Woodworking Instructor​/Teaching Assistant

Our mission:

The Crucible inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands‑on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds. As an innovative hub built around the industrial arts, The Crucible is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections. In addition to supporting working and emerging artists and art students, The Crucible has become increasingly focused in recent years on supporting career pathways into the arts and the industrial trades, and on supporting access to our programs for BIPOC youth and families, especially those from West Oakland.

The Woodworking department at The Crucible is looking for instructors to teach woodworking and wood‑turning classes at our 56,000‑square‑foot non‑profit and industrial arts school in West Oakland. Instructors must know the fundamentals of working with hand and power tools and/or working on a wood lathe. We are looking for at least 1‑2 years of teaching experience in an informal or formal education setting.

The ideal candidate is interested in making teaching an ongoing part of their woodworking practice. We do offer instructors access to the wood studio and tools, but our studio is too small to support a production woodworker who seeks to run their business out of our space. We have worked hard to increase diversity among our teacher and student population, welcoming young creatives seeking to explore their culture through creativity.

Woodworkers who can support this approach are welcome, as are those who appreciate both the creative and the healing experience of working with wood. If you are passionate about sharing your skills with a wide range of students and want to be in a collaborative environment with other teaching artists, this is a great place for you!

Classes are held at night, on the weekends, and during the day during the week. Instructors have the opportunity to both learn the curriculum for a specific class and to schedule their participation in a way that works for them. Many instructors come to The Crucible for studio access before and after their classes. We ask experienced woodworkers and wood turners to initially TA a class so they can learn our curriculum, before moving them into a lead and/or co‑teaching position.

• Teach in an artistically diverse environment
• Participate in departmental and faculty meetings
• Develop and maintain