Instructor - Recreation (Pottery)

Wheat Ridge, CO; Wheat Ridge, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Wheat Ridge invites applicants for a part-time Instructor, Recreation (Pottery). The role focuses on delivering pottery classes, adapting methods to diverse participants and maintaining a welcoming classroom environment.

The position is anticipated to pay $21.50–$23.00 per hour and requires engaging with students in a community recreation setting. Responsibilities include planning and supervising classes, preparing materials, and ensuring safety and cleanliness of the studio.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of pottery principles, practices, and teaching methods.
• Ceramic kiln operations including loading, firing, unloading.
• Pottery wheel proficiency and hand-building skills.
• Slips and glazes applications; glaze mixing and application.

Responsibilities

• Plan, instruct, and supervise the assigned pottery class for varying skill levels.
• Create an inclusive learning environment and motivate beginners while balancing individual and group instruction.
• Prepare materials, demonstrate techniques, and break complex steps into manageable chunks.
• Monitor inventory, reclaim and recycle clay, and clean work areas after class.

Skills

Verbal communication

Public relations

Public speaking

Classroom management

Tools

Pottery wheel

Ceramic kiln operations

Job description

## Instructor, Recreation (Pottery)Anticipated Hiring Range: $21.50 - $23.00/hour.GENERAL PURPOSE:Responsible for the instruction of various activities and classes. The incumbent operates within a classroom type environment.Wheat Ridge is located on the ancestral homelands of Native peoples who lived on and stewarded this land long before its incorporation. During the 1859 Gold Rush, the City was a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.CORE VALUES: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!:* Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community* Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.* Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with each person contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals.* Integrity: Employees uphold the highest ethical standards, recognize the importance of public and customer trust and adhere to the values of the organization.* Opportunity: Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance the City.* NOW!: Employees are proactive, timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!RESPONSIBILITIES:* Knowledge of pottery principles, practices, and teaching methods and techniques that provide positive motivation.* Ability to adapt teaching methods and communication styles to meet the developmental, physical, cognitive, and social needs of participants at various life stages* Plan, instruct, and supervise the assigned class of varying skill levels and manage large groups of people* Create an inclusive learning environment, maintain class engagement, motivate beginners, and balance individual instruction with group teaching.* Prepare materials before class, demonstrate pottery techniques, break complex techniques into manageable steps, monitor inventory, reclaim and recycle clay and clean work areas after class.## QualificationsJOB QUALIFICATIONS:Knowledge* Principles, practices, and teaching methods and techniques that provide positive motivation.* Ceramic Kiln operations; loading, firing and unloading* Pottery Wheel proficiency* Hand-building skills* Slip and underglaze applications* Glaze mixing and application.* Bisque and glaze firing schedules* Knowledge of firing procedures and schedules* Friendly, welcoming demeanor and excellent verbal communication* Safe operation of an electric kilnSkills* Public relations* Operation of necessary equipment* Must be versatile in all developmental stages.Abilities* Plan, instruct, and supervise the assigned class and control large groups of people* Follow instructions, remain current on the trends of the industry, and communicate effectively with the participants* Analyze situations quickly and determine proper courses of action to be taken and work with little or no supervision.* Analyze and correct facility safety hazards, engage in injury prevention and learn and adhere to the facility emergency procedures.* Establish and maintain effective working relationships.Evidence Of Qualifications* 1 year of experience is preferred, but not necessary with relevant education and/or certifications.* Infant/Child/Adult CPR, AED and First Aid certifications from the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or equivalent agency are required within 60-days of hireHOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: This is a part-time position and hours are based on program needs. Performed in an indoor setting where incumbent may be subject to noise and distraction; requires extended periods of hearing and speaking in a loud voice for up to an hour at a time; requires public relations skills in handling concerns and complaints; entails working closely with others and working with little to no supervision; requires excellent organizational/time management skills. Requires muscular exertion and/or physical strain and frequent concentration on an activity where the flow of work is intermittent or the operation involves little attention or checking; requires ability to use walk, hands to fingers, reach, climb, bend, stoop, crouch and occasionally lift objects weighing less than 24 lbs. Employees use equipment available and necessary to teach and instruct in area of expertise in addition to use of a telephone, copier, and other office equipment to adhere to required policies/procedures.The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodation for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.