Ceramics Technician's Assistant

Ceramics Technician’s Assistant

(Graduate Hourly Position)

General description: 

The primary job is to assist the Program Technician in monitoring and maintaining the Ceramics studio. The Ceramics studio includes a full glaze lab, clay mixers and slip mixers, classrooms with pottery wheels, a dry material storage area, an indoor and outdoor kiln area, and four different types of kilns. Job duties and projects are assigned to maintain or improve the functioning of the Ceramics studio. The employee will need to be comfortable with general woodworking and light metal as needed. The employee will need to be comfortable filling in for Ceramics instructors when needed. 

Work is performed primarily in the Ceramics studio, which includes a covered outdoor area. Following proper procedures when using kilns, mixers, woodshop and other equipment is required.  The employee will wear a mask and minimize dust when handling dry materials to maintain a safe environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will move bags of dry materials up to 50 pounds. The employee will ensure a positive and safe learning environment when covering classes for instructors. This position is eligible for Federal Work Study. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• 20% Mix clay
• 20% Mix glaze
• 20% Load and unload kilns
• 20% Maintain kiln furniture
• 10% Fire kilns
• 10% Clean and organize studio

Duties may include:

• Refinishing work surfaces
• Organizing and arranging classrooms
• Repairing and painting walls
• Taking inventory
• Mixing clay
• Mixing glaze
• Loading and unloading kilns
• Firing kilns
• Assisting in maintenance and repair of kilns
• Cleaning and organizing studio
• Covering classes when instructor is absent

Qualifications:

• Must be an IU Indianapolis Herron graduate student
• Actively pays attention to details and follows Technician’s instructions
• Capable of working independently when supervisor is not present
• Ability to comply with and prompt others to comply with safety guidelines
• This position is limited to candidates with a Federal Work-Study award

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations
• Ability to positively represent IUI and the Herron School of Art and Design

 Learning Outcomes:

Students will learn how to be better communicators by building relationships with peers and fellow students. Students will build organizational skills and gain technical and material working knowledge related to ceramics production in a shared studio environment.

• Communicator – The ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. The ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed.
• Innovator – The ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within a specific timeframe.
• Problem Solver –The ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments. The ability to find/create solutions to problems using creativity, reasoning, past experiences, and available information and resources.