Washington State University School of Design and Construction

NOTICE OF VACANCY APPOINTMENT: Architecture Position: Open Track – Full-time, 9-month

• Assistant Professor (continuous Career-Track) OR
• Assistant Professor (permanent Tenure-Track)

LOCATION: Washington State University – Pullman, WA This is an in-person teaching appointment on the WSU Pullman Campus.

START DATE: August 16, 2026

OPPORTUNITY:

The School of Design and Construction (SDC) at Washington State University (WSU) invites applications for a full-time faculty member as either a continuous career-track (non-tenure track) Assistant Professor OR a permanent tenure-track Assistant Professor

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community committed to being the premier destination for integrated design and construction education in the nation. Through collaboration across Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, and emerging programs in Energy Conscious Construction, faculty and students work together to prepare the next generation of professionals for the complex, interconnected challenges of the built environment.

The successful candidate will teach design studios and lecture or seminar courses that form the core of the architecture curriculum at both undergraduate and NAAB-accredited graduate levels. Teaching areas may include design fundamentals, building systems, architectural theory, or professional practice, depending on expertise, as well as interdisciplinary courses offered across the school. This position is expected to contribute to school and university service, support student learning and success, and participate in an inclusive academic community. Those with multidisciplinary research and/or teaching interests are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities for Career-Track Assistant Professor

This is a 100% FTE position with an 80% Teaching and 20% service workload distribution. The successful candidate will primarily focus on teaching excellence, contributing to curriculum development, studio coordination, and mentorship of students. The ability to conduct research and scholarly activities in a defined area of interest is beneficial but not required.

Duties and Responsibilities for Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

This is a 100% FTE position with a 40% Research, 40% Teaching, and 20% Service workload distribution. Similar expectations as above are expected for a tenure-track candidate. The successful candidate is also required to develop and maintain a nationally recognized program of research and/or creative scholarship that leads to external grant funding, peer-reviewed publications, and national/ international awards. This position is an opportunity to leverage the SDC resources, described below, and establish a research/teaching practice of national and international significance addressing critical design challenges for the future of architecture and the built environment in alignment with strategic research areas in the SDC, which include decarbonization of the built environment, emerging technologies and advanced computational design, and health and well-being. For the tenure-track position, the candidate will also be expected to conduct research that supports architecture education and/or the design industry and if possible in one or more key research research areas within the SDC.

Required Qualifications for Career-Track Assistant Professor:

• Master’s degree in Architecture or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in architecture or the design and construction industry.
• Demonstrated ability or potential for effective teaching in design studios and non-studio core professional program courses in architecture as well as the interdisciplinary courses across the curricula.
• Demonstrated aptitude and willingness to engage with students from differing disciplines and backgrounds, and community/industry partners.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including evidence of collaborative work within interdisciplinary research or professional contexts.

Required Qualifications for Tenure-Track Assistant Professor:

• Master’s degree in Architecture or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in architecture or the design and construction industry.
• Demonstrated potential for developing nationally recognized research with peer-reviewed publications and external funding.
• Demonstrated ability or potential for effective teaching in design studios and non-studio core professional program courses in architecture as well as the interdisciplinary courses across the curricula.
• Demonstrated aptitude and willingness to engage with students from differing disciplines and backgrounds, and community/industry partners.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including evidence of collaborative work within interdisciplinary research or professional contexts.

Preferred Qualifications (for all tracks):

• PhD in Architecture or closely related discipline. All but dissertation will be considered with an expectation of completion within one (1) year of hiring date.
• Holds a current license in practicing architecture.
• Previous experience teaching at a higher education level with experience in an architecture program.
• Four (4) or more years of relevant professional experience in architecture or the design and construction industry.
• Demonstrated teaching and/or professional experience addressing a variety of project types (including, but not limited to, residential, commercial, and institutional), responsibility areas (including, but not limited to, pre-design through construction administration, including project management) and scales of development (from building design to urban design).
• Received peer-reviewed design awards, publications, competitive public work and/or other indications of meritorious work in architectural practice.
• Demonstrated body of professional architectural work that engages 21st century challenges in innovative ways and/or leverages emergent methods and/or tools to meet these challenges.
• Teaching that demonstrated advancing student understanding at the intersections of architectural practice and one or more of the strategic research areas in the SDC.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:

The SDC provides a vital academic and research culture where students and faculty engage in complex social, environmental, and technological questions of our time. We seek forward-thinking candidates with the vision, passion, and expertise to advance the field and inspire future leaders.

The SDC is comprised of accredited academic degree programs in Construction Management (B.S. ACCE + CM minor), Architecture (B.S. + M.Arch NAAB), Interior Design (B.A. CIDA + M.A. Research), Landscape Architecture (BLA LAAB), Construction Engineering with the Department of Civil Engineering (B.S. ABET), and emerging certificate programs and a Master of Science in Building Science with Departments in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The SDC is committed to being the premier destination for integrated design and construction education in the nation. The collaborative make-up of the SDC enables faculty to work with students from different disciplines in an integrated environment with the goal of promoting and increasing effectiveness within the professions. Interdisciplinary and collaborative opportunities for both teaching and research also extend throughout the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, especially with the Composite Materials & Engineering Center, the Integrated Design + Construction Laboratory (https://idcl.wsu.edu/), and the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. Visit (www.sdc.wsu.edu) for more information on the School of Design and Construction.

LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY: This position reports administratively to the School of Design and Construction Director.

ACADEMIC YEAR (9 MONTH) SALARY:  Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Career-Track Assistant Professor: $80,000 – $90,000

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor: $85,000 – $95,000

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.

For a more detailed summary of benefits offered by WSU for Faculty please review the Summary of Benefits for WSU Faculty and Total Compensation.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: A complete application must include:

• Cover letter outlining the candidate’s teaching statement, research statement (if applicable), qualifications, pertinent experience, and vision for the position (2-page maximum).
• A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting educational and professional experience.
• Portfolio of personal creative and/or scholarly work. Portfolio must clearly communicate a candidate’s role and responsibilities for all work shown. The portfolio may also include course materials (i.e., syllabi) if available. (20-page maximum at 25 Mb file size)
• Save the file as “Last Name_ARCH Tenure Professor_FY2026”. Email the single PDF document as an attachment to the Architecture Search Committee Chair: Omar Al-Hassawi omar.al-hassawi@wsu.edu

POSTING CLOSING DATE: Applications must be submitted through WSU’s applicant tracking system: Assistant-Professor—Architecture_R-14290.

Applicants must submit their application by February 1, 2026. First consideration will be provided to applications submitted prior to January 5, 2026. For questions about the position contact: Omar Al-Hassawi omar.al-hassawi@wsu.edu

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY:

Washington State University is a land grant, multiple-campus, Research 1 institution. This position will serve on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of around 20,000 students and is located in Southeastern Washington on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. Located about 70 miles south of metropolitan Spokane, Pullman is also a quick drive away from the scenic Idaho panhandle and Moscow Mountain. The rolling hills of the Palouse offer a wide range of activities and a true four-season climate. The area provides ample opportunity to enjoy the cultural and academic hub of both Washington State University and the University of Idaho, in the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho. Find more information about the region online at https://pullmanchamber.com.

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/