Associate Director – Machine Shop Operations

Dartmouth College; Hanover (NH); On-site; USD 92,100 - 115,100; Full time

Job summary

Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, seeks an Associate Director to lead the Machine Shop (MShop) operations. You will oversee daily operations, supervise Technical Instructors and student workers, and ensure safe, reliable, and well‑supported facilities for teaching and research.

You will engage with faculty and researchers to align capabilities with academic goals, drive strategic initiatives, and manage equipment and safety programs while maintaining high standards of service to students and

Qualifications

• Associates or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience in a machine shop, makerspace, fabrication, manufacturing, or technical operations environment.
• Strong knowledge of machine shop operations, fabrication methods, equipment safety, and maintenance practices.
• Experience supervising technical staff, student employees, or instructional personnel.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, researchers, and institutional leadership.
• Hands‑on experience with fabrication equipment, prototyping tools, and workshop operations.
• Commitment to safety, continuous improvement, and team development.

Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day operational leadership for the MShop and maker space facilities.
• Supervise, train, schedule, mentor, and evaluate Technical Instructors and student employees.
• Ensure effective staffing coverage and cross‑training to support instructional, research, and operational needs.
• Coordinate workflow, shop priorities, and project scheduling to meet academic and research deadlines.
• Oversee administrative functions including purchasing coordination, inventory management, equipment tracking, and documentation.
• Support strategic planning initiatives and implementation of operational improvements for the MShop.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and institutional leadership to support instructional and research objectives.
• Lead and enforce all MShop safety policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Ensure proper training and certification of shop users and student employees.
• Oversee equipment maintenance programs and coordinate corrective actions as necessary.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence within the shop environment.
• Monitor compliance with institutional safety requirements and industry best practices.
• Support instructional activities and project‑based learning initiatives within the MShop.
• Mentor students through project design, fabrication, prototyping, and manufacturing processes.
• Provide technical guidance related to machine shop tools, fabrication methods, and maker space operations.
• Collaborate with faculty to support curriculum development and implementation of new capabilities and technologies.
• Assist with hands‑on fabrication, troubleshooting, and operational support as needed.
• Oversee the safe operation and proper usage of all machine shop equipment and facilities.
• Recommend equipment purchases, upgrades, and capital improvements.
• Maintain relationships with vendors and external service providers.
• Assist in evaluating future operational and facility needs to support evolving educational and research priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Machine shop operations

Staff supervision

Communication skills

Collaboration with faculty

Hands-on fabrication

Safety commitment

Education

Associate's degree in engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial technology, engineering, or related technical field

Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or related field

Tools

CNC equipment

CAD/CAM software

Additive manufacturing

Advanced fabrication technologies

Job description

Associate Director - Machine Shop Operations

Pay: $92,100 - $115,100

Employment Category: Regular Full Time.

Scheduled Months per Year: 12.

Scheduled Hours per Week: 40.

Location: Hanover, NH.

Remote Work Eligibility: Onsite only.

Position Purpose: The Associate Director of Machine Shop Operations provides operational leadership, technical oversight, and strategic support for the institution's Machine Shop (MShop). This role is responsible for managing the daily operations of the MShop, supervising Technical Instructors, maintaining a safe and efficient work environment, and ensuring instructional and research support needs are effectively met. Working collaboratively with the operations specialist, makerspace manager, faculty, and institutional leadership, the Associate Director develops and drives the strategic vision for the MShop while ensuring high-quality operational execution, equipment reliability, safety compliance, and exceptional support for students, faculty, and researchers.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp: Associates or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership and management experience in a machine shop, makerspace, fabrication, manufacturing, or technical operations environment.
• Strong knowledge of machine shop operations, fabrication methods, equipment safety, and maintenance practices.
• Experience supervising technical staff, student employees, or instructional personnel.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, researchers, and institutional leadership.
• Hands‑on experience with fabrication equipment, prototyping tools, and workshop operations.
• Commitment to safety, continuous improvement, and team development.
• Associate's degree in engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial technology, engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or related field.
• Experience in higher education, research environments, or academic makerspaces.
• Experience with CNC equipment, CAD/CAM software, additive manufacturing, or advanced fabrication technologies.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries: Jon Stark

Department Contact Phone Number: 6036463557

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title: Jon Stark, Director of Facilities

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco‑Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco‑based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Background Check: Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre‑employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non‑discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Operations Leadership and Management

• Provide day‑to‑day operational leadership for the MShop and maker space facilities.
• Supervise, train, schedule, mentor, and evaluate Technical Instructors and student employees.
• Ensure effective staffing coverage and cross‑training to support instructional, research, and operational needs.
• Coordinate workflow, shop priorities, and project scheduling to meet academic and research deadlines.
• Oversee administrative functions including purchasing coordination, inventory management, equipment tracking, and documentation.
• Support strategic planning initiatives and implementation of operational improvements for the MShop.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and institutional leadership to support instructional and research objectives.

Safety and Compliance

• Lead and enforce all MShop safety policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Ensure proper training and certification of shop users and student employees.
• Oversee equipment maintenance programs and coordinate corrective actions as necessary.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence within the shop environment.
• Monitor compliance with institutional safety requirements and industry best practices.

Instructional and Research Support

• Support instructional activities and project‑based learning initiatives within the MShop.
• Mentor students through project design, fabrication, prototyping, and manufacturing processes.
• Provide technical guidance related to machine shop tools, fabrication methods, and maker space operations.
• Collaborate with faculty to support curriculum development and implementation of new capabilities and technologies.
• Assist with hands‑on fabrication, troubleshooting, and operational support as needed.

Equipment and Facility Oversight

• Oversee the safe operation and proper usage of all machine shop equipment and facilities.
• Recommend equipment purchases, upgrades, and capital improvements.
• Maintain relationships with vendors and external service providers.
• Assist in evaluating future operational and facility needs to support evolving educational and research priorities.

Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.

Performs other duties as assigned.