Full Time Technician, Textiles

The Making Center

Parsons School of Design

Parsons School for Design, a division of The New School, seeks a Full-time Technician in Textiles for 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 Technician 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. This is a fast-paced dynamic environment that runs year-round. The Technician will interface with students and faculty daily and work with Making Center staff to support multiple processes and resources for all users in a range of making spaces including the Machine Knitting Lab and Studio, Weaving and Dye Lab, Embroidery Hub, Digital Knitting Lab, and Tool Checkout. This is an administrative position, governed by a Local 1205 Teamsters union contract, that reports to the Assistant Manager of Textiles and Soft Construction.

The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily workings of the Making Center facilities as assigned and maintain a clean and safe working environment. 

• 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. 

• Work with other Making Center staff on the troubleshooting, repair, maintenance, installation and continuous operation of a variety of hardware/software technologies and stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Assist supervisor and Making Center Leadership with the following:

  • Support faculty and students.

  • Lead demo sessions about various pieces of equipment.

  • Make hardware/software purchase and process recommendations.

  • Create and update web page content.

  • Create and conduct orientations, trainings, and tours.

  • Participate in the onboarding process for new technician staff, through peer to peer trainings and skills sharing.

  • Maintain administrative systems for scheduling, record keeping, inventories, and metrics tracking.

• Provide support for store and tool checkout functions as related to assigned areas.

• Supervise student workers, including training, tracking accountability, and assigning tasks during shifts.

• Oversee tool and equipment checkout for both in-shop/lab use and off-site special requests.

• Create clear, accurate, user-friendly technical documentation, signage, and instructions for labs and equipment.

• Assist with facility improvement projects, shows and installations, and special Making Center, program, school or Parsons-wide initiatives as needed.

• Adapt to changes in the work environment; adjust approach and prioritizes competing demands as necessary.

• Ability to be proactive in addressing facility needs, including but not limited to maintaining organized workspaces, tracking inventory locations, and monitoring Technician communication networks. 

• Stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Attend regularly scheduled Making Center staff meetings and perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelorâ™s Degree and 3 years relevant or professional experience within the industry. 

• Flexible schedule â“ ability to work non-traditional schedules that may include nights and weekends, in addition to schedule shifts with semester changes. 

• Completion of university required staff trainings and necessary COFâ™s for all Making Center Facilities within the first 6 months of employment. 

• Become proficient in Web Check Out or current equipment management system within the first 6 months of employment. 

• Deep knowledge in at least one area of machine knitting, weaving, dyeing, or digital knitting.

• Technical knowledge of textile and soft construction practices in some or all of the following areas: machine knitting, digital knitting, hand weaving, digital weaving, digital embroidery, felting, dyeing, embellishment, upholstery, fiber arts, soft sculpture, and surface design. 

• Full comprehensive experience assembling, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting machines/tools. 

• Understanding of working in a cross-platform (Windows and macOS) environment.

• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Drive.

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

• Strong ability to assist students working in an interdisciplinary and/or experimental manner from concept to fabrication.

• 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 adhere to University COVID-19 Policy and requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Webcheckout or comparable equipment management systems. 

• Ability to work across textile fabrication processes, and between digital and analog machines. 

• Formal knowledge of textile sciences and natural dyes. 

• Experience with Shima Seiki digital knitting machines.

• Experience working with sustainable, local, or closed-loop systems in the industry.

• Experience assessing breakage and fixing machines is a plus.

• A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.

SALARY

$26.10/hr

WORK MODE

On-Campus Position - Employees in this position are expected to work on-campus during regularly scheduled work hours.