Chair, Game Design & Development Department

Description

Summary

The Chair of Game Design & Development is responsible for the academic and operational leadership of the Game Design programs, ensuring curricular excellence, faculty effectiveness, and student success. The Chair plays a central role in implementing industry-responsive practices, supporting faculty development, and managing program-level operations.

Teaching Load: 1-2 course per term

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide academic and administrative leadership across all Game programs.
• Lead all departmental activities including curriculum delivery, faculty oversight, and academic operations.
• Manage daily administrative needs including student escalations, course scheduling, and Registrar coordination.
• Serve as primary point of contact for student issues, faculty scheduling, and Registrar.
• Support the hiring, mentoring, and evaluation of full- and part-time faculty.
• Collaborate with the Dean to integrate experiential projects including Production Lab projects, internships, and curricular innovation.
• Ensure that curriculum meets both institutional and industry standards and remains up-to-date with evolving tools and trends.
• Analyze course feedback, retention data, and academic performance to support continuous improvement.
• Act as a liaison between students, faculty, and cross-functional academic teams.
• Monitor course evaluations and support continuous improvement strategies.
• Coordinate with Advising, Registrar, career services, and other academic departments to support student progress and retention.
• Support the Career Services Faculty Coaching program for career readiness.
• Collaborate with the university's Marketing and Admissions teams by participating in outreach events, program showcases, and promotional activities to support recruitment.
• Coordinate with the IT Department and Facilities Team to ensure that hardware, software, and space requirements are effectively met.
• Ensure accuracy of catalog updates and course mappings.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in game design, Game Development, Interactive Media, or related field or Bachelor’s degree with extensive field experience (10 years).
• 5 years of experience in higher education teaching or in the industry.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring faculty and supporting student success initiatives.
• Familiarity with production pipelines, real-world project integration, and current game industry practices.

EEO Statement

USV is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Americans with Disabilities Act institution.  We value diversity, strive for a more unified campus where all people are valued, treated fairly, and possess a sense of belonging.  USV encourages minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Working Conditions

This job operates in a professional office environment with people interaction. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and office machines. The employee will be requested to log hours worked in a system provided by the institution and track individual task assignments in another tool.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit for long periods; use hands and reach with hands and arms for such activities as keyboarding.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (includes individual PTO plus 10 holidays and winter break)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Basic Life & AD&D
• 401k (employee contribution only)
• Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Remission Benefit
• Other Voluntary Benefits Offered

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities are subject to change at any time.

This role requires regular campus presence (on average of 3 days a week).

Salary : $70,000 - $90,000