Ceramics Engineer jobs in Saint Paul, MN

POSITION TITLE: Studio Art Technician, Ceramics

DEPARTMENT: Department of Art and Art History       

REPORTS TO:  Chair of Art and Art History

CLASSIFICATION:  Exempt 

Salary:  $20 - $24 / hr

POSITION PURPOSE:  

This .3 FTE Studio Art Technician supports the teaching and learning spaces for St. Olaf College’s studio art program, with a special focus on ceramics. This position requires a high degree of competency with ceramics processes, materials, and health and safety practices. The technician will work closely with our ceramics faculty, other technical staff, and student workers to support the ceramics curriculum and other aspects of the studio art curriculum as needed. A high degree of responsibility, flexibility, and awareness of the studio needs is required.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

The duties below are representative but are not intended to cover all duties performed by the position. 

People and Teaching

• Collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere in the studios while maintaining safety protocols
• Demonstrates a serious commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Trains students, staff, and faculty in ceramics studio health and safety practices and maintains ceramics studio safety handbook
• Schedules, manages, and mentors student workers in ceramics, and other areas as needed
• Assists with organizing and supervising firing schedules with the assistance of student workers and in conjunction with ceramic classroom curriculum
• Directs and participates in preparing demonstrations and assignments in ceramics as needed

Equipment and Supplies

• Ensures that ceramic studio equipment is maintained in safe, clean, and orderly condition in compliance with safety procedures and state and federal regulations
• Regularly inventories and maintains ceramic equipment; performs routine maintenance and minor repairs on ceramics studio equipment; contacts vendors for major repairs
• Recommends the purchase of new equipment as needed; researches vendors, pricing, delivery timelines; selects vendors as appropriate; orders new equipment, supplies, and materials 
• Orders and prepares all necessary materials for ceramics classes
• Regularly inventories ceramic supplies and required studio/laboratory materials to maintain adequate stock
• Mixes glaze materials
• Loads and fires a variety of kilns
• Ensures proper storage, disposal and/or recycling of ceramic studio materials

Other Duties

• Attends meetings, workshops, and other events to obtain current subject-matter information and resources
• Maintains professional relationships with other staff in similar positions on campus and at other institutions
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Describe Supervision Received and Exercised:

This position hires and supervises student assistants and studio monitors for the ceramics studio, and performs student worker evaluations. This position is supervised by the Ceramics faculty and the Chair of Art and Art History.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education & Professional Qualifications

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of a Associate degree in studio art, fine art, or a related field
• Experience working in a ceramics studio

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: Associate degree or equivalent experience in ceramics field

Experience: 2 years of professional experience in ceramics field, including knowledge of loading and firing electric and atmospheric kilns
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:  

Administrative & Management Experience

• Confidence in using independent judgment in decision-making
• Experience managing a team and working with students
• Developed organizational and task management skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience with inventory, setup, and maintenance of detailed records

Specialized Knowledge & Skills

• Expertise with ceramics processes, equipment, and safety procedures
• Familiarity with a broad range of materials and equipment related to studio art
• Proficiency in maintenance of ceramics facilities 
• Knowledge of and commitment to health and safety as they apply to artistic materials and regulations
• Willingness to learn new skills and applications relevant to art-making practices

Interpersonal Skills

• Proven success establishing and maintaining positive and cooperative working relationships; commitment to quality of service
• Strong work ethic; ability to work independently, collaboratively, and proactively
• Demonstrated ability to work in a culturally competent manner with diverse groups of students, staff, and faculty
• Demonstrated interest in working with college students engaged in active learning environments

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires bending, stooping, pulling, pushing, reaching overhead, kneeling, standing for extended periods of time, and lifting and moving objects of up to 50 lbs. It also requires exposure to chemicals, fumes, dust, and odors in order to perform the essential functions. Must possess the ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties.

WORK SCHEDULE:

FTE: .3 
Term: August 15-June 15

Shift: 15-16 hours per week; hours to be worked Monday through Friday, and scheduled to meet classroom teaching needs; occasional evening and weekend hours; this position is on-call for emergencies outside of regular working hours.
 

ABOUT US:

The Department of Art and Art History is an integral part of a vibrant liberal arts college. It is currently housed in the Center for Art and Dance, an Art, Art History and Dance complex, serving 200 undergraduate Art and Art History majors. The Department of Art and Art History is NASAD accredited and offers BA options in Studio Art, Art History, and Art Education. There are seven full-time faculty members, four part-time faculty members, and three staff members. The Center for Art and Dance is well equipped with labs for ceramics, drawing, new media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Rolvaag Library houses an extensive collection of books, periodicals, and videos. An important artistic teaching resource, the Flaten Art Museum, presents exhibitions of regional, national, and international artists. For more about the department, visit: stolaf.edu/art
 

PREREQUISITES:
Employment in this position is conditioned upon successful completion of a background check which may include: criminal background checks, reference checks, verification of work history, verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, a motor vehicle check, verification of DOT certification, a credit check, employment eligibility verification, and/or a pre-employment physical. Whether a background check is deemed successfully completed will be at the sole discretion of St. Olaf College.  Please note, St. Olaf College reserves the right to conduct periodic background checks at its sole discretion.

DISCLAIMER:  

This job description is for general information purposes.  It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position.  This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice
 

APPROVAL:  Peter Nelson, Chair, Art and Art History

DATE:  November 2023