Assistant Manager Wood, Metal, & Light Lab

The New School•Hobart, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Parsons, Mannes, Jazz, and Drama, a division of The New School, seeks an Assistant Manager of the 25 E 13th Street (E3/E4) Facilities for the Making Center. Parsons Making Center is a collection of more than 70,000 sq. ft. of labs, shops, studios, and open workspaces that provide curricular support for making across a broad range of mediums and disciplines and support experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Assistant Manager should be a personable, proactive, detail-oriented individual who will become integral to the daily workings of the facilities within the Making Center, with the ability to learn new skills and technologies as needed. This is a fast-paced, dynamic environment that runs year-round. The Assistant Manager will interface with students, faculty, and staff to support multiple processes and resources for all users in a range of making spaces. This is an exempt administrative position that reports to the Facilities Manager for Wood and Metal Shops.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree and 3-5 years of relevant or professional experience within the industry.
Flexible schedule - ability to work non-traditional schedules that may include nights and weekends, in addition to schedule shifts with semester changes.
Completion of university-required staff trainings and necessary COF's for all Making Center Facilities within the first 6 months of employment.
Gain knowledge of CNC plasma cutting equipment operation within the first 6 months within position.
Advanced knowledge of a variety of production and fabrication techniques in wood, metal, and other materials; Be familiar with practices related to current design and art practice - including: general fabrication, furniture making, sculpture, product prototyping, hot + cold metal working, jewelry and non-ferrous metalworking, architectural or art installation.
Ability to work safely with, and demonstrate proper use of, a wide array of hand tools, power tools, and machinery.
Experience maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting equipment/tools.
Understanding of working in a cross-platform (Windows and macOS) environment.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, CAD-based programs, and Google Drive.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, close attention to detail, and strong organizational and time management abilities.
Proven track record of working well with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a strong ability to support students working in an interdisciplinary manner from concept to fabrication.
A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.
Ability to handle objects weighing up to 25 lbs and, on occasion, may be expected to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with any of the following is a plus: CNC/digital fabrication equipment (including CNC plasma cutters, laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC routers), vacuum forming, physical computing, ceramics, casting, finishes, plastics, foams, lighting design and technology or fabrics.
Knowledge of Webcheckout or comparable equipment management systems.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily workings of the Making Center’s 25 East 13th Street Shop Facilities, including but not limited to the Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Light Lab, and associated Open Work Areas, Tool/Equipment Checkout, Material Store, and storage areas.
Management of full-time and part-time technicians and student workers, including interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, tracking accountability, task assignment, scheduling/attending team and one-on-one meetings, and coordination and/or providing emergency coverage for unexpected absences.
Management of a fixed budget including tracking, planning, and prioritization of expenses related to inventories, schedules, projects, and repairs.
Assist with special initiatives and facility improvement projects, as well as, hardware/software purchase recommendations as they pertain to the curriculum.
Maintain policies and systems for checkout, satellite store, scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventories, in addition to generating macro and micro levels of usage data and statistics - evaluating and updating these as needed.
Organize calendars and communications for facilities: including creation of website updates, shop signage, safety orientations, technical/instructional documentation for labs/equipment, workshops, class demos, deliveries, special events, and modified holiday hours.
Facilitate health and safety trainings for E4/L&E staff, safety walk-throughs, COF requirements.
Work across systems in the Making Center, connecting separate areas in order to streamline efficiency and communication.
Adapt to changes in the work environment; adjust approach and prioritize competing demands as necessary.
Provide a high level of customer service, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with students, faculty, and staff.
Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment with productive and positive workplace relationships.
Stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Retirement plan administered by TIAA
Qualified Transportation Expense Plan
Paid vacation and sick leave, with accruals starting on your first day
Paid holidays and floating holidays
Career advancement and professional development opportunities
Access to university programs, lectures, and events featuring world-renowned speakers and organizations
Tuition waiver benefit for eligible employees and dependents
Employee discounts with local vendors and service providers