Innovation Lab Specialist - Makerspace & Innovation

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee is seeking an Innovation Lab Specialist to manage the school's Innovation Lab and Digital Production Lab, ensuring equipment is safe and available for hands-on learning. You will guide students and teachers through design-thinking activities, maintain tools, and foster a collaborative environment where students grow as leaders.

Working with faculty, you will develop safety training, coordinate access via a shared calendar, and create engaging programming for students,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required.
• Strong curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, making, and sharing knowledge.
• Hands-on problem-solving mindset with interest in project-based learning and design work.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a dynamic school environment.
• Interest in developing and growing a high school makerspace or innovation program.
• Experience in a makerspace preferred; strong familiarity with digital tools, software, and hardware also valued.
• Basic programming experience preferred.
• Experience with fabrication tools, robotics, or engineering programs (e.g., FIRST Robotics) is a plus.
• Teaching, coaching, or facilitation experience is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, including documenting processes and presenting information.
• Spanish proficiency is an asset.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a developing program environment.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.
• Strong commitment to working with high school students and supporting their growth and success.
• Cultural humility and sensitivity to diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and maintain Cristo Rey Jesuit's makerspaces, ensuring tools are safe, functional, organized, and available for student and faculty learning.
• Develop and manage a safety training and certification system to ensure safe use of equipment.
• Manage the equipment checkout and project purchasing processes, and inventory.
• Engage in training and professional development, and arrange training for staff to use lab machines.
• Coordinate access to the lab and equipment for teachers via a shared calendar and reservation system.
• Engage with teachers to provide advice on integrating lab machines into class projects.
• Promote the use of the Innovation Lab to expand curricular integration and extracurricular participation.
• Supervise lab access for students during midday and after school periods.
• Develop and deliver programming for students, teachers, and families to learn specific equipment.
• Support the Director of Innovation with guest speaker coordination, extracurricular planning, and field trips.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Curiosity

Hands-on learning

Project-based learning

Collaboration

Design thinking

Education experience

Spanish proficiency

Communication skills

Safety training

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Tormach CNC Router

Roland vinyl printer

DTF Printer

3D printers

Cameras and drones

Laptops and iPads

VR/AR equipment

Job description

Do you believe innovation empowers students to think critically, create boldly, and serve others with purpose?

In the Innovation Lab Specialist role, you will support Cristo Rey Jesuit's Innovation Lab and Makerspace by providing safe, supervised access to tools, equipment, and creative technologies while guiding students and teachers through hands‑on, design‑thinking‑based learning experiences. You will help develop the mindsets and skills outlined in the Ignatian Innovation Framework and maintain a collaborative space where students can explore ideas, build solutions, solve problems, and grow as future leaders.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Innovation Lab Specialist will manage and steward Cristo Rey Jesuit's makerspaces, including the Innovation Lab and Digital Production Lab, ensuring that tools, machines, and equipment are maintained in safe and working condition. The Specialist will support students and teachers in using these spaces for hands‑on learning, design thinking, prototyping, and creative problem‑solving.

Working in collaboration with faculty, the Innovation Lab Specialist will facilitate experiences grounded in design thinking and the Ignatian Innovation Framework, helping students develop the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to innovate with purpose. The Specialist will oversee makerspace activities, maintain tools and equipment, support safe lab practices, and cultivate a welcoming environment where students can create, collaborate, and grow as leaders.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee and maintain Cristo Rey Jesuit's makerspaces, including the Innovation Lab and Digital Production Lab, ensuring tools, machines, and equipment are safe, functional, organized, and available for student and faculty learning.
• Machines: Tormach CNC Router, Roland vinyl printer/cutter, Roland DTF Printer, large format laminator, HP Large Format Printers, Glowforge and Boss laser engravers, Bambu Labs, Creality, and FormLabs 3D printers
• Equipment: Rodecaster Podcasting equipment, audio production gear, cameras and lenses, iPads and Apple Pencils, laptops, photo/video drones, robots and robotics gear, and VR/AR equipment
• Develop and manage a safety training and certification system to ensure the safe, prepared use of equipment in the Innovation lab.
• Manage the equipment checkout and project purchasing processes, as well as the inventory of gear and consumables.
• Engage in training and professional development, and then arrange for or provide training for staff to expand access to the machines and equipment of the Innovation Lab and Digital Production Lab.
• Coordinate access to the lab and equipment for teachers through a shared calendar and reservation system to support class projects.
• Engage with teachers to provide advice and ideas on integrating Innovation Lab machines or equipment into existing or proposed class projects.
• Promote the use of the Innovation Lab and equipment in the school to expand curricular integration and extracurricular participation.
• Supervise lab access for students during a midday "Flex" period and/or after school.
• Develop and deliver programming that provides targeted opportunities for students, teachers, and families to learn to use specific equipment and create specific items.
• Support the Director of Innovation with guest speaker coordination, extracurricular coordination, school assembly presentation, field trip planning, and partnership development.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree or higher required
• Strong curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, making, and sharing knowledge
• Hands‑on problem‑solving mindset with interest in project‑based learning and design work
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a dynamic school environment
• Interest in developing and growing a high school makerspace or innovation program
• Experience in a makerspace preferred; strong familiarity with digital tools, software, and hardware also valued
• Basic programming experience preferred
• Experience with fabrication tools, robotics, or engineering programs (e.g., FIRST Robotics) is a plus
• Teaching, coaching, or facilitation experience is a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, including documenting processes and presenting information
• Spanish proficiency is an asset
• Flexibility and adaptability in a developing program environment
• Commitment to the mission and values of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
• Strong commitment to working with high school students and supporting their growth and success
• Cultural humility and sensitivity to diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds

About Cristo Rey Jesuit High School:

Cristo Rey Jesuit (CRJ) Milwaukee is part of a national network of 41 high schools that transform urban education through a unique integration of college‑prep academics, professional experience, and spiritual formation, with a focus of students of limited financial means. As a private, Catholic Jesuit high school serving 450 students, Cristo Rey Jesuit's mission is to provide an affordable Catholic secondary education with a college‑prep curriculum and a Corporate Work Study Program to prepare graduates for success in college, work, and life.

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Christo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or national origin.