Job description

Background of the recruitment and description of the project

We seek a candidate who can approach design not merely as a matter of form-making, but as a field situated within the broader contexts of history, culture, industry, and society, and one who is capable of integrating scholarly research with design practice in both research and education. Particular importance is placed on the ability to critically examine design and making from multiple perspectives, including craft traditions, local cultures, sustainability, production and distribution systems, intellectual property, and redesign. The successful candidate should demonstrate both a strong theoretical foundation and substantial practical expertise in design.

In education, the successful candidate is expected to foster students' critical and independent thinking by encouraging them to examine the conceptual, cultural, and social dimensions that underpin design practice, rather than focusing solely on technical skills. The ability to work across disciplines—including furniture, interior, product, and craft design—and to engage in exhibitions, archives, museum activities, and curatorial practice is highly desirable. The successful candidate should possess a broad understanding of international developments in design education and research, and be capable of teaching and conducting research in an intercultural environment.

https://www.kit.ac.jp/en/

Work content and job description

Work in:

Education and research at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Department of Design, instruction and research supervision to undergraduate and graduate students.

Subjects to be taught:

Basics of Architecture and Design, Project Design Ⅰ～Ⅳ, Graduation Work, People and Places, Global Innovation Program, Project Design B, Masters Projecｔ, History and Theory of Art, Research Guidance, etc.

Assigned department

Existing departments

Faculty of Design and Architecture

Job type

Associate Professor

Research field

Humanities & Social Sciences - Design
Social Infrastructure - Architectural history and design

Wages

Annual Salary: 7 million yen ~

Specific amount to be decided by committee, based on your career achievements.
Annual income is calculated in accordance with the Annual Salary Scheme based on the wage regulations of Kyoto Institute of Technology. The website below gives information about the salary system in Japanese.https://www.kit.ac.jp/01/reiki_int/reiki_honbun/u042RG00000096.html
KIT has adopted a system that allows Principal Investigators (PIs) to charge a portion of their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funding, in accordance with their research effort. Under this system, PIs (Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators) may, upon request, charge their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funds in proportion to the effort devoted to research activities. The funds thereby made available may be used at the PI's discretion, including as a salary supplement. The total amount that may be paid in a single fiscal year, however, is limited to 60% of the PI's annual salary. For further information, please refer to the following website (available in Japanese only).https://research.web.kit.ac.jp/pijinkenhi/

Working hours

Working hours: 08:30-17:15
Break time: 12:00-13:00
Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and other (August 16, and from December 29 to January 3)
Overtime and other explanations: De facto working hours* under the discretionary labor system for specialist work: 7 hours 45 minutes per day (38 hours 45 minutes per week). *Hours considered to be working hours

Application requirements

Qualifications

Education and Degree Requirements

Ph.D. / Doctor

A doctoral degree

Work experience

Professional experience in design-related practice.
Research experience at an overseas institution.
A record of research and product development in furniture and product design.
Experience in teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students in Japanese, and in teaching and supervising graduate students in English.

Employment Type

Regular employee

Full-time

Contract period

Tenured - Non-tenure track

In the event an appointee takes maternity leave, child-care leave or nursing leave, a research assistant will be provided.

Probationary period present

6 months

Work location

606-8585 Kyoto Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku

Compensation

Various systems

Pay increase system: available
Bonus: available
Retirement allowances: available
Transportation expenses: available
Retirement age: 65 years old

Insurance

Employees' Health Insurance: available
Employees' Pension Insurance: available
Worker's accident insurance: available
Employment insurance: available

Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace

Smoking is prohibited on campus (excluding one designated outdoor smoking area).

Number of hired

1 person(s)

Hiring date: 2027/04/01

Starting date: 2027/04/01

Job content supplemental explanation

If there are no suitable applicants, the position could remain empty.

Application period

2026/09/11~2026/10/23 Deadline for receipt

Not later than 5:00 p.m. (JST)

Application method

Application documents (specified forms)

Attached documents

Application Form: Online Submission

(1) Curriculum Vitae (Form 1 available at the “Job posting URL” above)

Achievements and Activities: Online Submission

(2) Research Achievements (Form 2 available at the “Job posting URL” above)

Other online application forms

(3) A document stating the name of the Department applied for (Form 3 available at the “Job posting URL” above)

(4) List of successfully acquired competitive funding (if any). Please include the full funding scheme title, duration of the grant, project research theme, amount and the name of the principal project investigator in the case of a joint application when the principal project investigator is someone other than the applicant.

(5) Five major publications (one copy of each). Offprints and photocopies are acceptable.

(6) Description of teaching experience and future goals (approximately 1000 Japanese characters or 500 English words)

(7) Description of research activities and future plans (approximately 1000 Japanese characters or 500 English words)

(8) Names and contact details of two referees (include email addresses)

(9) Portfolio (Collection of Works and Research Case Studies)

For other application documents, please refer to the “Job posting URL” above.

Send all application file PDFs to the Labor and Personnel Department, Kyoto Institute of Technology by e-mail.

*Write "APPLICATION DOCUMENTS - ×××× Position - " in the subject line of the e-mail.

If your e-mail exceeds 10MB in size, please divide it into smaller separate files attached to multiple email messages or use a large file transfer service.

After receiving your application, you will be sent a confirmation e-mail. If you do not receive this confirmation email within a few days, please contact us.

Return of application documents

We will dispose of all application documents responsibly.

E-mail Application: Accept

jinji-saiyou24(at)jim.kit.ac.jp

Please change (at) to @ and send it.

URL of this job posting

https://www.kit.ac.jp/2026/09/recruitment20260911/

Selection / Notification of result

Selection

Document screening, and interview

After document screening, the shortlisted applicants might be interviewed at Kyoto Institute of Technology. The travel expenses are to be borne by applicant. If any additional submission of paperwork is required, then the costs for that will also be borne by applicant.

Notification of result

Individually by E-mail.

Contact details

Kyoto Institute of Technology

Labor and Personnel Department

0757247018

jinjikikaku(at)jim.kit.ac.jp

Please change (at) to @ and send it.

Notes

Application documents and the information provided by them will be used only for the hiring decision purposes.
Kyoto Institute of Technology promotes a research environment in which diverse human resources can play an active role. We comply with Japan’s Basic Law for Gender-equal Society and Basic Plan for Gender Equality, and recruit staff in alignment with Article 5, the Law of Equal Employment Opportunities for Men and Women.
KIT faculty would also fulfill community outreach in addition to university service mentioned above.

Recruitment for Associate Professor ( Faculty of Design and Architecture, Field of Living design ) : Kyoto Institute of Technology