Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager

SU01 Seattle University; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Health plans

Retirement benefits

Holiday schedule

Job summary

Seattle University is seeking a Makerspace Lab Manager to oversee the Billodue Makerspace, ensuring accessible, well-supported participation for a diverse student body. You will manage tools, safety practices, inventory, and space usage while mentoring student staff and building inclusive programs.

You will lead training, recruit staff, and foster a collaborative team culture that aligns with our Jesuit mission and values. The role supports teaching, faculty partnerships, and campus outreach.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of maker practice and experiential learning.
• Knowledge and skills related to sewing, fashion, fabric arts, and/or textile design.
• Ability to plan, organize, and schedule activities.
• Ability to operate maker equipment and tools.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull 40 pounds.
• Willingness to support Seattle University's Jesuit mission.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations, access, and front-line user support.
• Maintain tools, equipment, and materials for reliability and usability.
• Implement clear, accessible safety and training practices.
• Oversee inventory, purchasing, and supply systems.
• Coordinate space usage and improve ease of participation.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student staff.
• Develop onboarding and ongoing training for technical and facilitation skills.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team environment.
• Mentor students in peer support and user engagement.
• Create leadership pathways for returning staff.
• Develop programs that encourage creativity, exploration, and connection.
• Support relationships with student groups and partners in collaboration with the Manager.
• Create accessible entry points for new and underrepresented users.
• Promote an inclusive, multidisciplinary understanding of making.
• Contribute to outreach and engagement efforts.
• Support faculty collaboration on makerspace-based assignments and projects.
• Translate learning goals into hands-on, student-centered activities.
• Design and deliver workshops or instructional sessions.
• Develop instructional resources and documentation.
• Participate in campus partnerships in coordination with the Manager.
• Remain knowledgeable about trends in experiential learning and makerspace technologies.
• Attend Library/division/department meetings.
• Contribute to Library committees and working groups as assigned.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Maker practice

Student supervision

Safety training

Inventory management

Community outreach

Education collaboration

Tools

Arduino/Raspberry Pi

Electronics prototyping

Job description

Months Per Year: 12 Work Model: Onsite

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives. Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally. Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions. Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact. Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness. Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Position Description:

30% - Makerspace Operations and Oversight

The Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager oversees the daily functioning of the space, ensuring it is approachable, well-supported, and ready for use by a wide range of students, including those with no prior experience. This includes maintaining tools, equipment, and materials while establishing clear, consistent systems that make participation straightforward. The role focuses on reducing friction through intuitive processes, transparent expectations, and right-sized safety practices, while managing supplies, scheduling, and real-time user support. Attention to both operations and user experience helps sustain a space that invites exploration, lowers intimidation, and encourages independent engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage daily operations, access, and front-line user support
• Maintain tools, equipment, and materials for reliability and usability
• Implement clear, accessible safety and training practices
• Oversee inventory, purchasing, and supply systems
• Coordinate space usage and improve ease of participation

25% - Mentorship and Supervision

The Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager develops and sustains a student-centered staffing model that is essential to both the operations and culture of the space. Student staff are not only operators, but peer educators and community builders. This role includes recruiting, training, and supervising a team of student employees who support others in navigating tools, processes, and creative work. Emphasis is placed on developing students’ confidence, judgment, and ability to support peers from a wide range of backgrounds. Through structured training and ongoing mentorship, the Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager fosters a collaborative team culture grounded in care, shared responsibility, and continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities:

• Recruit, train, and supervise student staff
• Develop onboarding and ongoing training for technical and facilitation skills
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team environment
• Mentor students in peer support and user engagement
• Create leadership pathways for returning staff

