Tenure Track Faculty Position
Assistant Professor of Production and Stage Management
Department of Theatre & New Dance
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Theatre & New Dance. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.
The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our Principles of Community can be found here.
The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.
Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2024, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 25,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 57% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 54% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 2% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-five percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university include mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law.
College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences: Cal Poly Pomona's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) brings to life a vibrant hands-on experience through disciplines in the humanities, performing arts, and social sciences. As the heart and soul of the campus, the College’s mission is to cultivate one’s intellectual development, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic sensibility to support creative and critical thinking in a dynamic world of competing challenges. We are a community diverse in backgrounds, expertise, and thought, committed to improving the human condition and to bettering the world. Our faculty, students, and staff are devoted to creating an inclusive environment where all can thrive through the College's programs, research activities, creative performances, community outreach, and signature experiences. Learn more about the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and our 12 distinct departments at www.cpp.edu/class .
The Department of Theatre & New Dance awards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with an emphasis on preparing students for the field, developing skills transferable to adjacent fields, and/or to pursue graduate level work. Our courses and production experiences embody the Cal Poly Pomona learn-by-doing philosophy, engaging students in hands-on, project-based work with a foundation of scholarly knowledge. The curriculum is unified, and students may choose to follow disciplinary tracks within the major, pursuing coursework in acting and performance; design, management & technical production; dance; and theatre in education and community engagement. The Department currently houses about 100 majors, 35 minors, nine full-time faculty members and 8-12 adjunct lecturers varying by semester. About 50% of our graduating students have transferred into the program with a 2-year degree from a California Community College. The Department is staffed by one administrative coordinator, one technical director, one facilities director, one costume shop manager and one publicist.
The Department of Theatre and New Dance values innovation, collaboration, community and global awareness and social responsibility. Our program learning outcomes are listed on our department website. In support of these goals, the Department typically produces four fully-produced theatrical productions per year, one site-specific dance concert, one formal dance concert, and two work-in-development showings (e.g. student-written plays, devised theatre, readings or workshops) with limited production support. Our students are enthusiastic, community-minded, and committed to applying what they learn to the professional field. The Department promotes a variety of community and campus engagement activities including festivals, talk-backs, and service-learning coursework. We believe our students bring human and cultural competency to the classroom that integrates with faculty knowledge and expertise to provide a nurturing and productive learning environment. Our vision is to develop artists capable of imagining and applying their skills to cultivate the world they want to live in.
Position Description: The Department of Theatre & New Dance invites applications of a full-time, tenure track Assistant Professor of Production and Stage Management for an appointment beginning the 2027-2028 academic year. The position’s primary responsibilities are to serve as Production Manager for the Department’s production season; mentor and supervise student stage managers; teach stage management courses, production practicum courses and other courses based on department need and the faculty’s area/s of expertise.
The successful candidate will:
- Work closely with faculty, staff and guest artists;
- Propose and re-line annual production budget allocations;
- Obtain show rights and distribute scripts;
- Oversee production spending and petty cash distribution;
- Schedule all production dates and deadlines in keeping with instructional needs;
- Maintain all production calendars;
- Schedule spaces involved in production and instruction;
- Lead all production meetings and technical rehearsals for theatre and dance productions;
- Supervise and mentor student stage managers, designers and technicians;
- Enforce deadlines and facilitate communication between production teams and staff;
- Make, track and grade production crew assignments for shop crews and show crews;
- Honor and enforce safe practices in rehearsals and performances including facilitating the hiring of intimacy directors and fight choreographers as needed and actively modeling community guidelines;
- Support creative problem solving around budget and resources including non-traditional materials, rentals and community resources; and
- Initiate and implement improvements to production systems as needed.
Responsibilities will also include participation in university, college and department level service and governance, academic advising, mentorship, committee work, annual and ongoing budget proposals and grants, and maintaining a portfolio of scholarly and/or creative activities aligning with Department Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion criteria.
Applicants must demonstrate commitment to serving a highly diverse student body, reflecting the Cal Poly Pomona service area and the educational equity goals of the University, College, Department, and programs. The Cal Poly Pomona campus, designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, is recognized nationally for quality, affordability, and helping diverse and traditionally under-served students achieve economic success.
Minimum requirements:
- M.F.A. in Production Management, Stage Management or a closely related field; or other equivalent terminal degree conferred by the start date of the position
- Previous professional production management experience
- Demonstrated potential for excellence in university-level teaching in stage management and other areas depending on department need and candidate expertise
- Demonstrated potential to proactively mentor students with a broad range of experience, theatre knowledge, backgrounds and socio-economic status in an undergraduate B.A. theatre program setting
- Demonstrated experience coordinating with permanent professional theatrical production staff
- An active and ongoing professional practice
- Capacity to connect students to an expansive network of job opportunities
- Strength in proactive team leadership
- Adaptability to evolving timelines and resource availability
- Familiarity with one or more adjacent fields, such as dance, opera, circus, themed entertainment, film, TV, event management, etc. and demonstrated potential to mentor students interested in one or more of these areas
- Collegiality and amiability among a diverse range of students and colleagues
- Ability to lead in a variety of production models (e.g. Devised theatre, LORT model)
Preferred qualifications:
- Two or more years of university-level teaching experience
- Active participation in national professional organizations, such as USITT and/or PMF, and/or Union membership such as AEA
- Secondary area of expertise and ability to mentor in additional areas such as sound or video design
- Experience supervising student shop crews and run crews
Application Process: A completed application will consist of:
- Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications, item-by-item
- Curriculum vitae;
- Teaching Philosophy statement (2-3 pages) that includes your teaching philosophy and explains how your skills and experience demonstrate your potential to support students and fulfill Cal Poly Pomona’s commitment to excellence in education (see above).
- At least three letters of reference dated within the last two years, at least one of which must specifically address teaching;
- The names and contact information for at least two additional individuals that can serve as references;
- Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, official transcripts will be required of finalists)
Semi-finalists for the position will:
- attend a 1-hour Zoom interview with the Search Committee
Finalists for the position will:
- appear for an in-person campus interview, including delivering a 50-minute sample class and a 30-minute presentation of the candidate’s portfolio;
- be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview
Please direct inquiries to Search Committee Chair, Associate Professor Sarah Krainin at [email protected]
Disclosures
Education Code 89521 Requirements:
Pursuant to Education Code 89521 applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Background Check:
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed. Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Out of State Employment:
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.
Mandated Reporter:
The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
International Candidates:
Cal Poly Pomona is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Cal Poly Pomona is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at [email protected]. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.
Clery Act:
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Fire Safety Report.
EEO Statement:
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly Pomona, excellence is built on talent, merit, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
Reasonable Accommodation:
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at [email protected]. For more information, go to Employment Notices.
Other Notices:
For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Employment Notices web page.
