The College of Design is situated within a world-class public research institution dedicated to meeting the challenges of the future. We believe that every employee plays an important role in achieving the college's teaching, research, and outreach mission.
Welcome, Job Seekers!
Employment Opportunities
Full position descriptions for job opportunities can be found on the University's Office of Human Resources' employment website. To view and apply for current opportunities, enter the job ID number in the keyword search.
If you have any questions on how to apply, please reach out to the College of Design HR Team at [email protected].
Faculty Positions
Lecturer - Apparel Design
We especially encourage and seek professionals with experience teaching or working in the apparel industry to apply. Courses cover a variety of topics from traditional to digital design. Successful applicants will have a deep understanding of apparel design practice (preferably through applied experiences), which enable them to teach apparel design courses to undergraduates at all levels within the College of Design and across the University. Desired degree requirements are a Bachelor’s or Master’s and at least 5 years of industry experience in apparel design, soft goods products, or a related field, or a terminal degree comparable to the MFA or PhD in apparel design or a related field.
This is a temporary, non-tenured, Academic Professional and Administrative (P&A) position, paid on a per course basis. These appointments are typically arranged semester by semester and employment is contingent upon the course meeting its enrollment target.
Job ID: 360034
Teaching Specialist/Lecturer
The Department of Design, Housing and Apparel (DHA) in the College welcomes applications for Part-Time Instructors to teach designated courses based on the following areas according to the needs of the department:
• Graphic Design program in the area of identity and branding
• Retail Merchandising
• Apparel Design
• Interior Design
Job ID: 357036
Learn more about this position and apply.
Adjunct Instructor - Architecture
The School of Architecture has periodic openings for Adjunct Faculty to teach lectures or seminars, design-based courses, and studios or workshops. Courses vary from 3 credit half semester workshops to 6 credit full semester studio courses. In-classroom hours vary from 3 hours per week for a 3-credit lecture, to 12 hours per week for a 6-credit studio.
Job ID: 355923
Learn more about this position and apply.
Part-time Adjunct Faculty - Landscape Architecture (multiple openings)
The Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Minnesota invites applications for part-time faculty teaching positions at the level of Adjunct Assistant Professor. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in teaching and mentorship, either in the classroom or professional office, along with applied knowledge of contemporary landscape architecture practices. In particular, candidates should be able to demonstrate strong credentials related to one of the following areas of landscape architecture practice; the design of urban public space and ecological systems; the theory and design of urban integrated infrastructure; the programming, design and construction of site-scale projects; advanced visual representation techniques; landscape analysis workflows, including methods for utilizing GIS data; and/or, earthwork grading and stormwater management.
Job ID: 355925
Learn more about this position and apply.
Design Justice Faculty Cluster Hire
Design Justice is a new initiative within the College of Design, seeking to create space, policy, and practices that support the inclusion and retention of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) as well as other communities who have been historically underinvested. Design Justice is supported by a group of individuals across design disciplines, known as the Collective, who are committed to anti-racism, decolonized pedagogy, and the liberation of communities who have been underinvested historically, in both design academia and the design industry. Areas of scholarship, teaching, and/or service will involve: anti-racism, racial justice, racial disparities, and/or racial discrimination; equity, power/privilege, and/or bias; benefits to the BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee populations; environmental and social justice; and/or other forms of studying and countering systemic oppression.
Successful candidates for all of the faculty positions will have the clear potential, demonstrated ability, and/or related scholarship to support our BIPOC and other marginalized communities within their respective discipline. We are looking to expand the Design Justice Collective with a cluster hire of several faculty, in various programs across two years.
Staff Positions
Director of Communications
This position is a key member of the College of Design and is responsible for handling a variety of complex communications and marketing projects in support of the College’s goals to increase audience awareness of, and exposure to, faculty, students, academic programs, and research and outreach initiatives among internal and external constituencies. The position develops and oversees communications strategy and content focused on all forms of media; using extensive research and knowledge base to produce recommendations on vital collegiate matters – consulting with the Dean, assistant and associate deans, directors, and managers throughout the College and University on a variety of topics.
Job ID: 360701
Researcher 3 - Minnesota Design Center
The Minnesota Design Center seeks a motivated individual to serve as a Researcher to assist with research, design, and project management support for several multi-year community-based research projects.
Job ID: 360587
Student Positions
Administrative Assistant - Kusske Design Initiative
Kusske Design Initiative (KDI) is seeking a CDes graduate student to serve as an administrative assistant to support the initiative’s events, programs, and operations. This position will begin with a 25% fall term appointment and may be renewed for additional terms, dependent on performance. A 25% appointment is 10 hours per week on average. The graduate administrative assistant will report to KDI Coordinator Alanna Nissen.
Job ID: 360600
Learn more about this position and apply.
Research Assistant - Minnesota Design Center
The Minnesota Design Center has funding for two community based, urban- and rural-design programs: an Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) grant from the State of Minnesota and a Design Assist (DA) “Ecosystem” grant from the Bush Foundation. The ESMC grant involves helping small cities, 5,000 or less in population, leverage their assets and think strategically about their community’s future in order to be more successful in pursuing State and Federal funding. The DA program will provide design assistance to under-served communities in larger communities across the three states that are the focus of the Bush Foundation’s giving: Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Job ID: 360148
Learn more about this position and apply.
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Summer Term
The Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) and Minnesota Design Center (MDC) seeks a motivated individual for an undergraduate research assistant position. This person will support the development of updated project examples and resources on the CSBR and MDC website on sustainable development research projects at the Center for Sustainable Building Research. This person will work directly with the Center Directors and Center Administrators. The appointment is for the summer 2024 semester with the possibility of an extension. At the end of this appointment, needs will be reassessed and discussed with the student worker.
Job ID: 360351
Learn more about this position and apply.
Bringing people together in new ways, fostering discoveries, and making our world a better place is what we do at the University of Minnesota and the College of Design. Located within the vibrant metropolitan community of Minneapolis and St. Paul, employees of the college have the opportunity to work and connect with one of the major design communities in the United States.
The University is dedicated to keeping you and your family healthy—physically, emotionally, financially, socially, and professionally. We believe in the concept of total compensation: a complete package of rewards that includes not just wages but a full scope of benefits to make sure our faculty and staff remain happy, healthy, and engaged in their work.
