insights into commercially viable product concepts, working collaboratively to develop fluency in visual, written, and oral communication. Experiential learning is central to the program, with robust industry engagement that ensures graduates enter the field with industry-specific knowledge, professional skills, and critical thinking required for success.