Job Opportunity: Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication program, MIT

Rachael Cayley

MIT anticipates hiring a lecturer to work as a writing in the disciplines specialist in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication program (WRAP). A thriving program with over thirty lecturers, WRAP collaborates with faculty across MIT to provide communication instruction within communication-intensive subjects in all departments. Through a team-teaching structure, WRAP lecturers embedded in disciplinary classes teach students to analyze audiences and attend to differences in discourse conventions, to analyze and produce specialized genres and forms of argumentation, and to compose, evaluate, and integrate oral, written, visual, and digital modes of communication.

This lecturer will 1) team teach communication in communication-intensive classes primarily in STEM subjects; 2) work with faculty to develop pedagogy, instruction, and assignments that teach the rhetorical principles of written and oral communication; 3) evaluate and respond to student communication assignments in a variety of contexts, and provide guidance to faculty and TAs for evaluating and responding to student communication assignments.  The teaching load is the equivalent of three classes per term.  Salary is commensurate with experience, and MIT offers full benefits and support for professional development for lecturers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Substantial teaching experience; experience teaching technical communication, and in WAC/WID contexts preferred.
  • Master’s degree required, Ph.D. preferred, in Rhetoric, Composition, or Technical/Professional Writing, or equivalent experience in the teaching of academic writing.
  • Comfort with highly technical subject matter, and understanding of principles of effective communication of technical material for multiple audiences required; familiarity with rhetoric and WAC/WID pedagogy preferred.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, TAs, and administrative staff.
  • Experience with assignment design, oral communication instruction, or visual rhetoric preferred.

Applications should consist of a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three references.  Applicants should submit their applications online in reference to job number 14752.