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Art Department Head Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Crucible

Woodworking Department Head

Oakland, CA · On-site

$30/hr

Woodworking Department Head Reports To: Director of Programs Status: Part-Time, (24hrs per week ... In addition to supporting working and emerging artists and art students, The Crucible is ...

Uasys

Department Head, Business

Fayetteville, AR

... art scene, or take a scenic stroll along the picturesque riverfront trails. With a welcoming ... Department: College of Business and Industry Department's Website: Summary of Job Duties: This 12 ...

Bonhams

Senior Specialist, American Art

Marlborough, MA · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

... American Art department, responsible for driving business development, securing high-value ... Working within a national team and reporting to the Head of American Art, this role combines deep ...

Bonhams

Head of American Art, US

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

The Role Based in New York, the Head of American Art, US is responsible for leading and growing ... Own and deliver against personal and departmental sales targets and P&L objectives. * Develop and ...

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How much do art department head jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for art department head in the United States is $24.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.32 and $26.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Art Department Head do?

An Art Department Head oversees the visual aspects of a film, television show, or theater production, ensuring that the set, props, and overall design match the project's creative vision. They manage and coordinate the work of the art department team, including set designers, artists, and decorators. The Art Department Head collaborates closely with the director and other department heads to achieve the desired look and feel, manages budgets, and ensures all design elements are completed on time. Their role is critical in bringing the story's world to life visually.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Art Department Head?

To thrive as an Art Department Head, you need expertise in visual arts, a strong portfolio, leadership experience, and typically a degree in art or art education. Familiarity with design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), curriculum planning tools, and educational management systems is common. Exceptional communication, team leadership, and organizational skills help foster a creative, collaborative environment. These skills ensure effective oversight of art programs, inspire both staff and students, and drive the department's creative vision forward.

What are the main challenges an Art Department Head faces when managing creative teams on large projects?

One of the key challenges for an Art Department Head is balancing creative vision with project deadlines and budgets. Coordinating a diverse team of artists, designers, and technicians requires strong communication and leadership skills, especially when resolving creative differences or adjusting to changing client requirements. Additionally, maintaining consistent quality across all visual elements while staying within resource constraints can be demanding. Successful Art Department Heads foster collaboration, support team development, and ensure the art direction aligns with overall project goals.

What is the difference between Art Department Head vs Art Director?

AspectArt Department HeadArt Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire art department, manages team, sets creative vision for projectsDevelops visual concepts, collaborates with clients and production teams, directs artists
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in fine arts, design, or related field; extensive experience in art rolesSimilar educational background; strong portfolio and experience in visual design
Work EnvironmentLeads art teams in film, TV, or game production settingsWorks closely with creative teams in similar industries, often in collaborative environments

While both roles require strong artistic skills and experience, the Art Department Head focuses on managing the entire art team and department, whereas the Art Director concentrates on creating and guiding the visual style of specific projects. Both positions are vital in creative industries like film, television, and gaming.

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Art Department Head jobs near you
Infographic showing various Art Department Head job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,600 per year, or $24.8 per hour.

Associate or Full Professor & Department Head - Art

Tamus

Commerce, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Job Title

Associate or Full Professor & Department Head - Art

Agency

East Texas A&M University

Department

Dean - CHSSA

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Commerce, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

SUMMARY:

East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Art. This is a senior leadership role with a nine-month faculty appointment that carries tenure; the head also fulfills year-round administrative responsibilities. The successful candidate will lead a comprehensive and dynamic department through its next strategic phase by assessing program strengths and opportunities, establishing clear priorities, strengthening alignment across the Commerce and Dallas locations, supporting faculty and student success, and building key regional partnerships. The Head will guide the department in identifying opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation while ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence, institutional priorities, and long-term viability.

East Texas A&M University seeks a strategic and experienced leader to head the Department of Art, which encompasses Visual Communication (Dallas-based), Studio Art (Commerce-based), and Art Education. The department has strong foundations-including a nationally competitive professional design program, excellent facilities, dedicated faculty, and accomplished alumni-and is positioned for a leader who can unify programs across locations, assess future opportunities, and develop a shared vision for the department's continued success.

The department is ready to welcome a forward-thinking leader who will build on these strengths and it offers rich opportunities for collaboration and creative achievement. Supported by the institution's commitment to the arts, the next department head will shape a unifying vision that strengthens academic programs, fosters meaningful connections across campuses, and enhances the department's impact throughout the region and beyond.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Head will lead the Department of Art with strategic, operational, and academic oversight, fostering alignment across programs and campuses while promoting faculty and student success. This dual-focused role combines inward facing roles-strengthening programs and faculty initiatives-with outward facing roles, including partnerships, regional presence, and opportunities for advancement. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of departmental programs during the initial years of leadership, with particular attention to enrollment trends, student outcomes, regional demand, resource utilization, and long-term sustainability.
  • Develop and execute a strategic plan that strengthens the department's distinctive regional role by emphasizing community partnerships, clear academic pathways, and effective leadership.
  • Aligns departmental strengths with institutional mission and market opportunities.
  • Make evidence-informed recommendations regarding program enhancement, restructuring, consolidation, or other actions necessary to support long-term success.
  • Identify opportunities for program innovation and strategic growth based on assessment findings, faculty expertise, student needs, and institutional priorities.
  • Position art teacher preparation as valued pathway alongside professional design and studio practice, with strategic recruitment and curriculum enhancement to serve regional workforce needs.
  • Lead the department across its two active sites - the Commerce campus and the Dallas location - exercising full executive responsibility for faculty, curriculum, and operations in person at both.
  • Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards and professional expectations.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership

  • Ensure program continuity by developing strong leadership capacity within the department and cultivate a strong, collaborative departmental community across both sites (Commerce and Dallas) by fostering a culture of shared responsibility, transparency, and continuous improvement.
  • Support faculty productivity, professional development, and scholarly/creative activity across all program areas (exhibitions, publications, professional practice).
  • Manage faculty across disciplines (design professionals, studio artists, art educators) with respect for the unique expectations and benchmarks associated with each field.
  • Lead faculty through necessary programmatic changes with transparency.
  • Build consensus around strategic priorities while providing clear, timely decisions.
  • Ensure academic quality and program innovation at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
  • Oversee faculty hiring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes in alignment with university policies.

