3D Technical Supervisor – Visual and Media Arts

The Department of Visual and Media Arts seeks 3D Technical Supervisor, full time, 12-month appointment, to supervise, maintain, and organize the woodshop, metalshop, and Sculpture/Metalsmithing/Jewelry classrooms in a dynamic department with 600 majors.

We are looking for individuals that are able to provide an inclusive, accessible and welcoming environment that encourages students to thrive. Candidates should have strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility. In addition, candidates should have demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access. This could include experience with working directly with marginalized populations or engagement with community-based social justice work; and other forms of DEI-infused experiences.

Required Qualifications and Education:

Bachelor’s Degree
Expertise of woodworking and woodshop equipment
Experience with woodshop safety protocol
Basic welding competency
Ability to fix and maintain shop equipment and to do occasional light electric work
Outstanding organizational, verbal, and written communication skills
Excel, Word, Outlook, or other budgeting software competence
Ability to handle multiple demands efficiently, work under pressure and meet deadlines
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with minimal direct supervision
Skill and comfort with self assessment
Valid Driver’s License to pick up art supplies as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

Professional experience and general knowledge of sculpture and metalsmithing processes
Willingness and ability to adapt over time as needs in the shop evolve with changing curricula, technology, and institutional focus
Knowledge and maintenance of digital fabrication equipment

Responsibilities:

Supervision of Facilities
Support, facilitate, and supervise day-to-day educational use of 3D shops through clear and deliberate organization, cleanliness, and communication. Duties include maintenance and purchase of tools and equipment used in these areas. Daily and periodic inspections. Coordinate, schedule and post shop hours. Maintain all modest housekeeping chores of the 3D studio spaces.
Supervision of Students
Hire, train, supervise, and mentor 5-7 work-study student employees on safe practices and supervision of shops during weekends and evening hours.
Faculty and Student Support
Assist faculty upon request with demonstrations for safe and correct use of shop tools, equipment, and processes. Assist students individually with processes and tools when appropriate to project and skill levels. Facilitate summer use of shops by students, faculty, and/or visiting artists. Perform other duties as required/assigned by the Department Chair.
Purchasing
Inventory, purchase, and stock consumable materials in the shops and materials for classes in Sculpture, Metalsmithing, and 3-D Design. Regularly communicate with faculty about classroom supply needs and anticipate ongoing needs. Regularly communicate with faculty about the ongoing needs of the online purchasing systems for consumable and other class materials.
Safety Coordinator for the Department of Visual and Media Arts
Serve as lead safety and compliance officer for department. Maintain departmental compliance with university, state and federal safety requirements through consultation/direction from the CLAS Safety Officer and the University’s OSHA Officer. Manage a system of controlled access and training that assures safety and proper usage of various tools and equipment. Collect and dispose of art department hazardous waste. Maintain the supply and recycling of mineral spirits for painting classes. Oversee shop safety for sculpture and metals.

Work Conditions:
The 3-D shops and other work areas are semi-industrial. There are a variety of power tools and hand tools for general use. There are requirements for lifting materials weighing up to 50 pounds. The work environment can, at times, be noisy and dusty.

Position hours are typically 8:00-5:00, with some flexibility to align with course schedules.

Salary/Benefits:

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The university offers an excellent comprehensive package that includes health/vision/dental plans, life insurance, retirement, sick/leave disability, tuition waiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities. Family and child care options on and off-campus are also available.

Department/College:

Department of Visual and Media Arts / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Department of Visual and Media Arts seeks to uphold the values of a liberal education while providing intensive engagement in the production and examination of the visual and media arts. The department is located in the Allendale campus and has 38 full-time faculty and 627 majors. 20% of the students reported being from an underrepresented minority (African American or Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Hispanic or Latinx, Two or more races, International, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander). 33% of the department majors have reported being a first -generation college student. The department offers NASAD-accredited undergraduate degrees in Art History (BA), Art Education (BA/BS), Film and Video Production (BA/BS), Photography (BA/BS), and Studio Art (BA/BS/BFA). The BFA in Studio Art degree has emphases in Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Visual Studies. The VMA also offers minors in Art History, Photography, and Studio Art. Numerous VMA courses also serve non-majors and Grand Valley’s General Education program. The department is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for digital and physical media, including computer labs, digital fabrication labs, digital printing labs, animation labs, a film studio, a woodshop, a metal shop, a print shop, studios for painting and ceramics, and a darkroom. Further information about the department is available at gvsu.edu/vma.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

Campus and Community:

Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources – Human Resources – Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. Culturally, the Grand Rapids area is an active hub for art and design, housing the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, the South Division Street Corridor known as Avenue for the Arts, and the international art competition ArtPrize every two years. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service. More information can be found atGrand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).

How to Apply:

A complete application must include: (1) a cover letter addressing qualifications and your motivation to work at GVSU, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) and contact information of three professional references. Apply online at Open Positions – GVSU Jobs – Grand Valley State University and select “Apply now”. The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at 616-331-2215. Email questions about the position to: Associate Professor Norwood Viviano, vivianon@gvsu.edu.

Application Deadline:

The review process will begin on October 11, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

Grand Valley State University has a COVID-19 Vaccine policy that requires all faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated. New hires will be expected to adhere to the policy unless they are eligible for allowable exemptions or postponement. We will require proper documentation upon hire. Up-to-date information can be found on our Lakers Together website.

Grand Valley State University does not discriminate against students, faculty or staff in any of its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities. Grand Valley State University is guided by values for inclusiveness and community which are integral to our mission to educate students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies, and to enrich the community through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service. The University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Members of the University community, including candidates for employment or admissions, and visitors or guests, have the right to be free from acts of harassment and discrimination, which are prohibited if they discriminate or harass on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, veteran or active duty military status or weight. In addition, Grand Valley is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure that none of its education programs and activities discriminate on the basis of sex/gender. Sex includes sex stereotypes, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy or parenting status. The Office for Title IX and Institutional Equity serves as a resource for the GVSU community and assists individuals who may have been impacted by discrimination or harassment in connecting with resources, imposes measures that protect or support access to programs and activities, and oversees the university’s grievance process for allegations of discrimination and harassment. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, 4015 Zumberge Hall, titleix@gvsu.edu, (616) 331-9530.

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

About:

At Grand Valley State University, the Department of Visual and Media Arts encourages majors to explore and develop their individual sense of place as human beings in relationship to the world around them. The degree programs integrate the values of a liberal education while preparing graduates for intensive engagement with the production and examination of the visual arts.