Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Sound & Technology​/Umkc Conservatory​/Theatre Division

Job Information

Job

Location:

Kansas City

Full-Time

University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory, Theatre Division / Sound & Technology.

Integrated Arts Faculty Cluster Hire:
Sound, Composition and Digital & Immersive Media.

The UMKC Conservatory is a vibrant community of artists, educators, and scholars located in the heart of Kansas City's thriving arts corridor. Committed to fostering excellence, innovation, and equity, the Conservatory prepares students to become leading performers, educators, and scholar‑artists. As part of a Carnegie rated R-1 public research university, the Conservatory offers exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and global impact.

We seek candidates who:

• help build the future of performance, education and research in the performing arts;
• demonstrate a growth mindset, with an understanding that learning is an ongoing process;
• believe that art has the power to help us understand ourselves, each other, and our culture while empowering us to move that culture forward;
• engage in work that appeals to, and positively impacts, the global population;
• adapt to the opportunities in their regions, and to expanding frameworks of collaboration.

At the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, we take pride in fostering collaboration across the divisions of music, dance, and theatre, and in advancing the integration of art forms through our research and creative work. Our integrated arts approach intentionally weaves together multiple art forms to deepen learning, expand artistic practice, and enrich audience experiences.

To prepare students for 21st‑century careers in the arts, the Conservatory proposes a Sound, Composition, and Digital & Immersive Media Faculty Cohort – three faculty positions across divisions, each with distinct yet complementary roles. Together, they form a hub for applied creativity, industry engagement, and innovative pedagogy.

Members of this cohort will play a central role in modernizing and enriching curricula within their respective divisions, ensuring students are equipped with the skills and perspectives needed in today's professional landscape. Each faculty member will contribute disciplinary expertise while actively seeking points of intersection that expand creative possibilities for students. Our goal is to enhance existing degree programs, rather than to establish new ones, by integrating contemporary practices, collaborative projects, and industry‑informed approaches that prepare graduates for evolving careers in the performing arts and related fields.

The UMKC Conservatory invites applications for a 9‑month, full‑time, tenure‑track position in Sound Design and Technology at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2026. This position involves teaching and research that extends into diverse media contexts including theatre, dance, music, and integrated opportunities. Here, "media" refers to screen‑based, interactive, and immersive environments where images interact with music, narrative, space, and technology.

Examples include sound creation for digital platforms such as projections, installations, video mapping, animation, and digital design, as well as live or hybrid performance work. Candidates may ground their practice in traditional theatrical sound design while demonstrating interest or emerging expertise in these areas, or bring established professional experience in media design for live and immersive performance.

• Teach students in sound design and technology at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including introductory courses.
• Oversee ongoing curriculum development of Sound Design and Technology within the UMKC Conservatory and Theatre Division.
• Oversee and mentor graduate students in their coursework.
• Mentor and advise students in their production work.
• Oversee MFA Design and Technology – Sound Design graduate assistantship assignments.
• Participate in the Conservatory Production Team, including bi‑weekly meetings and occasional work calls.
• Connect students with industry‑standard tools, workflows, and professional portfolio…