Art Instructor, Ceramics, Tenure-Track

Thank you for your interest in Truckee Meadows Community College. If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact Human Resources at (775) 673-7168 or humanresources@tmcc.edu.

Job Description

Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), located in Reno, Nevada, is seeking applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Art Instructor – Ceramics.

The successful candidate will provide instruction and coordinate the Ceramics area while contributing to the broader Fine Arts curriculum. The position requires an accomplished practicing artist and committed educator with strong technical knowledge of ceramic processes, materials, studio operations, equipment, and safety.

The Art Instructor – Ceramics will teach beginning and intermediate Ceramics courses, including intermediate wheel throwing, sculptural ceramics, plaster casting, and additional Fine Arts courses based on program needs and the successful candidate's qualifications. The faculty member will provide continuity for and coordination of the Ceramics area, oversee the safe and effective use of ceramics instructional spaces and specialized equipment, collaborate with and mentor part-time faculty, support students pursuing transfer and professional opportunities, and contribute actively to curriculum development, assessment, program review, recruitment, and the continued development of the Fine Arts program.

The studio supports beginning and intermediate instruction in wheel throwing, handbuilding, slab construction, extrusion, slip casting, clay mixing and reclaim, glaze preparation, and mold making. TMCC’s Ceramics area includes two dedicated teaching studios with 18 pottery wheels, a dedicated kiln room with seven electric kilns supporting Cone 05 bisque and Cone 5–6 glaze firings, and dedicated clay, glaze, and bulk-storage rooms.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with Fine Arts faculty to strengthen curriculum, support student achievement, maintain safe and effective instructional facilities, and develop opportunities that connect students with professional artistic practice, transfer pathways, and the regional arts community. This position is expected for a Fall 2027 start.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Ceramics, Studio Art with a demonstrated concentration in Ceramics, or a closely related studio-art discipline from a regionally accredited institution.

2. College-level teaching experience in Ceramics equivalent to at least one (1) academic year, or 30 semester credit/contact hours.

3. Demonstrated professional knowledge of wheel throwing and handbuilding processes.

4. Demonstrated knowledge of ceramic materials, clay bodies, glazes, surface treatments, firing processes, and finishing techniques.

5. Demonstrated experience operating and firing ceramics kilns.

6. Demonstrated knowledge of safe ceramics studio operations, materials handling, equipment use, and maintenance.

7. Evidence of an active professional creative practice in Ceramics or a closely related studio discipline.

8. Demonstrated ability to teach additional studio and/or General Education courses within the Fine Arts curriculum.

9. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and professionally with diverse populations of students, faculty, and staff.

10. Evidence of effective written and oral communication skills and innovative instructional practices.

Preferred Qualifications

1. College-level Ceramics teaching experience exceeding one academic year or 30 semester credit/contact hours.

2. Demonstrated expertise in both wheel throwing and handbuilding.

3. Experience with clay-body development and glaze formulation or glaze chemistry.

4. Experience operating and firing electric and gas kilns.

5. Experience with kiln maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, kiln furniture, and firing schedules.

6. Experience managing or coordinating a college, university, nonprofit, community, or professional ceramics studio.

7. Demonstrated knowledge of ceramics studio safety, chemical hygiene, dust control, ventilation, hazardous-material handling, SDS documentation, and safe equipment operation.

8. Experience managing materials, equipment, purchasing, inventory, and studio budgets.

9. Experience developing or revising Ceramics curriculum.

10. Experience with program assessment, curriculum review, program review, and related faculty administrative responsibilities.

11. Experience coordinating or mentoring part-time faculty, studio technicians, student workers, or teaching assistants.

12. Ability to teach 3D Visual Foundations and/or Sculpture.

13. Ability to teach additional Fine Arts courses such as Visual Foundations, Drawing, Art Appreciation, or other studio or General Education courses.

14. Experience mentoring students preparing portfolios, exhibitions, transfer applications, or professional opportunities.

15. Evidence of an active and sustained professional exhibition record or comparable creative activity.

Academic Faculty Responsibilities

Teaching and workload assignments are scheduled throughout the calendar year and may require evening and weekend obligations at one or more College locations.

1. Teach 30 (15/15) credit or contact hours during the academic year, August through May, in assigned modalities and locations according to the needs of the Fine Arts program.

2. Teach beginning and intermediate Ceramics courses, including intermediate Wheel Throwing and Sculptural Ceramics.

3. Teach additional Fine Arts courses based on program needs and the faculty member's qualifications.

4. Support student learning outcomes assessment processes by teaching toward approved student learning outcomes and assessing student performance.

5. Assist with curriculum and program review, revision, and assessment.

6. Develop and revise Ceramics curriculum, assignments, instructional materials, and innovative teaching practices that improve student learning.

7. Teach and demonstrate wheel throwing, handbuilding, clay preparation, surface development, glazing, kiln loading, firing, finishing, and professional presentation.

8. Maintain current knowledge of contemporary and historical ceramic practices and incorporate appropriate technical, conceptual, historical, and professional content into instruction.

9. Support students in developing technical competency, conceptual strength, problem-solving abilities, artistic voice, and professional practices.

Ceramics Studio and Program Responsibilities

10. Coordinate the Ceramics instructional area and related instructional spaces, promoting consistency in curriculum, student learning outcomes, studio procedures, equipment use, and safety across Ceramics course sections.

