Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar

Position: Chair
Department: Interior Design
Position Number: F18020
Position Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: July 1, 2013
Review of Applications: October 7, 2012 and continues until position is filled.

VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) is the Qatar campus of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, VCUQatar offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, graphic design, interior design and painting & printmaking; Bachelor of Arts in art history, and, a Master of Fine Arts degree in design studies. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from more than 40 different countries.

VCUQatar strives to provide an engaged, learner-centered environment that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation in a global setting. The university hosts the biennial international design conference Tasmeem Doha and supports the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Islamic Art Symposium, attracting globally recognized designers, academics and thinkers while fostering sustainable, university-community partnerships that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. The university has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth. It has established itself as a center of excellence for education and research in art and design.

VCUQatar has 131 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of 249. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre campus community. Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, HEC Paris and UCL have since joined the university.

Qatar is a liberal, hospitable and progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. English is the standard second language and the population of Qatar is approximately 1.65 million and growing – 350,000 Qatari, the remainder expatriates. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, and also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Department of Interior Design seeks an energetic, enthusiastic, and experienced leader to head the first and only CIDA-accredited program outside the USA and Canada. The Chair will serve as an advocate for the department within the university and to its various external constituencies, and will work collaboratively with the chairs of other departments in supporting the strategic goals of VCUQatar. Possessing comprehensive knowledge of interior design theory, process and application, the Chair will guide and mentor the department faculty in teaching, research, and curricular development, and will work closely with the Chair of Interior Design at VCU in Richmond to ensure the highest standards in interior design education on both campuses. The chair will ensure compliance to VCU policies and procedures, support development of strategic goals and take the initiative on collaboration and outreach.

The Chair will oversee curriculum development, implementation (including course scheduling), instruction and assessment; mentor, supervise and evaluate faculty in teaching, research and service; manage departmental resources including facilities, equipment and budget; facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to design education; coordinate internship placements for Interior Design students; maintain an active research/professional practice agenda. The Chair will teach one course per semester and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
•MFA in Interior Design or equivalent highly preferred; graduate degree required.
•Minimum 5 years university teaching experience required and ability to teach at all levels of the program
•Previous administrative experience at the post-secondary level highly preferred.
•Experienced researcher with a strong record of academic and/or professional practice who is capable of mentoring the faculty in developing their research agendas.
•Excellent communication and leadership skills and the ability to build and sustain a spirit of collaboration
•Well-organized, energetic and effective manager.
•Demonstrated experience in working in and fostering a culturally diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU and VCUQatar.

BENEFITS
•Competitive international salary
•Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
•30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
•Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
•Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
•Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
•Monthly transportation allowance
•Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
•International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

Application Process: Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a curriculum vitae, twenty (20) samples of personal work, twenty (20) samples of student work and the names of five references including email and telephone contact information to Tomaree Porter (tlporter@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator, Qatar Support Office. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information on VCUQatar and this unique international opportunity, please visit
www.vcu.edu/arts/employment/qatar