Faculty Position in Television-Production

Tenure Track Position in Television-Production

FCAD, RTA School of Media

Posted: March 12, 2021

Deadline to Apply: Thursday, April 15, 2021

Tenure Track Position in Television-Production

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 RTA School of Media in the Faculty of Communication and Design [FCAD] at invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Television-Production effective July 1, 2021, subject to final budgetary approval. 

The RTA School of Media is seeking a candidate who demonstrates experience in making scripted television content for both broadcast and streaming distribution. The successful candidate will be able to articulate a vision for the potential futures of scripted entertainment and live-event television production that stems from their distinct analysis of the field. The individual will possess a track record of high-quality practice and output of scholarly, research and/or creative activities (SRC) focused on television production and/or distribution. The School is seeking someone who has potential to provide leadership in developing curriculum designed to prepare graduates for the rapidly evolving field of media production. 

The successful candidate will: engage in a combination of teaching, scholarly research or creative activity and service duties; contribute to our undergraduate (BA) and graduate (MA and PhD) programs through teaching, mentoring and supervision of students; facilitate the growth of junior scholars and promote equity and diversity within the professional field; contribute to the curriculum and culture of the RTA School of Media and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to student wellbeing; engage in advancing an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all undertakings; contribute to various Committees and undertake the development of curriculum that reflects developing television practices that will shape the future of the television industry; pursue a strong, innovative research program and/or creative activity that is externally funded and that produces cutting-edge, high quality results. 

Candidates must have a Master’s in Media Production, Communications, Business or a related field. A PhD is not required, but would be considered an asset. The ideal candidate will have SRC related to television that is innovative, impactful and widely disseminated. In addition, the successful candidate must present evidence of:

• a legacy of professional practice in live-event or scripted media production. We will consider candidates who are industry professionals, who have worked in development, production (single-camera or studio) or directing, or showrunning; content creators who have amassed significant followings for their work; or, emerging scholars with an active, industry-oriented creative practice;
• experience in forging new directions and new modes of television production,  an understanding of both making television and how people consume “TV” in all of its forms. The candidate will have the ability to connect traditional and emerging practices and work across media platforms; they will understand what makes a show “binge-able” and how to develop engaging new offerings for viewers; 
• experience in making creative content for live-event or scripted television through a track record of creative innovation and a significant number of television credits on productions recognized by peers with awards or accolades, and/or, as a scholar, peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, working papers, public policy contributions, presentations at conferences, or other noteworthy activities;  
• experience in teaching at the College or University level and/or delivery of professional training and development. The candidate should understand how to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population and have the potential to supervise undergraduate and graduate students; 
• teaching potential as demonstrated through a teaching dossier that outlines the teaching philosophy, teaching accomplishments, and, where available, evidence of experience with course/curriculum review/development, sample syllabi and teaching evaluations; 
• a capacity for leadership and teamwork and a willingness to contribute to the life of the School and the University through collegial service and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion; and 
• a track record of success and potential for SRC contribution in at least two of the following areas. 
• Media Innovation/The Future of Television. How creative, business, production, and distribution practices are evolving and changing television production. This includes knowledge of new platforms and digital applications, audience analytics, the importance of diverse voices, and new entrepreneurial models;
• Media Industry. Current and developing television industry models, audience trends and production financing structures including newer models such as  Netflix, Amazon or other streamers.  Television production industry challenges and trends in the Canadian landscape, the Hollywood studio system and internationally;
• Television Production. An understanding of live-event or scripted television production and post-production processes and/or cross-platform production processes. Hands-on experience and professional currency are advantages. 
• Content Creation/ Media Storytelling. Traditional, streaming and innovative storytelling strategies and distribution/dissemination across various media platforms, impact on societal values and audiences.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA) (www.rfanet.ca). The RFA collective agreement can be viewed here and a summary of RFA benefits can be found.

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, is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city-building through its award-winning architecture. 

RTA School of Media

RTA defines television production broadly to include the extensive range of, screen-based entertainment content with which contemporary viewers engage—via broadcast, streaming services, transmedia distribution, or on social media platforms. Our program focuses on scripted content in the areas of drama, comedy, and children’s media and live-event television and is keenly interested in ways and means of visual storytelling yet to be developed and discovered.

Established in 1953 as the School of Radio & Television Arts, the RTA School of Media is a creative innovation hub of broadcasting, media, transmedia, gaming, interactive design, and hybrid mobile production. For the past two years, RTA has been recognized by Hollywood Reporter magazine as one of the world’s top 15 media production schools. It offers three academically rigorous undergraduate programs in media production, new media, and sports media, as well as a graduate program in media production. RTA attracts and nurtures innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial students. Its faculty is a diverse mix of highly regarded creative practitioners, innovators, and researchers, all committed to the education of tomorrow’s industry leaders, thinkers, artists, storytellers and scholars. The faculty prides itself on the excellence of its production practice and research, and on the quality of its teaching.

Research and creative areas of practice range from critical media theory and media production to experiential media, transmedia, interaction design and media entrepreneurship. We are interested in candidates who will contribute to our existing research and teaching strengths by bringing innovative and diverse perspectives and experiences to the school.

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 school, we firmly believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to this path; our current 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. 

Visit us on Twitter:  @RyersonU, @RyersonHR, @RyersonVPFA and @RyersonECI and our.

Ryerson is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. To find out more about legal and policy obligations please visit the accessibility and 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 (click on “Start Application Process” to begin) by April 15, 2021. The application must contain the following: 

• a letter of application; 
• a curriculum vitae; 
• a statement of research interests; 
• a teaching dossier and results of teaching evaluations; and
• names of three individuals who may be contacted for references.

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 the DHC Chair DHC Chair Alexandra Bal at .

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 .  

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 .