Assistant Professor of Film, Sound – The Sidney Poitier New American Film School

Job description:

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of sound for film and media, beginning August 2023. This faculty member will design and teach undergraduate and graduate courses for film and media audio production and postproduction. This position will be appointed across two of ASU’s locations, ASU Tempe Campus and the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center, in Mesa AZ.

The successful candidate will teach and mentor students in topics such as audio basics, audio storytelling, sound/music recording, production sound mixing, and sound design for a variety of student projects including but not limited to narrative short films, documentary shorts, and other media projects. Teaching responsibilities will range from introductory courses to advanced courses in audio production and postproduction. The successful candidate will demonstrate potential for conducting academic scholarship or industry-related creative activity/research to position themselves as an expert in the field. They will contribute to service-related initiatives including school committees and community outreach/recruitment. The successful candidate may be required to teach a combination of in-person, online, and hybrid courses, and will contribute appropriate service and participate in faculty governance.

About ASU

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 80,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

About the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the country, located within a dynamic research university focused on transformative change. Built on a unique combination of disciplines, the Herberger Institute comprises the Schools of Art; Arts, Media and Engineering; Music, Dance and Theatre; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, and the ASU Art Museum. The Herberger Institute is committed to redefining the 21st-century design and arts school through developing and scaling ideas that strengthen the role of designers and artists across all areas of society and culture, increasing the capacity of artists to make a difference in their communities. For more information on the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, visit herbergerinstitute.asu.edu.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in film, television, media arts, education or a related field, and 3+ years of professional experience in sound for film or television. International applicants must hold a terminal degree in order to be considered.
• An understanding of the preproduction, production, and post-production workflows in sound for film and television.
• A record of ongoing creative work related to sound.
• Working knowledge of professional audio equipment for film and media production and post-production, including microphones, multi-channel mixers, and other industry standard equipment.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion via personal media projects, teaching, community/volunteer work or related activity.

Desired qualifications:

• Terminal degree such as MFA or Ph.D. in film, television, media arts, education or a related field is preferred.
• A proven record of excellent college-level teaching experience and successful student mentorship.
• Experience developing new courses and designing sound production and postproduction curriculum.
• A record of professional experience in film sound such as field recording, Foley, ADR, re-recording mixing using AVID ProTools.
• Experience with existing and emerging technologies related to digital workflows, postproduction manipulation of audio and innovative approaches to audio-visual storytelling
• A record of active engagement with industry and professional organizations, both nationally and internationally.
• Willingness to acquire certification in Avid ProTools.
• Broad experience in aspects of film and television production other than sound recording or sound design.

Application deadline:

The application deadline is November 19, 2022. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool.  Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled.

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions, which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses and certifications.

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. (See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf  You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

COVID-19 Vaccination - Arizona State University is a federal contractor and subject to federal regulations which may require you to produce a record of a COVID-19 vaccination. For questions about medical or religious accommodations, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s webpage.

Instruction to apply:

Please submit the following materials as separate items:

1. A letter of interest
2. Curriculum Vitae with contact information for three (3) professional references
3. A portfolio of representative work. Please provide a .pdf with links to works (up to 3 separate samples, no more than 5 total minutes of material)
4. A one-page teaching philosophy statement
5. A one-page statement which describes your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

All applications must be submitted electronically via apply.interfolio.com/114768