Career Center

Job:

Associate Director, Design Center

Job Summary:

Barnard College invites applications for an Associate Director of the Design Center, an academic center for research and making located within the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning. Reporting to the Faculty Director of the Design Center, the Associate Director will lead day-to-day operations of the Design Center, including creating, facilitating, and coordinating services and programming. The Associate Director will work with the Faculty Director to collaborate on and augment established projects and programs and develop new research initiatives, course support, instruction in fabrication and making. The Design Center is one of a cohort of specialized Centers located within the Library, and the Associate Director will work in close coordination with the other Centers and in consultation with the Barnard Library and Academic Information Services (BLAIS).

Job Description:

Duties & Responsibilities of the Associate Director

Community

It is essential that the Associate Director maintains an inclusive and welcoming maker space environment that supports the mission of the Design Center. The Design Center is an incubator for creative making. It's an open and inclusive studio space for active experimentation with materials, tools, and equipment, supporting the design of objects as well as the pedagogy and learning associated with making. Our team is committed to addressing design justice and inclusivity in the fabric of our programming and our operational framework, to providing equitable access to design technologies within the Center, and to empowering members of the Barnard community to discover, experiment with, and pilot new technologies and design practices.

Tools, Equipment, Safety

The Associate Director provides oversight of Center tools and equipment, with a responsibility for ensuring that safe practices are followed. Responsibilities include:

• Identify and evaluate tools and methodologies in support of teaching, research and creative activities. Support existing technologies and identify and implement new technologies
• Manage the toolset profile of the space (e.g. 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, sewing machines) ; actively update the tools available where possible; perform troubleshooting and routine maintenance of equipment
• Establish Design Center safety protocols and training for users and lab monitors
• Support existing related equipment on campus (such as the laser cutter and 3D printers located in the Architecture Department); coordinate and collaborate, when applicable, with other campus maker spaces (such as Columbia's Makerspace)

Budget, Supplies, Operations

The Associate Director is responsible to ensure that the space and the necessary supplies are maintained for the operation of the Center. Responsibilities include:

• Manage the selection and ordering of supplies
• Coordinate the maintenance of the space
• Monitor the budget for supplies and equipment

Programs, Research, Outreach, Curricular Support

The Associate Director will create, facilitate, and coordinate Center services and programming. Responsibilities include:

• Design and teach workshops on Design Center tools, resources and best practices; develop and facilitate other thematic workshops that expand the opportunities offered by the Design Center
• Actively seek opportunities to develop partnerships and collaborations with academic and other campus departments
• Support and serve as a resource to faculty developing digital makerspace and scholarship projects
• Support and serve as a resource to all community members interested in developing independent work in the Design Center
• Develop assessment protocols for all services; ensure Center archival protocols are maintained; ensure Center data for programming is collected and maintained

Staff

The Associate Director coordinates and supervises the Design Center staff. Responsibilities include:

• Act as lead supervisor for the Design Center Coordinator and the undergraduate and graduate student staff
• Support the planning and hiring of Center staff with the Faculty Director
• Establish schedule for Center operations; manage staffing to meet budget allocation

Other

The Associate Director will have other duties related to their responsibilities that include those listed below and others that may be required in the future:

• Support Faculty Director with yearly reports

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumnae, librarians, and vendors as well as administration and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience with the design and development of instructional materials
• Demonstrated project planning ability
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and build partnerships with faculty and staff in a culturally diverse community
• Demonstrated initiative and the ability to create and maintain a collaborative work environment
• Demonstrated proficiency with makerspace technology specifications, use and repair
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging digital and maker technologies as they contribute to the needs of students and researchers

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a design discipline, or other advanced degree, with maker space experience
• At least one year related professional experience in academic or professional maker space or similar environment, with experience supervising staff, including students
• Proficiency or desire to learn typical software and hardware of an academic design and maker studio, such as CAD/CAM or Open Source Design Software, programming languages such as Java, Python or Scratch, and machines such as 3D scanners and printers, laser cutters, electronics/soldering equipment, sewing machines and vinyl cutters.
• Teaching experience in a classroom or workshop environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project management

• Experience with post-completion project review and evaluation
• Experience in liberal arts and/or design schools
• Experience with tools and equipment currently available in the Design Center (such as: Universal Laser Cutter; Carvey; Roland Vinyl Cutter; Cricut Cutter; Arduino Uno; Raspberry Pi; Wearable boards such as Arduino FLORA and associated sensors; Circuit Playground Express; Soldering; Ultimaker 3D printers; Matter and Form 3D Scanner; Sewing, Serger, and Embroidery machines; Wood tools including: Jigsaw, Router, Miter Saw, Band Saw, Drill Press, etc.)

Must Submit Resume and Cover Letter

Company:

Barnard College

Time Type:

Full time