11. Assist department administration with the recruitment, mentoring, and support of part-time Ceramics faculty and promote effective communication and coordination among faculty teaching in the Ceramics program.

12. Maintain a safe, functional, clean, organized, and professionally operated ceramics instructional environment, including the development, communication, and implementation of studio safety procedures and compliance with applicable College and regulatory safety requirements.

13. Coordinate the safe operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and scheduling of specialized ceramics equipment and kilns, and work with Facilities and other College personnel to address instructional facility, ventilation, electrical, plumbing, and related infrastructure needs.

14. Coordinate the safe handling, storage, use, and documentation of clay, glaze materials, chemicals, tools, and supplies, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labeling, chemical hygiene, dust-control practices, housekeeping, ventilation, and personal protective equipment requirements.

15. Manage the ordering, inventory, organization, and availability of clay, glaze materials, raw chemicals, tools, kiln furniture, consumables, and other instructional supplies necessary to support Ceramics courses.

16. Participate in the development of budgets and resource requests for Ceramics facilities, equipment, instructional materials, and program needs.

17. Identify long-range Ceramics facility, equipment, and instructional needs and participate in planning improvements to the instructional environment.

18. Develop and maintain relationships with regional artists, ceramics organizations, schools, universities, studios, galleries, and community partners that support student learning and the Ceramics program.

19. Support student exhibitions, recruitment activities, visiting-artist opportunities, workshops, and other educational programming related to Ceramics and the Fine Arts program

Additional Academic Faculty Responsibilities

20. Work closely with department peers and administrators as an effective teacher and contributing member of the academic unit.

21. Attend and actively participate in College events, department and division meetings, College or Nevada System of Higher Education committees, and community-service activities.

22. Engage in ongoing professional development to remain current in field knowledge and pedagogies that expand breadth and depth of understanding in the discipline.

23. Complete training outlined in TMCC's Faculty Standards of Online Instruction when and as needed.

24. Hold required student-support and office hours in accordance with College policy.

25. Participate in student recruitment and retention efforts.

26. Travel occasionally to community and workforce sites, conferences, exhibitions, events, and other locations according to program needs.

27. Communicate and interact professionally and collegially with faculty, students, staff, and administration in the best interests of the College and the people it serves.

28. Comply with departmental administrative responsibilities and published College and NSHE policies and procedures.

29. Uphold the Mission, Vision, and Values of TMCC and perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with them.

30. Adhere to the published codes of NSHE as detailed in the Board of Regents Handbook.

31. Adhere to the Code of Ethical Standards of the State of Nevada.

32. Other duties as assigned.

Salary and Benefits Information:

Salary: Initial salary placement will be dependent on education level and years of experience. This position is a 9-month role, totaling 172 working days per year. The salaries listed below are based on this schedule, paid over 12 months:

Master’s: $60,634 - $72,761

MFA or Master’s + 30: $63,444 - $76,133

Ph.D: $68,739 - $82,487

Perks of Working at TMCC

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
• 19.25% retirement match
• Life insurance, long-term disability, generous sick leave - NSHE Benefits
• Employer-paid long term disability (LTD) at 60% of salary up to $7,500 per month-UNUM.
• Sports and Fitness Center with annual or monthly membership options for employee and spouse/domestic partner.
• ComPsych supports employees through life's difficult moments.
• Professional Grant-in-Aid: TMCC is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.
• Free parking on all TMCC campus locations.
• No State income tax
• All full-time faculty and staff are provided with a variety of discounts and employee purchase programs.

Additional Information

Transcripts

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.  Any expense related to the evaluation will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Sponsorship

TMCC is not able to support sponsorship for employment. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States at the time they begin employment.

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact humanresources@tmcc.edu.

Application Questions

1. Describe your approach to teaching Ceramics at a community college, where students may enter with widely different levels of artistic experience, technical preparation, academic background, and educational goals. How do you develop both technical competency and individual artistic voice?

2. Describe your experience managing or working within a shared Ceramics studio. How do you approach kiln operation, equipment maintenance, clay and glaze materials, chemical safety, dust control, ventilation, organization, and the development of a safe studio culture?

In order to be given full consideration all of the following must be attached to your application.

1) Curriculum Vitae.

2) Cover Letter highlighting how your qualifications meet the requirements of the position.

3) Contact Information for three Professional References – Please make a note if you do not want your present employer contacted unless necessary to determine your qualifications for the position.

4) Copy of Unofficial Transcript

5) Separate document addressing the application questions.

6) Professional Artist Portfolio containing approximately 15–20 images of recent work, including title, date, media/materials, dimensions, and exhibition information where applicable.

7) Teaching Portfolio containing approximately 10–20 examples of student work representing a range of course levels or assignments, a teaching philosophy, a sample syllabus, and one or two sample assignments or projects.

Posting Close Date

11/7/2026

Note to Applicant

Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications. Search committees will use this information to determine that applicants meet minimum qualifications as listed in the job announcement.

This posting will close at 12:00 am on the date listed above. The posting will no longer be available to apply to after 11:59 pm the day prior.

All documents, including unofficial transcripts for academic positions, must be received prior to the closing date listed on the job announcement.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check upon hire.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.