FIT NYC Full-Time Faculty Position in Textile/Surface Design, School of Art and Design

Job Description:

We seek a forward-thinking design professional who is able to combine CAD, traditional, and conceptual design approaches to teach innovative core courses in the Textile/Surface Design program.

The ideal candidate will possess strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills, technological expertise, and a deep understanding of market trends. They would bring expertise to innovate our expanding CAD curriculum, including AI applications.

They should be a team-oriented leader, eager to contribute actively to curriculum development, administrative tasks, student mentorship, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Candidates should demonstrate evidence of excellence in professional practice, and preferably teaching, with extensive knowledge of current artistic and industry practices, including sustainability, design ethics, a global perspective, and copyright.

The selected candidate is expected to cultivate a personal area of scholarly or creative strength, which may include research, textile innovation, exhibitions, curriculum development, grant acquisition, industry partnerships, or other relevant endeavors.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

Globalism

• Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of textile design in the context of broader forces.
• Communicate and convey to students the ethical implications of design decisions affecting the global environment and people.

Instructional Design

• Demonstrate ability to cultivate and foster critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy and creativity.
• Demonstrate ability to integrate current industry standards, market trends, and business practices into the curriculum.
• Demonstrate cross-disciplinary skills to collaborate with academic departments, the broader community, and the design.

Learning Enrichment

• Demonstrate responsiveness to industry changes and/or practices, including technology, and the ability to incorporate evolving changes in a progressive curriculum.
• Contribute to the ongoing success of students through advisement and mentorship of student clubs and activities.
• Possess a passion for learning with the ability to inspire interest, curiosity, and creativity in students.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate professional projects that illustrate a varied and innovative design portfolio of market-driven projects that showcase painting and drawing skills as well as digital facility.
• Demonstrate expertise in the application of entrepreneurial skills, a comprehensive understanding of copyright and other laws as they relate to intellectual property, as well as current knowledge of asset management, marketing and promotional protocols.
• Demonstrate research ability, knowledge of, and engagement with industry competitions, exhibitions, publications and/or awards.
• Demonstrate collaboration and engagement in contributing to and performing administrative and committee service for the department, the School, and the College.
• Provide vision and work towards the implementation of the College's strategic plan.

Technology

• Demonstrate technological skills relating to software and hardware widely used in the textile/surface design profession, including Adobe CC.
• Demonstrate the dynamic application of digital technology and AI applications to serve as a research tool in developing concepts, proposals and artist statements, while promoting original work and awareness of design ethics and IP.
• Demonstrate a commitment to maintaining currency in technological skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrate experience in developing or teaching a curriculum that addresses multiple perspectives in design.

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 of Fine Arts in Textile Design.
• At least 8 years of academic and/or professional experience as a textile designer.
• Advanced digital skills pertaining to industry standard textile design software, expertise in painting and drawing, and general digital literacy.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Fine Arts in Textile Design.
• Prior teaching experience.
• Evidence of scholarly work, entrepreneurial pursuits, or artistic achievements.

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
• Professional Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy Statement
• Research Philosophy Statement
• Digital portfolio in PDF format (less than 10 MB) showcasing professional textile design work OR a URL to a professional portfolio website
• 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 faculty position will begin 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 Textile/Surface Design department 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 80 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.

The Textile/Surface Design Department creates academic experiences that educate and inspire the next generation of global design leaders. By developing students' intellectual, aesthetic, analytical, and technological abilities, the Textile/Surface Design major offers students the opportunity to create painted, woven, and printed textile designs, while integrating new and emerging technologies. Students acquire a thorough understanding of professional design methods and principles as they establish their personal artistic style.

The department offers 1-year and 2-year Associate Degrees in Applied Science (AAS) and a BFA degree.