Partnership & External Relations

  • Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with regional educational, cultural, industry, and community organizations that advance student opportunities, departmental visibility, and institutional priorities.
  • Build and maintain relationships with public and private K-12 school districts across East Texas for teacher preparation, professional development partnerships, and community engagement.
  • Cultivate relationships with DFW arts organizations, design firms, galleries, and cultural institutions to enhance student opportunities and program visibility.
  • Position department as regional cultural leader through exhibitions, community projects, public art, and partnerships that serve East Texas communities.
  • Activate and expand alumni network across all program areas (VisCom, Studio, Education) for mentorship, career connections, and advancement support.
  • Enhance department visibility and reputation through strategic communications, exhibitions, awards, and media engagement.
  • Pursue external funding opportunities through grants and donor cultivation.

Financial & Operational Management

  • Manage department budget strategically, allocating resources to align with department priorities.
  • Make data-informed decisions about resource allocation, scholarship strategy, graduate assistant funding, and program development.
  • Implement transparent budget processes that help faculty understand resource allocation and growth opportunities.
  • Oversee facilities and specialized equipment across multiple studios and labs (ceramics, sculpture/foundry, photography, painting/drawing, Dallas design labs and letterpress).
  • Maintain and enhance the department's physical infrastructure in coordination with university facilities.
  • Ensure compliance with university policies and any applicable accreditation requirements.
  • Coordinate curriculum and scheduling across campus and Dallas locations.

Student Success & Enrollment Management

  • Develop and implement strategies that support enrollment stability, student retention, degree completion, and long-term program health across all departmental areas, including graduate program viability.
  • Provide vision for student experience integrating curricular and co-curricular opportunities.
  • Support student professional development through exhibitions, competitions, portfolios, internships, and industry connections.
  • Oversee academic advising processes and ensure students receive appropriate guidance.
  • Foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that promotes student success.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Terminal degree (MFA, PhD) in studio art, design, art education, or closely related field.
  • Minimum two years of progressively responsible administrative experience as department head, program director, associate/assistant dean, or equivalent in higher education art programs.
  • Demonstrated commitment to art teacher preparation as central component of comprehensive art program mission (not peripheral or optional).
  • Proven student-focus initiatives with increased enrollment, retention and graduation
  • Understanding of both professional design practice and studio arts traditions; ability to value and integrate multiple approaches to art-making and creative careers rather than privileging one over others.
  • Demonstrated experience using evidence-informed decision making to support program improvement, strategic planning, and resource stewardship.
  • Record of building productive partnerships with academic units, K-12 institutions, or community organizations.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills combined with demonstrated ability to make unpopular decisions when necessary for program health.
  • Commitment to shared governance, faculty development, and student success.
  • Eligibility for appointment at rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

  • Prior experience rebuilding, reimagining, or significantly restructuring graduate programs at regional comprehensive universities.
  • Deep understanding of regional graduate education markets and competition; demonstrated success in positioning programs distinctively.
  • Experience with innovative graduate program models (low-residency, cohort-based, community-engaged, interdisciplinary) beyond traditional residential MFA.
  • Track record of addressing structural enrollment challenges through programmatic change.
  • Professional connections in design/advertising industry (DFW region preferred) OR significant exhibition record and professional recognition in studio arts.
  • Experience developing interdisciplinary programs or certificates involving multiple colleges/departments.
  • Experience managing geographically distributed or multi-site programs or demonstrated ability to lead across locations and integrate separated units.
  • Grant writing experience and successful external funding acquisition for program development or facilities enhancement.
  • Understanding of creative technologies and their strategic integration with traditional studio practice.
  • Fundraising and donor relations experience.
  • Experience at regional comprehensive universities balancing access, excellence, teacher preparation, and professional/creative practice missions.
  • Knowledge of Texas teacher certification requirements and K-12 art education landscape.
  • Experience managing complex budgets and making strategic resource allocation decisions.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

Full-time and part-time faculty and staff

NOMINATION/APPLICATION PROCESS:

The Search Committee Head will begin its review of applications on August 31, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration, all materials must be received by August 28, 2026. Zoom interviews are scheduled for September, with finalist campus visits planned for October 2026. Candidates for the position are asked to make themselves available for interviews during these times.

Application materials should include: (1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate's experience and qualifications intersect with the priorities and desired leadership characteristics outlined in this profile; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references for future contact, including the professional relationship of each reference.

Applicationsmustbe submitted electronically throughETAMU.

The starting date for the position isnegotiable, but January 1, 2027 is not unwelcome.

The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Debbie Lelekis, Associate Dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences & Arts and Professor of English. Nominations should be provided to Dr. Lelekis by e-mail atDebbie.Lelekis@etamu.eduand arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may be made.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

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