"Studio Art 2D Studio Manager and Lecturer"

The Studio Art Department at Oberlin College invites applications for the position of Studio Art 2D Studio Manager and Lecturer. This is a full-time (40 hour per week), 12-month, (1 FTE) staff position supervised by and reporting to the chair of the Studio Art Department. The ideal start date is January 5, 2026.

The Studio Art Department at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time staff position in the College of Arts and Sciences as 2D Studio Manager. Founded in 1833, Oberlin is a private four-year, highly selective national liberal arts college that is also home to an outstanding Conservatory of Music. Together, the two divisions enroll approximately 2900 students. The College views a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational environment as contributing to the excellence of its academic program, and was the first college in the US to admit Black Students and women. Among liberal arts colleges, Oberlin is a national leader in successfully placing graduates into advanced study programs.

Oberlin is situated on the outskirts of Cleveland, combining a cozy small-town atmosphere with the cultural amenities of a major city. The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cinematheque, Karamu House, several educational institutions, and scores of restaurants, bars, music venues, and theaters add to the cultural and educational opportunities of the region.

The Oberlin Studio Art department offers a dynamic platform for students seeking intensive studio training combined with the intellectual rigor of a liberal arts curriculum. Oberlin artists are thinking artists, deeply engaged in both academic and creative pursuits. Recently, Oberlin College launched a new five-year dual-degree BA/BFA in Integrated Arts.

The department offers courses in:
● Painting, drawing, and color theory
● Design
● Reproducible media (screenprint, lithography, intaglio, relief, monotype, Riso, digital)
● Photography (analog and digital)
● Sculpture (woodworking, fiber, mold-making and casting, 3D modeling and digital fabrication)
● Installation and performance
● Media arts (sound, video, interactive/networked art)
Our conceptually driven curriculum is structured around physical dimensions of artistic practice:

● 2D courses focus on color, composition, design, and flat media
● 3D courses emphasize spatial transformation and object-making
● 4D courses address time-based media, digital tools, and technology-driven practice

Even in skills-based courses, ideas are foregrounded—from interrogating the political histories of color to deconstructing the notion of “nature” in landscape painting. Students graduate with fluency across dimensions and media, ready to engage critically and creatively in a rapidly evolving world.

This is an administrative and professional staff position. The Studio Art 2D Studio Manager will support the Studio Art faculty/curriculum by managing classrooms and supplies in printmaking, drawing, painting, and design, while teaching one course a semester in foundational 2D skills. Working in tandem with faculty and staff, the incumbent will oversee the inventory, ordering, stocking, and distribution of art supplies for the department’s 2D curricular area. They will be responsible for offering direct support to studio art faculty, performing regular studio maintenance, completing special classroom projects, overseeing classroom preparation between semesters, and managing a small departmental store. This position will work closely with the staff and faculty to oversee the Studio Art 2D facilities, communicate infrastructural needs related to facilities and equipment, manage/record SDS material files, ensure the facilities are in compliance with all procedural and legal safety requirements. The 2D Studio Manager will be part of a team that includes similar staff in the department’s 3D and 4D curricular areas, so the incumbent must demonstrate teamwork and general interdisciplinary art knowledge. The 2D Studio Manager will be in regular contact with Studio Art faculty to remain fluidly engaged with the coursework taking place in 2D classes, and to assist with equipment, material, and space management related to those classes. This position includes teaching one course per semester in the foundational 2D curriculum, as well as hiring, training, managing, and scheduling both external figure models and student workers.

See the Oberlin job site for the full list of job functions.

Required Qualifications:

Along with a Master of Fine Arts degree in hand, candidates must have extensive knowledge in drawing, printmaking, and painting with a general knowledge of other disciplines; digital literacy; ability to manage studio classrooms; experience with budgeting and purchasing materials; a demonstrated proficiency to maintain and troubleshoot equipment repair; ability to work effectively with a diverse range of individuals, including Studio Art students, faculty, and staff on projects which sometimes embody unorthodox ideas; favorable references; ability to work independently with strong, forward-looking, and detail-oriented organizational skills; and ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted. Candidates must demonstrate interest and potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Successful teaching experience at the college level is desirable. Oberlin College is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The incumbent will be experienced in working with underrepresented and diverse academic populations. Oberlin is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic community through their research, teaching, and service.

Review of applications will begin on November 5, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Completed applications received by the November 5, 2025 deadline will be guaranteed full consideration.
Questions about the position can be addressed to: Jamie Jacobs Overstreet (Studio Art Program Coordinator) at jjacobs@oberlin.edu / at 440-775-8181, or Kristina Paabus (Chair of Studio Art), at kpaabus@oberlin.edu.