THE SCHOOL OF IMAGE ARTS, Ryerson University

Assistant or Associate Professor: Tenure-track position in Creative Producing for Film

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples, the School of Image Arts in the Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson University welcomes applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Creative Producing for Film, effective July 1, 2021, subject to final budgetary approval.

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, creative projects/initiatives resulting in project funding and service duties, maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. Teaching responsibilities will include courses in the Film Studies program such as Film Production and Business of Film. Teaching students in the upcoming program in Scriptwriting and Story Design (MFA) is an additional possibility. Supervising graduate students is expected. This position is also tied to a commitment to expanded pedagogy that will embed students more directly in the Canadian film industry through internships or other intensive professional experiences. We expect the candidate to play a key role in this endeavour. The position also includes serving on curricular and administrative committees. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the university’s shared governance model (committee participation, departmental planning and programming), develop co-curricular activities, and remain connected to a network of scholars and professionals that will benefit students intending to enter the field.

The successful candidate will hold a terminal degree such as an MFA. A master’s degree in a related field with relevant professional experience will also be considered. In addition, the candidate must present evidence of the following:

• extensive experience managing complex productions in fiction film and/or television series, including traditional and/or emerging forms of filmic media;
• significant experience and background in story development for narrative scripted productions;
• leadership experience in film producing or in related organizations and institutions;
• experience in screenwriting or documentary film would be considered an asset;
• deep connections with the Canadian and international film industries, with a record of active engagement with the film industry and professional organizations;
• a well-defined agenda for ongoing projects and creative initiatives that will generate future project funding and gain visibility and prominence in the discipline;
• an ability to serve as a mentor and professional liaison for students;
• potential for teaching excellence at a post-secondary institution as evidenced by experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, dedication to experiential learning, examples of best practices in pedagogy, including effective use of classroom technology, strong teaching evaluations, teaching awards and/or other relevant achievements in teaching. Teaching experience outside the traditional academic environment will be considered. Curriculum development experience will be considered an asset, as will administrative academic experience in a leadership role;
• commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion as it pertains to service, teaching, and scholarly research, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population; and
• an ability and willingness to contribute to collegial service, leadership and a desire to help shape the future direction of the School.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA).

Ryerson University
Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, with 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning and distinguished by a professionally focussed curriculum with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, Ryerson is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city-building through its award-winning architecture.

School of Image Arts
The School of Image Arts is part of FCAD, Ryerson’s Faculty of Communication and Design, which comprises programs in communication, design and the performing arts. The School’s unique and professionally-focused undergraduate curriculum supports programs in Photography and Film and it is recognized as a national and international centre for creative innovation in the study, production, exhibition, and research of film, photography and digital arts. Its innovative graduate programs include the MFA in Documentary Media, the MA in Film + Photographic Preservation and Collections Management and an interdisciplinary program in Scriptwriting and Story Design (MFA) currently in development. The School’s programs are designed to lead to careers in film, photography, communications, education, and broader cultural industries. The School’s full-time faculty is made up of dedicated individuals with established professional, research, and teaching experience in their respective areas of expertise.

The School of Image Arts is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and to the development of an increasingly diversified faculty. The School strongly encourages applications from candidates who self-identify as Black, racialized (also referred to as visible or racial minorities), First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and Indigenous Peoples in the United States. Further, all candidates are encouraged to provide details of how their lived experiences inform their work.

Working at Ryerson
At the intersection of mind and action, Ryerson is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. At Ryerson and within our department/school, we firmly believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to this path; our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Dedicated to a people first culture, Ryerson is proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer. We invite you to explore the range of benefits and supports available to faculty and their family, including access to our diverse faculty and staff networks.

Visit us on Twitter: @RyersonU, @RyersonHR and @RyersonECI and our LinkedIn company page.

Ryerson is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. To find out more about legal and policy obligations please visit the accessibility and Human Rights websites.

Ryerson University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

How to Apply
Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal. All applications received by January 15, 2021, will be guaranteed consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

The application must contain the following:

• a letter of application;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a statement of creative activities and/or research interests;
• 2-3 examples of scholarly creative activity (e.g. links to films, book chapters, journal articles, etc) and links to films produced with a description of your role in the production;
• a teaching dossier including a statement of teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g. course evaluations)

Please provide the names, professional affiliations and contact information for three referees in the cover letter. Candidates who are shortlisted for interviews will be contacted and letters of reference will be requested at that time. Please note that names of further references may be requested at a later stage in the selection process.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority, in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations. Candidates must therefore indicate in their application if they are a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.

Contacts
Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to Robert Ott, Chair, School of Image Arts at robert.ott@ryerson.ca.

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Tracey King, Indigenous Human Resources Lead at t26king@ryerson.ca.

Black identified candidates who wish to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Shurla Charles-Forbes, Black Faculty & Staff Community Network at bfscn@ryerson.ca.

For any confidential accommodation needs in order to participate in the recruitment and selection process and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Faculty Recruitment Portal, please contact Alanna Neshevich, HR Advisor at alanna.neshevich@ryerson.ca.