Manager, Woodshops and Special Assignments

About SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About the Department 

The 280 Woodshop serves as a primary access point for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, welcoming all students, faculty, and staff. It is dedicated to promoting excellence in craft and critical thinking. We provide a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment where hands-on learning, mentorship, and a shared commitment to high standards drive growth. Our goal is to equip the community with the skills and professional practices needed to succeed in their creative work and future pursuits.

Through parallel teaching, our staff emphasizes best practices in safety and fabrication while continually expanding our collective knowledge. We are committed to ongoing growth, recognizing that craft and mastery are developed through collaboration and shared experience.

Position Summary

Contribute to the overall management of SAIC Instructional Fabrication facilities including supervision of student employees, management of equipment maintenance, asset protection programs, and the pursuit of general shop safety practices. Provide instructional and technical assistance to Shop patrons, advice to faculty, and support for department projects.

Provide facility support and systems design in the 280 Woodshop along with occasional lateral support to adjacent facilities, i.e. Contemporary Practices, Architecture Interior Architecture and Designed Objects (AIADO). Work in support of Assistant Director, 280 Woodshop, under the direction of the Associate Director of AIADO, CP, and 280 Woodshops. Each adjacent facility has its own dedicated staff that the Woodshop and special projects manager will be deployed to assist at different points in the academic semester or during high volume events, projects, or circumstances including, but not limited to, Shop oversight, face-to-face training, and the development of new training documentation.

Responsibilities

Student Staff Administration

• Hire, train, and supervise all student employees.
• Review applications, conduct interviews, process paperwork, and produce recurring shift schedules.
• Train, supervise, and develop student employees in the delivery of a spectrum of Shop facility services and resources.
• Develop and organize orientation training and mentorship programs for student employees.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operation of Material Source point-of-sale including the managing of Material Source student employees.

Teaching & Instruction

• Provide instruction and technical assistance to faculty and undergraduate students using all types of facility housed equipment.
• Monitor and contribute to patron progress on individual and class projects.
• Keep current with curricular needs and changes within the academic department(s) of service.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and department administrators to develop and plan co-curricular facility support.
• Assess student and faculty needs, and recommend services and training activities provided in the facility.
• Design, organize, and update training workshops and lectures for all supported equipment and technologies.

Equipment & Facility Management

• Supervise and oversee the day-to-day, technical, operations of the fabrication facility.
• Oversee the physical maintenance of tools (maintenance program), equipment, and associated resources to provide a safe and productive working environment.
• Implement all policies, procedures, and training programs in the facility in coordination with the affected academic department(s).
• Manage inventory and asset protection program of circulating tools and equipment.
• Facilitate access of circulating tools and associated resources to Shop patrons.
• Manage usage records and fines.
• Work collaboratively with the Associate Director to develop, implement, and organize facility safety protocols.
• In consultation with the Associate Director, determines instructional supply, small equipment, and operating supply purchases. Conduct purchases in coordination with IRFM purchasing administrator and in partnership with all facility staff.
• Work in close consultation with the Associate Director to develop an annual budget proposal to project future needs and capital investments.

Research & Development

• Keep current with trends and technologies relevant to SAIC pedagogy. Make recommendations to the Associate Director for equipment acquisitions and improvements.
• Research and develop written materials for instructional guides and extended facility content.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art or related field preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered commensurate.
• 2 years of supervisory experience in an industrial or educational facility preferred.
• Teaching/instructional experience preferred.
• Extensive knowledge and experience using a wide variety of floor-mounted and handheld power tools as well as digital fabrication and output technologies.
• Advanced knowledge in two or more of the following areas is required: wood fabrication, sewing or mold-making, digital fabrication, or physical computing (Arduino or similar).
• Experience repairing shop tools and equipment.
• Strong managerial skills, including the ability to supervise and schedule staff, implement policies and procedures, order materials, and maintain a budget.
• Ability to assist and instruct students in the safe and conceptual construction of projects.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with office software including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons. 

• Benefits        
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full time staff
• Employment Category: Exempt
• Grade Level: 7

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at  apply_help@artic.edu.