20% - Community Building and Outreach

The Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager contributes to a culture that centers belonging, creative exploration, and broad participation. This includes developing programming that invites experimentation, play, and connection, particularly for students who may not initially see themselves as “makers.” In collaboration with the Manager, the role supports relationships with student organizations and campus partners to expand engagement and ensure the space reflects a wide range of identities and creative practices. Through outreach, events, and communications, the Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager helps position the makerspace as an open, inclusive environment where students are encouraged to explore, take risks, and grow.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop programs that encourage creativity, exploration, and connection
• Support relationships with student groups and partners in collaboration with the Manager
• Create accessible entry points for new and underrepresented users
• Promote an inclusive, multidisciplinary understanding of making
• Contribute to outreach and engagement efforts

20% - Academic and Institutional Support

Working in collaboration with the Manager, Library Makerspaces, the Billodue Makerspace Lab Manager supports the integration of making into teaching and learning across disciplines. This includes assisting faculty in developing makerspace-based assignments and translating course goals into hands-on activities that emphasize exploration, process, and creative inquiry. The role contributes to workshops and instructional sessions and develops materials that help students engage meaningfully with tools and creative practices. In coordination with the Manager, the role also supports partnerships with campus units that expand experiential learning and invite broader participation in making as a form of inquiry and expression.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support faculty collaboration on makerspace-based assignments and projects
• Translate learning goals into hands-on, student-centered activities
• Design and deliver workshops or instructional sessions
• Develop instructional resources and documentation
• Participate in campus partnerships in coordination with the Manager

MARGINAL JOB FUNCTIONS 5% - Other Duties as Assigned

• Remain knowledgeable and informed about trends in experiential learning and makerspace technologies
• Attend Library/division/department meetings
• Contribute to Library committees and working groups as assigned
• Perform other duties as needed

WORK SCHEDULE

Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Makerspace events may take place outside regular working hours, requiring some schedule flexibility. To serve a year-round academic community, the library is open some legal or university holidays and staff may be required to work a full or partial shift on such days.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of principles, methods, and techniques related to maker practice and experiential learning.
• Knowledge and skills related to sewing, fashion, fabric arts, and/or textile design.
• Knowledge and skills in a variety of craft and maker processes and technologies.
• Ability to plan, organize, and schedule activities.
• Ability to operate maker equipment and tools.
• Ability to maintain usage data and information.
• Ability to adjust and perform simple maintenance of technical equipment.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull 40 pounds.
• Willingness to accept and support the mission of Seattle University and its commitment to the vision and values of Jesuit and Catholic higher education.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that may involve evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position requires a background check of criminal history.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years’ previous experience working in higher education academic makerspaces, libraries, media, or technology centers.
• Experience with crafting, woodworking, or bicycle repair and maintenance.
• Experience with intermediate electronics (circuit boards, Arduinos/Raspberry Pi, IoT devices, etc.).
• Experience with the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and the maker movement.
• Ability to deliver training and instruction to users with different experience levels and cultural backgrounds.
• Experience leading the work of students.

Compensation at a Glance

$62,700 – $69,400

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

• Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person.
• Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs.
• Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage.
• Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%.
• You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events.
• Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave.

Positions designated as hybrid eligible may offer the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of an introductory period of 3–6 months. In these cases, the role typically begins fully on campus to support onboarding and training, with the potential to transition to a hybrid arrangement thereafter. Positions designated as on-site are not eligible for hybrid work and are expected to remain fully on campus. All flexible work arrangements are subject to periodic review and may be modified or discontinued at any time at the university’s discretion.

With a career at Seattle University, you’re joining a community of passionate people dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and thinkers. Founded in 1891, Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located on a beautiful campus of more than 50 acres in the dynamic heart of Seattle. Our diverse and driven population is made up of more than 7,200 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within six schools and colleges.

Seattle University is an equal opportunity employer. In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals who will further enrich the diversity of our educational community.

Our Mission - Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world. Our Vision - We will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. Our Values Care – We put the good of students first. Academic Excellence – We value excellence in learning with great teachers who are active scholars. Diversity – We celebrate educational excellence achieved through diversity. Faith – We treasure our Jesuit Catholic ethos and the enrichment from many faiths of our university community. Justice – We foster a concern for justice and the competence to promote it. Leadership – We seek to develop responsible leaders committed to the common good.