Co-Lab Studio Manager

Manager, IT: Co-Lab Studios Manager

Occupational Summary

The Office of Information Technology at Duke University is seeking a full-time position within the Innovation Co-Lab unit to support the growing mission of providing access to cutting-edge tools, materials, and educational opportunities for technology exploration. This position would primarily oversee the day-to-day operations of the Co-Lab Studios, ensuring reliability and availability of services, creating an inclusive technology exploration environment for students with diverse identities and backgrounds, developing training materials, managing the team of full-time technicians and student employees, and proposing and implementing improvements to our services. Additionally, this position oversees the operations of our Professional Services, including Bluesmith (high-end 3d printing) and DesignHub (3d modeling and design consultation program).  This position requires a passion for emerging technologies, digital modeling and fabrication (“making”), teaching, management, and working with students and studio-users with a variety of experiences and backgrounds. 

The ideal candidate for this position will be a task-driven, highly organized, and communicative individual who is supportive of our mission of providing a welcoming and open place for learning and exploration. We seek a candidate who places an emphasis on creating an environment that values diversity and inclusion. Experience with digital modeling, 3D printing, laser-cutting, and CNC milling is required; while depth of knowledge and experience in relevant topics are desirable. The position would report to the Senior Manager of Academic Technologies.

The Innovation Co-Lab

The Innovation Co-Lab, a division of the Office of Information Technology, is a program that supports innovation through access to fabrication technologies, educational opportunities and seed funding and mentorship for student endeavors. The Co-Lab is open to all students, faculty, and staff at Duke, regardless of department or intended use.

There are currently four Co-Lab Studios across Duke University’s campus.  Three are focused on fabrication and a digital-to-physical workflow (“makerspaces”), while one is focused around Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and other emerging media technologies.  Through the Co-Lab, students have access to laser cutters, CNC machines, small electronics tools, and over 100 3D printers. Another core component of the Co-Lab’s offerings is the Roots program, a sizable educational and training service provided to the Duke Community for free. During the Fall 2023 semester, the Co-Lab designed and taught over 75 workshops on a variety of topics including web design, programming, art technology, 3D modeling. Another aspect of the Co-Lab’s support of student innovation comes is provided through project-based mentorship, one-on-one training, office hours, and seed funding.

The Co-Lab Studio Manager would become a part of a larger team working to realize these overall goals and principles.

Work Performed

• Oversight of the Co-Lab Studios, including our flagship location on West Campus, our arts-focused location in the Rubenstein Arts Center, a smaller outpost for first-year students on East Campus, and our Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Lab in the Library.
• Oversee Studio Technician(s) and Specialists, provide strategy, direction, and craft a reliable prioritization of duties that ensure all maintenance, improvement, and upkeep tasks are completed at a high level of proficiency

• Oversee the strategy, operation, and maintenance of OIT’s rapidly growing professional digital modeling and fabrication facilities and services, ie. Bluesmith and DesignHub.
• Cultivate relationships across departments and campus to ensure that all relevant Co-Lab programs are well-integrated into the “Maker Ecosystem” at Duke, and needs are being met.

• Develop and promote inclusive entry points for engagement with Co-Lab fabrication technologies and equipment, especially for those who are underrepresented minorities in STEM. This includes consideration of appropriate training opportunities and access to appropriately leveled equipment for participants with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
• Produce written documentation and/or video training modules that support safe independent engagement with Co-Lab resources. This includes the development of equipment usage and safety protocols that are standardized across studios on campus, including those outside of OIT’s ownership.
• Propose and carry-out projects that serve as demonstrations of technology that can be used to demonstrate concepts and safety techniques, teach, or inspire.  
• Provide direct management and guidance to the Co-Lab student employees. This includes developing engaging training and onboarding programs, scheduling, and human resource issues.
• Develop and maintain documentation, tutorial materials, and Co-Lab website copy as needed.
• Work with Innovation Co-Lab Program Manager to provide tight integration with programmatic offerings including the Roots program (technology training workshops) and other events.  Develop and deliver new workshops or events through the Roots program (occasional evening/weekend events and workshop times)
• Assist as needed with co-curricular education and programming
• Perform maintenance tasks and help ensure equipment is in safe, working order.
• Assist as needed on Co-Lab projects, including working with other full-time employees, student employees, and university and community partners.
• Assist as needed in support and management of other OIT labs, including traditional computing labs, multimedia labs, VR labs, and more.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• 1-3 years operational management of a makerspace, studio, or similar facility in the fields of engineering, digital fabrication, digital arts, or another similar environment
• Management experience, ideally in a workshop/makerspace environment, including knowledge of basic safety practices, equipment management, appropriate access, organization, personnel management, and strategy setting. 
• Experience with Digital Fabrication tools, including 3d printers, laser cutters, CNC machines (Shopbot, Tormach, or similar), water jet cutters, etc.
• Teaching, training, and/or public speaking experience, to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Understanding of fundamental equipment servicing and repair, including the use of hand tools and power tools to service broken equipment
• Capability to continuously research, evaluate, and gain facility with emerging technologies
• Ability to organize and prioritize a variety of simultaneous projects, often with overlapping long and short-term timelines
• Ability to work across teams and departments and balance conflicting and complementary needs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical documentation and course support materials
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity in program development

Preferred

• Experience with hardware prototyping, basic circuitry, microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), Internet of Things
• Experience in Higher Education, K-12, or co-curricular academic environments
• Proficiency with 3d modeling, parametric modeling, etc.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.