Assistant Professor: Design | Urban Design (Tenure-Track)

Design | Urban Design (Tenure-Track) The Department of Architecture at Kansas State University invites applications for a tenure‑track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning August 2026. We are seeking individuals committed ...

  • 520693
  • Manhattan
  • Architecture
  • Academic / Faculty - 9 month
  • Closing on: Apr 1 2026
  • On-site

Design | Urban Design (Tenure-Track)
The Department of Architecture at Kansas State University invites applications for a tenure‑track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning August 2026. We are seeking individuals committed to architectural education through studio teaching and design inquiry.

The successful candidate will teach a design studio as well as a required or elective course in their area of expertise each semester. In addition, they will engage in research, scholarship, and/or creative activity and contribute to the collective governance of the department, college, and university through service and collaboration.

Design
Design studio teaching is central to the department’s curriculum, engaging a range of contexts, scales, and methods. Candidates should demonstrate a clear approach to design pedagogy and be prepared to teach both core and advanced studios. We are particularly interested in candidates who view design as a mode of critical investigation. Their studio teaching should engage digital tools and address contemporary issues within the discipline and the world at large through current and emergent pedagogical modes and practices.

Urban Design
The successful candidate will develop and teach a required introductory lecture course in urban design. The course will provide students with foundational knowledge including formal and spatial strategies, analytical tools, and key historical and theoretical concepts. The course will also take a critical perspective by examining the social, cultural, and political contexts of the urban environment. This includes the synthesis of scales of influence from human scale to buildings to cities to regions.

The successful candidate will also collaborate and contribute to the re-envisioning and teaching of urban design within the department. They will bring leadership and expertise in the integration of urban design principles throughout the curriculum and studio sequence.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal professional degree in Architecture (M.Arch or equivalent).
• Professional practice experience in architecture sufficient to have fulfilled the experience requirement for architectural licensure.
• Interest and ability to teach architectural design studios.
• Ability to develop and teach required and elective courses in their area of expertise.
• Interest and ability to develop a research/creative agenda related to their area of expertise.

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

How to Apply

Application Materials:

• Letter of interest addressing qualifications;
• Curriculum Vitae describing academic and professional experience;
• A list of three references with contact information; and
• Digital portfolio documenting: teaching, scholarly, professional work

Direct all inquiries to Professor Michael McGlynn, Search Committee Chair, (785) 532-5953 or mmcglynn@ksu.edu. Review of candidates will begin January 15, 2026. 

About Us

Department of Architecture
The Department of Architecture at Kansas State University is a nationally recognized program offering a professional Master of Architecture and a post-professional Master of Science in Architecture. The department sponsors studios at the Kansas City Design Center (KCDC) in Kansas City, MO, and the Italian Studies Program in Orvieto, Italy. Faculty may also participate in the college-wide interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Environmental Design & Planning. The department is located on K-State’s main campus in Manhattan, KS, in the scenic Flint Hills region, about 120 miles west of Kansas City. To learn more about the Department of Architecture and our programs, please visit our website at apdesign.k-state.edu/arch/.

Application Window

Applications close on: April 1, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$75,000 - $85,000

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Why Join Us:

Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.

Work Authorization: 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Remote and Hybrid work options:

Some positions are eligible for remote or hybrid working arrangements.  An employee who is working in a remote or hybrid capacity for K-State must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available for anyone who resides in the state of Idaho.

Background Screening Statement:

Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.

Interview Preferences:

Kansas State University honors interview preferences for qualified applicants who are veterans or individuals with disabilities. Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, submit all required application materials, and submit required preference documentation by the closing date on the job advertisement will be granted a first-level interview.

The disability and veteran interview preferences do not apply to student employment positions, temporary positions, athletics positions, academic and administrative department heads*, positions that require licensure as a physician, and positions that require that the employee be admitted to practice law in Kansas.

*Heads of Departments refers to any individual holding a primary leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, management and operational oversight of a recognized academic or administrative unit within the university.

To learn more about interview preferences at K-State, please visit our interview preferences page.

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