Siebel Center for Design

Job Openings

Job Openings

Are you creative? Curious? Always moving toward your next big idea? Join our team! SCD offers a flexible, fast-paced, and progress-oriented environment for big thinkers, makers, and do-ers. 

Adjunct Lecturer or Instructor

The Siebel Center for Design (SCD) invites applications for Adjunct Lecturers or Instructors, who will be responsible for teaching the core courses developed by SCD in design thinking and human-centered design in support of a variety of efforts on the UIUC campus related to certificates, minor and major programs. The selected candidates will join a growing multidisciplinary and collaborative team engaged in human-centered design in higher education. 

Full Description and Apply Here

Community Engagement Studio Director

Siebel Center for Design (SCD) and the Office of Public Engagement seek to hire a Community Engagement Studio (CES) Director to lead a new initiative aimed at strengthening community relationships through human-centered design. The CES is part of the  Campus-Community Compact To Accelerate Social Justice, and this position will play a key role in shaping and facilitating meaningful engagement between the university and the broader community.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in community engagement, design thinking, facilitation, and leadership. This is a two-year, grant-funded position.

 About Siebel Center for Design (SCD)

SCD’s mission is to practice, model, and teach design thinking, using human-centered design to reimagine our campus, community, and world. SCD views human-centered design as a collaborative, iterative problem-solving approach that identifies unmet needs and develops meaningful, innovative solutions. To learn more, visit https://designcenter.illinois.edu/.

About the Community Engagement Studio (CES)

The Community Engagement Studio (CES) is a collaborative initiative between SCD, the Office of Public Engagement, and the Campus-Community Compact. The CES will provide foundational design thinking and human-centered design support to the Compact’s community engagement efforts, ensuring sustainable, equity-focused impact.

Key Responsibilities

The CES Director will take a design-driven approach to building relationships with community stakeholders, in collaboration with the Office of Public Engagement, the Campus-Community Compact, and the Community Relations Focus Area of the Compact.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Strategic Planning & Metrics

    • Collaborate with the Community Relations Focus Area to define an annual community engagement strategy, including measurable goals and key research questions.

  • Facilitation & Program Design

    • Design and facilitate ongoing community conversations, as outlined in the engagement strategy.

    • Partner with the Office of Public Engagement to design and implement the Compact Annual Convening.

  • Consulting & Capacity Building

    • Provide consultative support to the Compact, designing tools and processes for community-led conversations.

    • Develop resources to help community members and partners refine and submit proposals for community pilot grants.

  • Pilot Grant Program Support

    • Work with the Office of Public Engagement to assess and refine the pilot grant review and selection process.

    • Help determine which projects could be integrated into student-supported or university-driven initiatives.

  • University-Community Collaboration

    • Identify pilot grants and Compact engagement opportunities that align with curricular and co-curricular projects.

    • Develop scopes of work and project timelines to ensure these initiatives are set up for success.

    • Provide ongoing guidance for university-led projects, serving as both a content expert and community liaison.

Position Requirements

  • Requires a terminal degree (PhD, MFA, MDes, or equivalent) in your field of study.

  • Experience designing engagement strategies for diverse stakeholders.

  • Excellent communication, storytelling, and facilitation skills.

  • Knowledge of human-centered design, user research, and innovation strategy.

  • Familiarity with prototyping and iterative problem-solving approaches.

  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

  • Strong organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills with a commitment to inclusive engagement.

  • Experience with project management and program evaluation.

  • Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to exercise sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experiences

  • Experience working in a higher education setting.

Apply Here