Shop Manager

Job Summary

The Grainger Engineering Design Innovation Laboratory (GEDIL) facilitates design and prototyping across the College of Engineering, comprising the Machine Shop (Engineering Centers Building), the Design Hub (Engineering Centers Building), and the Makerspace (Wendt Commons).

This highly collaborative, hands-on role focuses on overseeing all Machine Shop operations. The Shop Manager supervises three full-time staff and approximately 30 part-time student staff (graduate and undergraduate) and assists a wide range of users with course, research, and personal design projects.

Key areas of focus include:

• Technical Support: Providing direct, hands-on assistance to students utilizing shop tools.
• Innovative Training: Updating and improving the facility's hands-on training curriculum.
• Instructional Liaison: Serving as the primary point of contact for instructors using the lab for course projects or labs.
• Student Leadership: Managing the hiring and supervision of student staff to cultivate a positive culture and high-quality educational experience.

Additional Information: The Grainger Engineering Design Innovation Laboratory aims to foster:

• Hands-on Learning: Bridging the gap between theory and application.
• Student Empowerment: Empowering students to design and prototype on their own initiative.
• Peer Learning: Students teaching and learning from other students.
• A Diverse Community: A welcoming community that enables collaborations that are diverse in terms of gender, race and discipline.
• Design Innovation: A hub for designing and prototyping innovative products.
• Open Access to Technology: An expansive library of technology, equipment and tools.

The Shop Manager reports to the Director of the Grainger Engineering Design Innovation Laboratory.

This position can be full or part-time, between 80%-100%.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Advises unit staff in the areas of learning theory, instructional design models, assessment, and instructional methods
• Manages instructional equipment and supplies
• Provides instructional design and/or technology services and support directly to faculty, staff, or other customers
• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
• Serves as the subject matter expert and unit liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing operational and strategic information and representing the interests of the unit, division, or institution
• Provides effective project management and overall coordination of project teams to meet deadlines
• Manages a portfolio of instructional design and/or technology services and support. May recommend, test, and audit selected learning technologies and/or methods
• Manages faculty development and engagement programs
• Develops and maintains knowledge of the specific and unique needs of the unit, division, or institution. Develops or assists with the development of strategic planning initiatives and objectives
• May monitor the unit budget and/or approve expenditures

Compensation

The starting salary for the position is $100,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications).

Required Qualifications

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in engineering design, manufacturing, and/or design-related instruction.
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience managing technical staff.

Core Competencies:

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with students, staff, and faculty.
• Comprehensive knowledge of, and a demonstrated commitment to current shop safety procedures, including the proper handling of tools, machinery, and materials.

Technical Expertise:

• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Operation of both manual and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mills and lathes.
• Welding processes.
• Creating, managing, and delivering a hands-on engineering curriculum.

Education: Required: Bachelor's degree in engineering. Preferred: Master’s degree in engineering.