Job Description
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 DesignDesign invites applications for the following anticipated course offerings in the Fall/Winter 2026-26 academic year:
ENVR-3007 Residential Design/Inclusion (0.5)
(Fall 2026 Semester: September 3, 2026 – December 19, 2026;
Tuesday 3:10PM - 6:10PM; In-person And/Or Monday 6:30PM - 9:30PM; In-person
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Application of human-centred and empathic design principles including social and ethical sensibilities in formulating a residential project for clients with lived and diverse experience. Pragmatic, functional, and conceptual aspects of a custom home are developed, and other key design considerations are investigated using real-world precedents that highlight decolonization and equity in housing, accessible design, and building systems with sustainable materials and smart technologies. Progressive solutions for the project are communicated with orthographic and three-dimensional drawings, model-making, and other creative and technical outcomes while advancing written, verbal and visual presentation skills relevant to design practice.
ENVR-3010 Design: Inclusion & Well-Being (0.5)
(Fall 2026 Semester: September 3, 2026 – December 19, 2026;
Friday 8:30AM - 11:30AM; Blended And/Or Wednesday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Thursday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Inclusivity and the ability to support well-being in the design of the built environment is the primary focus of this course. A holistic approach to inclusive design within environmental design is applied to ensure that broad experiences and diversity of needs are respectfully integrated with the design of built environments. This includes influences from philosophical, functional, demographic, regulatory/legislative, and knowledge-based practices that prioritize the full participation of all persons in societies. Strategies for reducing barriers to existing environments and creating inclusive and healthy outcomes for new interior, architecture and landscape environments are addressed
RESPONSIBILITIES: This course is designed specifically for ELL (English Language Learning) students who wish to improve academic reading and writing skills. Students will focus on organization, composition, grammar, vocabulary building, in-class writing, essay writing and documentation of sources. A secondary focus is the practice of listening and speaking skills in English: students will learn note-taking strategies and will have opportunities to practice contributing to discussion and making short presentations in English. Students who select this course will be students whose first language is not English.
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; (NOTE: Please indicate specific courses you are interested in teaching)
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 DesignDesign Appointments Committee, online.
The review of applications will begin on July 31, 2026 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 ****** 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.
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 DesignDesign invites applications for the following anticipated course offerings in the Fall/Winter 2026-26 academic year:
ENVR-3007 Residential Design/Inclusion (0.5)
(Fall 2026 Semester: September 3, 2026 – December 19, 2026;
Tuesday 3:10PM - 6:10PM; In-person And/Or Monday 6:30PM - 9:30PM; In-person
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Application of human-centred and empathic design principles including social and ethical sensibilities in formulating a residential project for clients with lived and diverse experience. Pragmatic, functional, and conceptual aspects of a custom home are developed, and other key design considerations are investigated using real-world precedents that highlight decolonization and equity in housing, accessible design, and building systems with sustainable materials and smart technologies. Progressive solutions for the project are communicated with orthographic and three-dimensional drawings, model-making, and other creative and technical outcomes while advancing written, verbal and visual presentation skills relevant to design practice.
ENVR-3010 Design: Inclusion & Well-Being (0.5)
(Fall 2026 Semester: September 3, 2026 – December 19, 2026;
Friday 8:30AM - 11:30AM; Blended And/Or Wednesday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended And/Or Thursday 3:10PM – 6:10PM; Blended
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Inclusivity and the ability to support well-being in the design of the built environment is the primary focus of this course. A holistic approach to inclusive design within environmental design is applied to ensure that broad experiences and diversity of needs are respectfully integrated with the design of built environments. This includes influences from philosophical, functional, demographic, regulatory/legislative, and knowledge-based practices that prioritize the full participation of all persons in societies. Strategies for reducing barriers to existing environments and creating inclusive and healthy outcomes for new interior, architecture and landscape environments are addressed
RESPONSIBILITIES: This course is designed specifically for ELL (English Language Learning) students who wish to improve academic reading and writing skills. Students will focus on organization, composition, grammar, vocabulary building, in-class writing, essay writing and documentation of sources. A secondary focus is the practice of listening and speaking skills in English: students will learn note-taking strategies and will have opportunities to practice contributing to discussion and making short presentations in English. Students who select this course will be students whose first language is not English.
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; (NOTE: Please indicate specific courses you are interested in teaching)
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 DesignDesign Appointments Committee, online.
The review of applications will begin on July 31, 2026 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 ****** 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.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Sessional Instructors: Advertising, Faculty of Design, 2026/2026 position is now open for candidates interested in the Education Jobs sector. This role in Toronto offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Education Jobs is a plus.
