Sculpture Studio Technician

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sculpture Studio Technician oversees the day-to-day operation and continued development of Cornell AAP’s Sculpture Studios, maintaining organized, safe, functional, and accessible spaces, equipment, and shared resources for teaching, independent work, and research. The role supports a broad range of sculpture practices, including wood, metal, ceramics, casting, mold making, soft sculpture, papermaking, mixed-material processes, laser cutting, and CNC fabrication. The technician improves layouts, storage, operating routines, equipment, and shared-resource use, and carries out approved purchases, installations, and facility improvements. Working closely with Sculpture faculty, the technician prepares studios for courses and provides technical guidance on materials, processes, equipment, and fabrication challenges. The technician assists with in-class demonstrations, develops safety instruction suited to course activities, and trains thesis students, independent users, and others requiring access outside Sculpture courses. The role also recruits, trains, schedules, and supervises student monitors who support operations and approved evening and weekend access, including appropriate responsibilities involving digital fabrication equipment. In collaboration with the Director of Material Practice, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and Material Practice colleagues, the technician maintains safety practices, oversees chemical and regulated-waste management, and helps improve training and access across the Sculpture and Rand woodshops. Responsibilities also include maintaining and repairing equipment, troubleshooting, assessing equipment needs, and helping ensure shared resources are ready and available to users. The position is 100% onsite in Ithaca, New York. The schedule is Monday through Friday and may require work until 7 p.m.

Requirements

Associate degree and 2–4 years of relevant experience with sculpture, fabrication equipment, techniques, and safety practices in a shop or studio environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of sculpture techniques and materials, including wood, casting, and ceramics.
Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Ability to provide clear technical instruction and guidance to users with varying levels of experience.
Strong communication and customer service skills.
Sound judgment in assessing projects, equipment use, and safety.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an academic or shared-use studio or shop.
Experience supervising, training, or scheduling student employees or staff.
Experience with papermaking and metalworking.
Experience with CNC machining and laser cutting.
Experience maintaining equipment, implementing upgrades, or developing shop procedures and documentation.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations of the Sculpture Studios and keep spaces, equipment, and shared resources organized, safe, functional, and ready for use.
Refine studio layouts, storage, operating routines, equipment, and shared-resource use to meet evolving teaching and research needs.
Maintain, repair, and troubleshoot studio equipment; assess equipment needs and carry out approved purchases, installations, and improvements.
Work with Sculpture faculty to understand course and research needs and prepare studios to support courses.
Provide technical guidance and consultations on materials, processes, equipment, and fabrication challenges.
Assist with in-class demonstrations and develop safety instruction suited to the processes students will use.
Train thesis students, independent users, and others who need access outside a Sculpture course.
Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise student monitors who support studio operations and approved evening and weekend access.
Prepare student monitors for appropriate responsibilities involving digital fabrication equipment.
Collaborate with the Director of Material Practice, EHS, and Material Practice colleagues to maintain safety practices and oversee chemical and regulated-waste management.
Help improve training and access across the Sculpture and Rand woodshops.
Collaborate with Rand Shop colleagues on training and access between the two woodshops.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays, including an end-of-year winter break from December 25 to January 1
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program