Chair, BFA Film and Video

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) is pleased to announce a search for its Chair of the BFA Film and Video program. 

SVA invites nominations and applications for the position of a full-time department chair of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in (BFA) Film and Video program.  The Chair is responsible for the overall management and future direction of the department’s academic and co-curricular programming, in accordance with SVA’s mission and in support of the institution’s strategic plan. The successful candidate will be expected to begin on or about August 1, 2019.

Program Description

SVA Film and Video immerses students in the aesthetic and technical aspects of visual storytelling. The curriculum focuses on the essential elements of a well-crafted screenplay, techniques for working with actors and being a part of a professional production set, the visual and psychological choices for cinematography and the structure and rhythm of editing. Students have access to industry-level equipment and facilities. The curriculum offers specializations in: cinematography, directing, documentary, editing, screenwriting, and sound. The program draws its faculty from the NYC creative community: independent filmmaking, advertising and commercial production, and a steadily increasing number of TV production companies. 

SVA alumni have been featured in film festivals across the globe, steering their own projects and making integral contributions to blockbuster releases and critically acclaimed independent films. They have won Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and awards at festivals such as Sundance, SXSW and the Venice Film Festival. Filmmakers and artists as diverse as Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child, Landline) Lynn Shelton (Hump Day), Crystal Moselle (Skate Kitchen, The Wolfpack), Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game, Passengers), and Ti West (The House of the Devil), have all studied at SVA.

Responsibilities

● Manage a staff of 17 full-time administrative employees and over 100 faculty.

● Recruit, develop, and inspire a cohort of faculty whose pedagogy, research and professional practice support the highest standards of filmmaking, including performance evaluations and recommendations concerning contracts and teaching assignments, as applicable.

● Responsible for actively engaging with external partners, colleagues, alumni and industry professionals in an effort to continuously raise the profile of the program and facilitate professional opportunities for students and graduates.

● Prepare course schedules and catalog descriptions, and assign faculty to courses.

● Manage and oversee the department’s academic and administrative operations.

● Collaborate with the Registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs in class scheduling, class cancellations, and other detailed matters relating to the administration of the academic calendar.

● Foster an environment of professionalism and collegiality.

● Develop the Film & Video Department annual budget and monitor ongoing expenditures within approved categories and limits.

● Manage the departmental assessment system and implement changes as needed.

● Participate in professional organizations at the state and national levels.

● Advise and mentor students.

● Perform the duties of a full-time faculty member, including teaching six credits per academic year, and participate in other activities of the Department and College, as requested.

Qualifications

● Five to ten years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, preferably at the level of chair or assistant dean.

● A graduate degree (preferably the MFA), or a bachelor’s degree and extensive professional experience.

● Extensive familiarity with the history of film and filmmaking as an artistic form and medium of communication.

● Substantial professional experience in film or closely related field.

● Demonstrated excellence in teaching courses in film.

● A collegial management style and history of collaboration with peers.

● Prior supervisory experience, preferably in an educational environment.

● Experience with student recruitment and retention.

● A considerable network of professional contacts upon which the incumbent could draw for prospective faculty members, student mentors, program advisors, internship placements, and post-graduate employment.  

● A demonstrable commitment to the mission and core values of School of Visual Arts.

Application Procedure: 

For full consideration, please send a letter of interests that describes how your experience and interests fulfill the requirements of this position, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching interests/ philosophy, and list of names and full contact information for three professional references.

Application review will begin immediately.  To be assured of full consideration, please submit all materials by February 15, 2019, as PDF documents, to SVA-ChairSearch@sva.edu . Subsequent applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

No walk-ins or phone calls please.

School of Visual Arts is an EEO employer.  Women and applicants of color are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

About The School of Visual Arts

School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for nearly seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprised of more than 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 35,000 alumni in 100 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world.

The SVA Mission

The mission of the School of Visual Arts is to educate future generations of global creative citizens to foster cultural and social change that promotes our core values through the pursuit and achievement of their professional goals.