Sessional Instructor: Structure 1 & 2, Faculty of Design, 2025/2026
Top Benefits
About the role
OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work, and create.
OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.
It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.
The Faculty of Design invites applications for the following anticipated course offerings in the fall/winter 2025-26 academic year:
ENVR-2004 Structure 1
(Fall 2025 Semester: September 3, 2025 – December 19, 2025)
Friday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Tuesday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students will gain a thorough understanding of building materials and construction techniques. This knowledge impact on initial design decisions and is essential to the successful completion of structures. An understanding of fundamentals of natural and man-made structures is equally necessary for the development of strong and functional design. An investigation of engineered construction systems, fabrication and assembly techniques, as applicable to building structures will enable the student to realize the more pragmatic construction nature of their conceptual designs. Studio assignments will develop the student's skill in CAD drawing in support of developing an understanding of building technology, material and structures.
ENVR-3009 Structure 2
(Winter 2026 Semester: January 8, 2026 – April 28, 2026)
Thursday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Monday 11:50AM - 2:50PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the nature of the detail and fabrication phases of the design process. Students select a small studio design project to be developed through the detailing of structure, cladding and materials. Pertinent lectures and take-home exam materials on the Ontario building code support project work culminating in a complete working drawing package.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Teaching and teaching-related responsibilities may include but are not limited to: course outline development, studio preparation and delivery inclusive of lectures, critiques, grading, mid-term evaluations and final evaluations/reviews; including responsibility for health & safety and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A current body of work within the professional design and/or academic disciplines as it relates to the course description(s).
- Experience with, and aptitude for highly iterative, process-oriented work without the restriction of fixed outcomes or expectations.
- A demonstrated capacity to support design research, design as research in qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- An asset: two (2) years of teaching experience at the undergraduate level in a related Design discipline.
- Demonstrated leadership and experience in promoting a respectful and inclusive work and learning environment for students, staff, and Faculty
ADDITIONAL SKILLS CONSIDERED AN ASSET:
- Knowledge of professional ethics applying to the practice of architecture
- Proficiency in CAD, and/or Revit, and other pertinent software including Sketchup, Photoshop, MS Office
- Proficiency in technical drawings/detailing.
- Experience with visualization techniques from initial concept diagrams to final 3D views
- Strong knowledge of residential, commercial and/or institutional construction methodologies, building assemblies, materials application
- Experience in a variety of building types including commercial, residential, institutional, retail, healthcare and/or hospitality.
- Experience working with the non-profit sector and public sector clients including education institutions, municipalities and housing providers an asset.
- Knowledge and expertise in
- Historic, traditional and emerging sustainable practices (ie: mass timber, etc.)
- Third-party certifications such as LEED, WELL Building Standard, Passive House, etc. is an asset.
- Thorough knowledge of the following:
- The Ontario Building Code.
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated
- Inclusive Design Principles and their application to the built environment.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Sessional appointments are fixed-term annual contracts. Sessional compensation includes a per-course pay scale with salary level of $7,508.00 (per 0.5 credit course) plus 7% in lieu of benefits and vacation pay, per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act. These positions are subject to budgetary approval and satisfactory enrolment levels.
Applications should include:
- A letter of intent stating the candidate’s interests in the areas of teaching by identifying relevant courses above;
- A curriculum vitae;
- A statement of teaching philosophy that responds to the profile of the position;
- A link or web address to your digital portfolio of recent and current work/publications (if applicable)
- And the names and contact information of three references.
Please upload all five (5) components (including the URL to work) as one PDF*. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:* FirstName_LastName-Job Code
Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Faculty of Design Appointments Committee, online.
The review of applications will begin on August 5, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).
If you require application support, please contact the People & Culture Office. Please note that People & Culture cannot update you on the status of your application as these searches are decentralized to their respective Faculty offices. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview. If the posting is advertised, we are still accepting applications.
As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University (OCAD U) recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD U understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.
As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire*.*
In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous faculty, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.
