Visiting Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Fashion Business Management
STATUS: Full Time
DIVISION: Undergraduate Studies
REPORTS TO: Chair of Fashion Design
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
SUPERVISES: N/A
Position Summary
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) invites applications for a visiting full-time faculty position in Fashion Business Management.
The BA in Fashion Business Management will welcome its first cohort of students in Fall 2026. This 90-credit, three-year program, blends strategic business leadership with creativity, digital innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking. The curriculum includes merchandising, brand development, marketing, styling, trend forecasting, and fashion communications.
The College seeks a faculty member who can welcome students into this program and teach courses across a range of fashion business disciplines, including brand strategy, merchandising, omni-channel retail, and fashion marketing.
The successful candidate will have both high-end fashion brand experience and the demonstrated ability to lead an academic program—curriculum design, course development, strategic budgeting, outcomes assessment and student mentoring. The Visiting Associate Professor will have excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to collaborate positively with faculty, staff and administrative colleagues to foster the academic quality and integrity of the program, enhancing its visibility and reputation nationally and internationally.
Position Accountabilities and Essential Functions
The Visiting Associate Professor in Fashion Business Management will teach 6 classes per academic year (three each semester), four in the Fashion Business Management BA program and two in business oriented Liberal Arts courses.
They will be responsible for:
- Collaborating with the department chair and faculty to develop relevant courses, curriculum and pedagogy in the fashion and business fields
- Mentoring students
- Collaborating with adjunct faculty
- Utilizing the College’s Learning Management System (LMS) to support in-person instruction
- Active and engaged participation in departmental and college-wide service activities including attending Faculty Assembly and serving on college-wide committees; contributing to college assessment and accreditation processes, attending and participating in Review Week and Commencement Exercises; selecting and installing work for the Annual Student Exhibition.
- Active and engaged participation in College-wide admissions and recruitment and retention activities including prospective student information sessions, admissions open houses, national portfolio days, and other student recruitment and retention initiatives
- Collaborating with the chair, program manager, faculty and academic deans to develop program assessment practices
- Nurturing relationships with local, regional, national and international fashion businesses and related industries
- Manage advisory council relationships, securing industry alignment and employer support for experiential learning, live briefs, and student pipelines
- Enhance the visibility of the BA program by organizing annual field experiences (such as NYC industry visits) and facilitating collaborations with major brands
- Embody and encourage diversity, sustainability, and the social justice culture within the fashion industry
Beyond classroom teaching, full-time faculty at CCS support the entire student collegiate experience. Consequently, the Visiting Associate Professor must be student centered and will be expected to perform the following duties:
- Mentoring all first-year Fashion Business Management students—providing academic and professional guidance and counseling
- Collaborating with Academic Advising and Registration, Career Development, Institutional Advancement, and International Student Services to support student success
- Referring students to Student Wellness & Counselling and the Center for Writing & Tutoring for additional support when needed
- Assisting the department chair with program-specific retention efforts
Qualifications and Experience
Candidates must have an earned MBA with an emphasis in brand management, marketing or corporate strategy.
The CCS community seeks individuals with a combination of the following experiences, knowledge and skills. Qualifications include:
- Five years of full-time college teaching experience
- Five years of managing global lifestyle or luxury brands at recognized fashion businesses
- Proficiency in teaching and learning digital tools, including the Adobe Creative Suite and Canvas, and CRM/analytics platforms like Salesforce
- Professional standing as a recognized leader in the fashion industry
- Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively with a diverse student body and a team of professional designers and educators
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to maintain a stationary position, use a computer and other office equipment, and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and virtually. Frequent interaction with others, including staff, faculty, students and third parties is required. The employee may occasionally be required to move files or other objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including from low and high places. The ability to move around within the office and between buildings on campus, attend off-site meetings and events, and travel between Ford Campus site to Taubman Center site are required. CCS will make reasonable accommodations that will allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Application Procedure/Additional Information
Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The search will close when a suitable candidate is hired. Interested candidates should submit the following in PDF format:
- Cover Letter and CV should be submitted to: hr@ccsdetroit.edu
Candidates who merit further consideration will be asked to submit the name and contact information for three references. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
About CCS
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.
The College for Creative Studies, a leading college of art and design, represents a community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities and worldviews and we value the diversity this brings to our organization. CCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational practices and strives to provide an environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are part of our Core Institutional Values and we encourage applications from all individuals.
posted on May 27, 2026 at 2:12 pm