Assistant Director, Design Thinking Initiative

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

The Assistant Director, in partnership with the Director of the Design Thinking Initiative (DTI) develops strategic curricular and co-curricular partnerships across campus. Within an evolving framework of design, supports faculty and teaching staff in utilizing DTI's resources for undergraduate research, teaching, and creative projects. Fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, advances faculty innovation, and enhances the integration of design and making across the curriculum. Spearheads coordination and mapping of campus-wide design, making, and prototyping initiatives. Assists in developing DTI as a vibrant hub for experimentation and innovation in collaboration with the Conway Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, the Wurtele Center for Leadership and other campus partners.

This is an in-person, 2-year fixed-term position.

Essential Functions

STRATEGIC PARTNERING & COLLABORATION (40%)

• Work closely with the director to align DTI's programs with institutional priorities and goals.
• Create partnerships with academic departments and programs to support the integration of DTI's approach to design within students' academic experience, including supporting interdisciplinary, project-based scholarship, applied problem-solving learning, and futures studies.
• Serve as a liaison between faculty, staff, and external stakeholders, identifying resources and partnerships within and beyond DTI.
• Work closely with the Collaborative Innovation Units Conway Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Wurtele Center for Leadership, and Reflective Practices) to support interdisciplinary initiatives and promote collaborative innovation, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

FACULTY & CLASS SUPPORT (30%)

• Partner with faculty to design and deliver participatory design and hands-on making curriculum that enhance student learning and engagement.
• Provide logistical and technical support for integrating design and prototyping activities into classes and research projects.
• Offer workshops and consultations for faculty on incorporating design methodologies and prototyping practices into their work.
• In rotation with the Director of DTI, occasionally teach core courses offered by DTI & the Making Concentration.

PROGRAM DESIGN & FACILITATION (20%)

• Develop and implement strategies to promote and tell the story of DTI's offerings, highlighting our role as a space for experimentation and innovation.
• Collaborate with the Communications Partner and student workers to share stories of impactful projects through social media, newsletters, and events.
• Represent DTI at campus and external events to raise awareness of our resources and mission.

ADMINISTRATIVE (10%)

• Maintain a comprehensive map of design and making across campus, including courses, workshops, research projects, spaces, and other activities.
• Identify gaps and opportunities for expanding access to design and making resources for faculty and students.
• Administer, support, and analyze data from DTI's curricular enhancement programs.
• In partnership with the Prototyping Studio Manager, mentor up to 15 student workers, fostering their development as leaders and creative problem-solvers.
• In partnership with the Director and Communications Coordinator, develop the content to help tell DTI's story with more breadth and depth to a wider range of audiences.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in design, education, innovation, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, or faculty support in higher education or a similar setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of human-centered design, design thinking, and hands-on making/prototyping methodologies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build bridges across curricular and co-curricular programming.
• Experience and/or familiarity with a liberal arts undergraduate college environment.
• Proven experience designing and teaching real-world and team-based curricula grounded in the learning sciences.
• High aptitude for strategic thinking, program design, and project management, including a proven ability to see a project from conception through implementation.
• Track record of working collaboratively and productively with a range of constituencies within an educational setting, including students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and community partners.
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, facilitation, and writing skills are essential.

Review of applications will begin

Position Type:

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women's colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.