Overview
About UMass Amherst: The flagship of the Commonwealth, a public land-grant research university. Located on nearly 1,450 acres in Western Massachusetts, it offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges. The university is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community and to achieving excellence while addressing environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges.
About the Departments
Building and Construction Technology (BCT) is part of the Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo) within the College of Natural Sciences and the School of Earth and Sustainability. BCT collaborates with Architecture and Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning in the UMass John W. Olver Design Building. The ECo department includes programs in Building and Construction Technology, Natural Resources Conservation, Environmental Science, and Sustainability Science, with a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and diverse faculty recruitment.
Department of Architecture is part of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. It offers an undergraduate BS in Architecture, a Master of Architecture, and a Master of Design. The program emphasizes design education grounded in the art and science of the built environment and provides a path to licensure through the NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture program.
Job Description
The Building and Construction Technology Program (Department of Environmental Conservation) and the Department of Architecture invite applications for a full-time lecturer position to be the director and primary instructor for the UMass DesignBuild program. The successful candidate will provide core organizational, administrative, and instructional leadership for a service-learning program in which students construct a house or project each year and contribute the structure to a local community partner and/or university housing efforts. This is a collaboration among the BCT program, the Department of Architecture, and the Five Colleges Architectural Studies program.
Required focus on design-build pedagogy and experience in both architectural design and full-scale construction.
This is a calendar-year Lecturer (100% appointment, 12 months), joint hire between ECO as primary and Architecture as secondary.
The initial appointment is two years with renewal based on performance and program need. The successful candidate will be a core faculty member of BCT and Architecture and will engage with UMass groups and regional industry. Emphasis is placed on faculty-student interaction, teaching, and mentoring; a departmental mentoring committee and access to university professional development programs are provided.
Presumed start date: September 1, 2026.
Essential Functions
Teaching Duties:
- Spring: Teach a 6 credit undergraduate and graduate DesignBuild design studio leading to construction documents for the upcoming project.
- Summer: Instruct two 6-credit DesignBuild courses during which the structure is built.
- Fall: Teach BCT 313 (3 cr.) on light-frame, residential construction; may coincide with the design/build project completion duties.
Service Duties:
Construction Management Duties: Perform tasks required for successful construction of the design-build project, including:
- Prepare the UMass DesignBuild site for student arrival (tools, materials, equipment, safety, etc.).
- Procure materials and equipment for the build.
- Instruct students in construction procedures, including tool and job-site safety.
- Coordinate with code officials, municipal authorities, contractors, and suppliers.
- Complete construction after summer builds and deliver to the community partner.
Program Management Duties: Manage the UMass Design Build program, including the following:
- Solicitation and procurement of DesignBuild projects.
- Negotiations and agreements with community partners and collaborators.
- Fundraising for projects and for the grant-funded faculty position.
- Overseeing program and construction finances with University accountants.
- Interfacing with UMass Legal for annual agreements and managing multi-party agreements.
- Student recruitment and outreach to media, donors, officials, and professionals.
- Campus construction site supervision and site updates.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, and will partner with CNS and HFA to support experiential learning. Other duties may be assigned to support the College of Natural Sciences’ mission and goals.
Other Functions
- Promote teamwork, equality, and inclusiveness.
- Partner with CNS and campus colleagues to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the College of Natural Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., architecture, building science, construction technology, construction management, civil engineering, or similar).
- Construction Supervisor License (CSL) in Massachusetts or equivalent by time of hire.
- OSHA 10 Safety Certification by time of hire.
- Previous onsite experience in light-frame construction.
- Previous teaching experience in construction and/or design programs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Architect license in Massachusetts by time of hire.
- OSHA 30 safety certification.
Physical Demands / Working Conditions
Work occurs in a construction environment. The candidate must be comfortable in that environment and able to perform reasonable physical duties as appropriate.
Salary Information
The expected salary range is $80,117.00 to $118,067.00.
- The low end represents the minimum salary for the rank per the collective bargaining agreement.
- The high end reflects salaries at or above the department median for faculty with substantial experience.
- Specific pay will be determined by the University if an offer is extended.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit:
- Cover letter describing interest, qualifications, and teaching philosophy (max 1000 words).
- Comprehensive CV.
- Documentation of required licenses, as applicable.
- Portfolio of design work or construction project listing (not to exceed 25MB).
- Contact information of three references (name, title, address, phone, and email).
Application review will begin January 15, 2026. For questions, contact the search co-chairs: L. Carl Fiocchi ( ) and Robert Williams ( ).
UMass Amherst and CNS are committed to inclusive excellence. The University welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
#J-18808-Ljbffr