Fine Arts Workshop Technician

Overview

The Chadwick

A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, Department of Art is seeking a Fine Arts Workshop Technician that will work in a university context with specialist knowledge, skills and experience of working with particular materials such as paint, wood, metal, textiles, ceramics, or audio-visual. They will work with a range of specialties such as: painting, fashion, ceramics and will be based within a central workshop at the university where they will work with students from across a range of arts disciplines.

A large part of the role will be student facing, where they will be responsible for demonstrating the use of specialist tools, software, techniques and equipment to the students. Other responsibilities of the role include: looking after workshop equipment; overseeing health and safety in workshop areas; keeping a record of stock and ordering new materials when needed; building, repairing and maintaining studio and exhibition spaces;

and assisting with the installation of student and faculty exhibitions.

Responsible for orienting and training others, and assigning and reviewing their work. May also be responsible for acting in a “lead” or “senior” capacity over other positions performing essentially the same work, or related technical tasks and reporting to a higher level on a formal basis. They will mainly work without direct supervision and determine the priority of their own work.

The position will involve making decisions on a variety of both complex and routine issues relating to their duties and responsibilities.

Internal contacts include administrators, faculty, students and staff of the department and the University ernal contacts include consultants, vendors, representatives from other colleges and universities, visitors and the general public.

Key Responsibilities and capabilities: There are six subject/programmatic areas that will access the Fine Arts Workshop and its Technician:
Painting;
Photography;
Sculpture;
Ceramics;
Communication Design;
Fashion Design; and Interior Design. The student body comprises undergraduate [BFA] and graduate [MFA and Ph.D.].

Plan and oversee all aspects of the day to day running of the Fine Arts Workshop and workshop area, giving instruction and supervision to students (undergraduate, post graduate) and academic staff and to ensure that work operations are carried out in a safe manner and in a safe working environment and that Health and Safety procedures are adhered to by all workshop users.

The Fine Arts Workshop Technician will be required to anticipate demand within work area.

Provide health and safety training on equipment and tools of all staff, students and visitors within the workshop area, including keeping detailed records of training. Organize the maintenance and upkeep of all mechanical equipment, including cleaning, and carrying out minor repairs, organize servicing and larger repairs of equipment.

Administrative duties will include ensuring the workshop is well run, with efficient resource for the subject areas such as pricing and ordering of equipment, tools, materials and consumables, record keeping and timetabling and development of new facilities.

Ensure all activity in the workshop takes place as safely as possible and in compliance with university and State policy: development and delivery of workshop Health and Safety induction; training of all staff and student workshop users; maintain Individual training records; keep up-to-date with developments in Health and Safety legislation; act as a local area Health and Safety Advisor, manage risk assessments, maintain accident/incident records;

act as Fire Steward and First Aider; advise on manual handling.

Ad hoc duties requested by the line manager, and the Department Chair, allowing the workshop and supported academic programs to run as smoothly as possible.

The role requires that the Fine Arts Workshop Technician will use their knowledge and experience and initiative to resolve routine and sometimes complex non-standard technical queries and problems raised by…