Assistant or Associate Professor of Industrial Design

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

The overall mission of CSE is to promote lifelong learning through state-of-the-art programs that emphasize experiential learning and scholarship, to produce globally impactful discoveries, innovation, and student-engaged research, to provide equitable and inclusive pathways in STEM for students to achieve their career goals in the State of Washington and beyond, and to engage with the broader community by building and sustaining strong regional academic, industrial, and other community partnerships.

The position requires a strong commitment to teaching and scholarship that supports the Department’s Mission. Teaching responsibilities will include service courses for industrial design, as well as advanced studio courses. Scholarship responsibilities will include developing and maintaining a relevant scholarship program that involves undergraduate researchers and partnerships with industry. It is expected that the person fulfills working, teaching, and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff. This position offers a unique and exciting opportunity to be part of the leadership of the program, which will include the development of curriculum, research areas, and laboratory facilities.

Required Responsibilities

Provide leadership and administration for the Industrial Design Program, including strategic planning, program assessment, budgeting, scheduling, and resource management.

Teach undergraduate courses in industrial design including skill development, software, design studios, and design research.

Maintain an active agenda of scholarship and creative activity consistent with university expectations.

Lead curriculum development and continuous improvement efforts to ensure program quality, relevance, accreditation, and alignment with institutional goals and emerging trends in design.

Recruit, mentor, advise, and support students throughout their academic and professional development.

Facilitate collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and university administrators to advance program goals and foster a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Manage program operations, including faculty workload planning, course scheduling, facilities oversight, equipment planning, and assessment activities.

Build and maintain partnerships with industry, alumni, professional organizations, and community stakeholders to enhance experiential learning opportunities and program visibility.

Represent the Industrial Design Program within the university and externally through recruitment activities, outreach, professional engagement, exhibitions, and public events.

Support faculty development, recruitment, evaluation, and other personnel-related processes in accordance with university policies.

Advance the program's reputation through innovation in teaching, scholarship, professional engagement, and student success.

• One of the following:

• • PhD or ABD (at time of application) in Industrial Design or a closely related field (if ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment, e.g., June 15, 2028)
  • MFA, MDes, or equivalent terminal degree in Industrial Design or a closely related field by the date of appointment

• Record of professional practice, scholarship, creative activity, or other contributions appropriate to the field of industrial design.
• Evidence of successful teaching and student mentorship in higher education.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and student success.
• Experience leading projects, teams, programs, or other organizational initiatives requiring collaboration, communication, and management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and external stakeholders.
• For appointment at the Associate Professor level (tenure track), demonstrated significant research, evidence of successful teaching, and evidence of contributions through service activities commensurate with standards for promotion to Associate Professor in the Department, College, and University.

• Experience in academic leadership roles such as program director, department chair, curriculum coordinator, or other administrative positions within higher education.
• Demonstrated success in curriculum development, strategic planning, assessment, accreditation, and continuous program improvement.
• Established record of scholarly, creative, or professional achievement in industrial design or related fields.
• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with industry, community organizations, professional associations, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, facilities, personnel, and other operational aspects of an academic program.
• Experience fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, securing external funding, and enhancing program visibility through outreach, recruitment, exhibitions, research, or professional engagement.

Salary

The anticipated starting salary range for assistant professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $93,000-$96,000. The entire salary range for the assistant professor position is $93,000-$111,000. The anticipated starting salary range for associate professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $106,000-$109,000. The entire salary range for the associate professor position is $106,000-$126,000. Placement within the position’s salary range is based on qualifications and professional experience.

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the entire salary ranges provided above reflect the anticipated full salary range in the position at the given rank, with the upper end of the salary range typically being achieved through collectively bargained salary adjustments. Progression in ranks occurs as outlined in the University’s tenure and promotion process, per the collective bargaining agreement.

Relocation assistance may be available per University guidelines and dependent on available budget. Salary and Start-up funds are to be determined upon being offered the position.

Bargaining Unit

United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

All applications must include the following seven items. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Application Letter - A statement that addresses how you meet the required and preferred qualifications for the position, your ability and commitment to fulfill the position responsibilities, and your available starting date.
3. Teaching Statement - A statement of your teaching experience, interests, and plans for teaching core and advanced courses, and any experience teaching or coordinating undergraduate student projects, particularly any that were industry sponsored. Include a summary of teaching evaluations, if applicable.
4. Research Statement - A statement of your research experience and interests. Include any research experience that involved undergraduate students and/or collaboration with industry.
5. Service, Engagement, & Student Success Statement - A statement describing past experiences and approaches to service and engagement within the department, university, profession, or community that support student success and promote access, equity, and inclusion in your discipline or institution.
6. Portfolio - Visual evidence of recent and relevant professional design and creative works.
7. References - The names and contact information of at least three professional references. Please do not send letters of recommendation; references will only be contacted directly for semi-finalists.

Review of applications will begin November 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

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