Wilson Program Maker Lab Coordinator

*All student employment positions on campus are covered by a negotiated contract with the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW).

Submit your cover letter and apply by Oct. 9.

Coordinator position: With direction, student organizes, coordinates and/or performs work in administration of departmental operations or activities. Requires excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills and able to direct the work of others. Must be detail oriented, possess strong oral and written communication skills, and be proficient with Microsoft Office and/or other relevant technologies.

Duties:

During the academic year, this position will require on average 15 hours of work per week managing the monitors, working on programming, and working with the Wilson Center and Arts Council. The primary responsibility of Stew Managers is to oversee and coordinate the maintenance and operations of the Stew Makerspace with the help of student studio leads and the GAAC representative. Student managers work both independently and together with a Grinnell Area Arts Council (GAAC) manager to keep equipment safe and in working order, and to identify, research, and implement changes in procedures, equipment, and programming (both short-term and long-term planning).

Student managers have a large number of job-related duties. The following list should be shared between two student managers, and can be flexible in case there is only one student manager at any given time. Student Manager duties include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Create training plans and coordinate training with studio leads and monitors
• Schedule monitor work shifts
• Ensure shift coverage
• Lead staff meetings and studio lead meetings on alternate weeks
• Report regularly to the Wilson Center
• Facilitate projects (within reason) that are proposed by patrons and college faculty
• Consult GAAC and the Wilson Center about budget constraints and hiring needs
• Delegate or coordinate projects for the betterment of the Stew Makerspace with interested staff.
• Keep a Stew Makerspace email list
• Advertise events, coordinate with the Wilson Center and GAAC to promote on social media and email lists
• Take a role in creating the vision for the Stew Makerspace
• Coordinate programming with the guidance of the GAAC and Wilson Center
• Work to improve safety for patrons and staff

The Stew manager serves as an ambassador of the Stew to the college community and supports GAAC in representing the Stew to the broader Grinnell Community, creating connections and fielding requests related to the space from a wide range of entities both inside and outside the college. The manager takes a primary or supporting role in organizing events related to the Stew. This includes support in planning, advertising, and executing events.

Support for events involves planning meetings with Wilson Center Director and Coordinator, communicating with possible speakers and event participants, developing posters and other advertising and distributing these, working on the day (or weekend) of the event to carry out the event as planned. This might involve checking in students, providing mentoring to students, troubleshooting problems, etc.

Previous work experience at the Stew Makerspace is required.

Stew Makerspace Student Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the monitors, the Stew, and communications between the Wilson Center, Grinnell Area Arts Council, and the Stew Makerspace. Managers report weekly to the director and program coordinator of the Wilson Center and work with the Arts Council on budgets and daily management. Thus, this position requires strong communications skills, leadership capability, and a high degree of independent decision making.

The Stew managers will receive training on equipment at their own discretion. Ideally, applicants will have basic proficiency on common machine shop tools. Some experience with CAD and/or 3D printing is also preferred. Good oral communication skills and ability to insist on adherence to safety protocol with a diverse group of users is essential. Ability to maintain professionalism and follow safety procedures while working independently is essential. This position will require research, writing, and oral communication skills.