"Instructional Technician, 3D Foundations Shop - Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts"

Position Summary

The Instructional Technician, 3D Foundations Shop, at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts will support teaching and creative activity in art, architecture, and design as part of a student-facing team. The technician will work with students and faculty to informally instruct them in process and craft across multiple shops and disciplines. The technician will have primary responsibility for the safe day-to-day operation of the 3D Foundations shop in Bixby Hall, but will work across all shops and making spaces as needed. The Technician will create a welcoming environment in the shops and break down barriers for students with limited experience to appropriately use the shops, including individual instruction, process demonstration, and safety training. The Technician will use strong people management skills in the oversight of shop monitors and to foster a positive learning and making environment. This position reports to the Sam Fox School Facilities Manager.

The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at WashU in St. Louis is a unique collaboration in architecture, art, and design education within the context of an internationally recognized research university. Comprising the College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, the College and Graduate School of Art, and the Mildred Lane Kemper Museum, the Sam Fox School offers a depth of professional education in conjunction with one of the premier university art museums. The School has a strong commitment to social justice, environmental justice, and community-based work, and supports a diverse population of approximately 200 graduate students and 530 undergraduate.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Provide individual and group instruction and guidance in the use of shop tools, materials, and processes to support teaching and creative activity across the school.

• Working in partnership with 3D and Foundations faculty, develop and implement student training and workshops specific to equipment/materials/techniques identified by a studio or class or identified as a broader academic need across the curriculum.
• Work individually with students to help them learn skills and techniques needed to successfully undertake academic and co-curricular projects.
• Work closely with shop management to develop a plan for student safety and user training in the 3D Foundations shop.
• Learn new practice and methodologies outside the School and offer related training to keep faculty and students current with emerging practices.

Organize and maintain clean, safe facilities in Bixby Hall.

• Lead process to hire, train, and manage student shop monitors to ensure safe use of the shop during open hours in collaboration with the instructional technician team.
• Maintain, implement, and evolve safety protocols.
• Support Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) operations as needed in shop and building.
• Maintain, repair, and/or replace machines, systems, and tools in shop as required.
• Manage shop budget, oversee materials, and tool inventory. Work with faculty to obtain and maintain supplies needed for classroom and shop operation.
• Supports the Foundations area in Bixby Hall.

Support facilities needs across the Sam Fox School.

• Work with the Facilities teams at peak times, such as move out and pre-orientation, to ensure that the school’s buildings are ready for upcoming academic cycles.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Works is in a shop environment with noise, various odors, and exposure to wood, plaster, and some airborne particulates.
• Requires lifting capacity of 60 pounds on regular occasions.
• Occasional off campus locations possible but not frequent.
• Occasional adjusted non-standard hours may be required to meet training availability of students and faculty.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses: No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience: Shop Technician (2 Years)

Skills: Not Applicable

Driver's License: A driver's license is not required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• MFA and experience working with students and faculty.
• Supervisory skills.
• Experience with art and/or design education.
• Demonstrated understanding of shop safety requirements and best practices.
• Strong understanding of and expertise with stationary and handheld tools including band saw, table saw, drill press, scroll saw, belt sander, disk sander, and spindle sander.
• Strong understanding of and expertise with hand power tools including circular saw, jigsaw, router, and drill.
• Strong understanding of and expertise with pneumatic tools including nails guns and sanders.
• Expertise with basic hand tools including hand saws, wood planes, scrapers, and cabinet chisels.
• Familiarity with safety protocols in and around hand and power tools.
• Familiarity with general chemical hazard safety.
• Familiarity with a wide range of materials including wood, wood composites, plaster, plastics, metals, resins, and casting materials.
• Understanding of basic electricity.
• Comfort working with computers.
• Some understanding or ability and desire to learn fundamentals of digital fabrication available in the Sam Fox School, including CNC router, laser cutters, 3D printers, and digital fabrication operating software.
• Familiarity with welding.

Salary Range

$49,700.00 - $82,100.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.