Light Lab Student Assistant

Parsons School for Design, a division of The New School, seeks Student Assistants in the E4 Wood, Metal, Tool Checkout, and Light lab within the Making Center. Parsons Making Center is a collection of more than 70,000 sq. ft. of labs, shops, studios, and open workspaces that provide curricular support for making across a broad range of mediums and disciplines and supports experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration.  The student assistant should be a personable, proactive, detail-oriented individual who will become integral to the daily workings of the facilities within the Making Center, with the ability to learn new skills and technologies as needed.  Duties entail assisting students and faculty with the checkout of tools/equipment, monitoring making spaces, assisting Managers and Technicians with daily processes and projects, and keeping the facilities clean and orderly. 
 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment and a respectful shop culture for students, faculty, and staff.

• Provide a high level of customer service, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with students, faculty, and staff. 

• Report for shift on time and review priority tasks with the supervisor 

• Monitor patrons entering and exiting the shop space and be ready and available to assist them 

• Provide information to students, faculty, staff, and the general public regarding department services, policies, and procedures

• Perform basic reception duties including greeting visitors and answering phone calls / emails professionally and courteously 

• Assist students and faculty with reservations and equipment requests 

  • Help students checkout appropriate tools for their projects.

  • Inspect tools upon return and address issues such as damage, missing parts, or cleanliness.

  • Maintain tool organization within the shop

  • Using ladders and assisting in the installation of lighting equipment (specific to Light Lab Student Employees)

• Assist Making Center Staff with shop upkeep, organization, and maintenance including: 

  • Opening and closing the shop as assigned (unlocking resources, logging into computers, etc.).

  • Processing / recycling materials.

  • Receiving and organizing deliveries.

  • Tracking and moving inventory.

• Assist with store support, including:

  • Procuring purchased items for students and faculty. 

  • Processing and preparing materials (including but not limited to wood, metal, plaster, clay and alginate).

  • Counting and tracking inventory.

  • Moving and organizing materials (up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs).

• Perform tasks to assist in the maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of various machinery 

  • Replace tool parts in kits and sets.

  • Restock consumables.

  • Change blades and other machine components as needed.

  • Daily maintenance and cleaning of machinery

• Perform regular upkeep of shops and spaces to maintain organization and cleanliness, including:

  • Dust control including vacuuming and mopping

  • Restocking PPE

  • Clearing surfaces and resetting machines 

• Complete special projects as assigned 

• Participate in training sessions and staff meetings 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, close attention to detail, and strong organizational and time management abilities.

• Able to understand and follow verbal and written instructions from supervisor and communicate clearly with Making Center users 

• Adaptable and consistent when notifying the supervisor of schedule changes

• Attention to detail 

• Ability to interact with students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds

• Ability to work without close supervision or alone

• Familiarity with Google Suite (Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Sheets, etc.)

• Ability to handle objects weighing up to 25 lbs and on occasion may be expected to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs 

• Ability to work non-traditional hours such as evenings and weekends

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. The New School recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.

WORK MODE

• On-Campus Position - Employees in this position are expected to work on-campus during regularly scheduled work hours due to the nature of the work being that which is not feasible, or not in the best interest of the organization, to be performed remotely.

Hourly Rate: $17.00 / per hour

Responsibilities:

Provide a high level of customer service, assist students and faculty with reservations and equipment requests , assist Making Center Staff with shop upkeep, organization, and maintenance, perform regular upkeep of shops and spaces to maintain organization and cleanliness,  and complete special projects as assigned.