Sessional Instructor: Structure 1 & 2, Faculty of Design, 2025/2026
Top Benefits
About the role
OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work, and create.
OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.
It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.
The Faculty of Design invites applications for the following anticipated course offerings in the fall/winter 2025-26 academic year:
ENVR-2004 Structure 1
(Fall 2025 Semester: September 3, 2025 – December 19, 2025)
Friday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Tuesday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students will gain a thorough understanding of building materials and construction techniques. This knowledge impact on initial design decisions and is essential to the successful completion of structures. An understanding of fundamentals of natural and man-made structures is equally necessary for the development of strong and functional design. An investigation of engineered construction systems, fabrication and assembly techniques, as applicable to building structures will enable the student to realize the more pragmatic construction nature of their conceptual designs. Studio assignments will develop the student's skill in CAD drawing in support of developing an understanding of building technology, material and structures.
ENVR-3009 Structure 2
(Winter 2026 Semester: January 8, 2026 – April 28, 2026)
Thursday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Monday 11:50AM - 2:50PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the nature of the detail and fabrication phases of the design process. Students select a small studio design project to be developed through the detailing of structure, cladding and materials. Pertinent lectures and take-home exam materials on the Ontario building code support project work culminating in a complete working drawing package.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Teaching and teaching-related responsibilities may include but are not limited to: course outline development, studio preparation and delivery inclusive of lectures, critiques, grading, mid-term evaluations and final evaluations/reviews; including responsibility for health & safety and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A current body of work within the professional design and/or academic disciplines as it relates to the course description(s).
- Experience with, and aptitude for highly iterative, process-oriented work without the restriction of fixed outcomes or expectations.
- A demonstrated capacity to support design research, design as research in qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- An asset: two (2) years of teaching experience at the undergraduate level in a related Design discipline.
- Demonstrated leadership and experience in promoting a respectful and inclusive work and learning environment for students, staff, and Faculty
ADDITIONAL SKILLS CONSIDERED AN ASSET:
- Knowledge of professional ethics applying to the practice of architecture
- Proficiency in CAD, and/or Revit, and other pertinent software including Sketchup, Photoshop, MS Office
- Proficiency in technical drawings/detailing.
- Experience with visualization techniques from initial concept diagrams to final 3D views
- Strong knowledge of residential, commercial and/or institutional construction methodologies, building assemblies, materials application
- Experience in a variety of building types including commercial, residential, institutional, retail, healthcare and/or hospitality.
- Experience working with the non-profit sector and public sector clients including education institutions, municipalities and housing providers an asset.
- Knowledge and expertise in
- Historic, traditional and emerging sustainable practices (ie: mass timber, etc.)
- Third-party certifications such as LEED, WELL Building Standard, Passive House, etc. is an asset.
- Thorough knowledge of the following:
- The Ontario Building Code.
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated
- Inclusive Design Principles and their application to the built environment.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Sessional appointments are fixed-term annual contracts. Sessional compensation includes a per-course pay scale with salary level of $7,508.00 (per 0.5 credit course) plus 7% in lieu of benefits and vacation pay, per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act. These positions are subject to budgetary approval and satisfactory enrolment levels.
Applications should include:
- A letter of intent stating the candidate’s interests in the areas of teaching by identifying relevant courses above;
- A curriculum vitae;
- A statement of teaching philosophy that responds to the profile of the position;
- A link or web address to your digital portfolio of recent and current work/publications (if applicable)
- And the names and contact information of three references.
Please upload all five (5) components (including the URL to work) as one PDF*. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:* FirstName_LastName-Job Code
Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Faculty of Design Appointments Committee, online.
The review of applications will begin on August 5, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).
If you require application support, please contact the People & Culture Office. Please note that People & Culture cannot update you on the status of your application as these searches are decentralized to their respective Faculty offices. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview. If the posting is advertised, we are still accepting applications.
As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University (OCAD U) recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD U understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.
As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire*.*
In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous faculty, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.