As a chair of visual effects, you'll lead a team of faculty and staff in fulfilling the university's mission, vision, and values within a program ranked by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the best in the world. In consultation with the dean, associate chair, and other department members, you will develop a strategic direction for the department that aligns with the university’s strategic plan to help students make the improbable possible across films, TV, games, and advertising. You will then implement strategies to strengthen the department's reputation for quality, ensuring students are prepared to join the leagues of alumni who have contributed to Academy Award-winning films. Among other duties, you will foster a shared vision, commitment, and a positive, respectful environment through collegiality and collaboration. By communicating shared goals and responsibilities frequently and effectively, you will build a cohesive team. Additionally, you will support academic excellence, instructional quality, and instructional engagement by documenting student achievements and work outcomes.
In this role, you will lead faculty in the effective implementation of responsibilities and expectations outlined in the Faculty Handbook. You will ensure that they continually review the curriculum for quality and currency—merging foundational skills in classical design with leading-edge software like Maya, Houdini, and Unreal Engine—adhere to educational outcomes statements, and participate in assessment and accreditation activities. Responsibilities include curriculum development that enables students to master technical wizardry, digital lighting, and dynamic simulations. In collaboration with the dean and program leaders, you will ensure students develop an extensive visual language and practical hands-on techniques required to move the needle at major studios like Framestore, DNeg, Pixar, and Industrial Light & Magic. You will also guide faculty in following the university’s curriculum development policies and procedures. Among other duties, you will oversee the department’s academic scheduling and assign an appropriate course schedule to faculty who are industry masterminds and award-winning artists at the peak of their field.
In this position, you will coordinate the department's use of teaching and learning resources— including unrivaled production environments, green screen studios, and virtual production facilities—to support the academic schedule. During the annual performance evaluations, which include classroom observations and a review of quarterly student evaluations, you will meet with each faculty member for a performance management session. You will include any pertinent recommendations for the school dean in the evaluations. Among other duties, you will participate in faculty recruitment trips and interviews to support academic hiring, seeking professionals who bring vital industry connections to the classroom. Responsibilities include decision-making on student matters such as course substitutions, applications for independent study or internships, and waivers of prerequisites. Additionally, you will work with the admission department to recruit talented students ready to transform static visions into vivid, mind-blowing visual sequences.
As a chair, you will coordinate the faculty’s review of graduate student applications to ensure applicant quality and consistency in the review process. You will lead faculty and staff in showcasing outstanding student work throughout the year, especially during SCAD Days and other high-profile events. Responsibilities include overseeing SCADpro design partnerships, where students have recently designed AR/VR concepts for FOX and CBS Sports and collaborated with Hasbro on franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. You will collaborate with the office of career and alumni success to assist students with career opportunities and coordinate student work submissions to competitions. You will help students leverage SCAD’s incredible network to prepare for roles as technical directors, 3D environment artists, and digital compositors. You will also prepare quarterly and annual ad hoc reports and monitor key departmental data to achieve maximum efficiency across all operations.
In this role, you will serve as a frontline ambassador for the department, promoting the university and its world-class visual effects program at every opportunity. You will maintain partnerships with professional and academic organizations and industries, and anticipate trends to inform programs and services within a wide range of career contexts from healthcare to digital entertainment. When appropriate, you will resolve faculty and student issues with sound judgment. As assigned by academic services and human resources, you will teach classes in the fall, winter, and spring quarters, sharing the expertise required to build groundbreaking cinematic experiences. It is essential that you provide unconditional support and assistance to achieve success in all accreditation matters.
A department chair models academic and professional leadership and ensures that all faculty and staff work toward the university’s mission, vision, and values. Through daily operational and long-term strategic actions, they ensure the department’s intentional and measurable contribution to the university’s strategic plan and the 8Rs (responsibility, resources, recruitment, retention, recognition, revenue, research, and results).
The ideal candidate has a successful career as a faculty member or visual effects discipline professional and a reputation for model leadership, excellence in the field, high standards, and innovation. They can translate a strategic vision for the global VFX industry into action through measurable steps, conduct thorough performance evaluations, and make fair decisions in the student’s best academic interests. The candidate is committed to academic excellence and demonstrates a thorough understanding of curriculum development and assessment tools to improve student learning. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
The candidate is detail-oriented and has an exceptional work ethic, consistently meeting expectations and deadlines in academic scheduling, budgetary management and oversight, and the preparation of required reports. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills and are dedicated to personal and professional integrity.