Part Time Ceramics Laboratory Assistant

Wccnet; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Washtenaw Community College is seeking a Part-time Ceramics Laboratory Assistant to support the Ceramic Department. The role involves maintaining the clay and glaze rooms, preparing recycled clay, and assisting students with throwing, handbuilding, and glaze work.

The candidate should have a strong ceramics background and good communication skills. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, with at least one year of related experience and 30 college credits preferred.

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• At least one year of related work experience.
• Strong background in Ceramics and ability to work with students and staff.

Responsibilities

• Keep clay room clean and orderly.
• Prepare recycled clay and glaze room supplies.
• Assist with kiln loading and firing as needed.
• Advise students on using clay room equipment and glaze room processes.
• Maintain inventory of kiln room supplies and chemicals.

Skills

Ceramics background

Written & verbal communication

AI-enabled tools familiarity

Education

High school diploma or GED

30 college credits

Tools

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Please complete all sections of the application and submit required documents.

Our college strives to make a positive difference in people's lives through accessible and excellent educational programs and services.

Washtenaw Community College seeks to recruit and retain a productive workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve our community and to build on the success of our students, faculty & staff. Washtenaw Community College is committed to creating a welcoming environment.

Washtenaw Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• An inclusive, welcoming environment for our students, faculty & staff
• WCC tuition waiver of 3 credit hours per semester
• Retirement options and flexible schedules available
• Great Discounts at WCC's Health & Fitness Center, Barnes & Noble Bookstore and more!

As a member of the Ceramic Department team, the Part time Ceramics Laboratory Assistant will perform ceramic studio functions listed below to ensure efficiencies and a safe work environment for students and staff.

Essential Duties include:

• Keep clay room clean and in order.
• Pull unusable recycled clay from brown storage bins.
• Prepare clay sludge buckets for clay making.
• Make recycled clay using a Bluebird Mixer.
• Bag recycled clay.
• Recycle and bag porcelain and terracotta clay using the plaster boards.
• Prepare student recycle clay making schedule.
• Maintain a running inventory of dry chemicals for recycled clay making.
• Unload pallets and store 25# boxes of clay and 50# bags of dry chemicals.
• Advise students on how to make recycled clay and use of clay room equipment.
• At the end of the semester:
  • Pull out sludge buckets so facilities can clean floor.
  • Make recycled clay for new semester.
• Keep glaze room organized and supplies filled.
• Maintain a running inventory of glaze chemicals and glaze room supplies.
• Keep chemical bins and containers filled.
• Refill student chemical bins as needed.
• Make clay super glues, slips, oxide washes, underglazes, majolica glazes, raku glazes, rainbow glazes, and cone 6 oxidation and reduction glazes as needed.
• Clean water bucket and keep battery mixers charged.
• Clean grinding wheel pan and bucket.
• Clean spray booth and write work orders for filters as needed.
• Advise students on use of glaze room equipment, glazing and glaze making tests.

Clay Room Duties:

• Load and unload electric kilns with greenware, bisque, and glaze pieces.
• Load and unload gas kilns with reduction glaze pieces and/or oxidation glaze pieces.
• Program kilns as needed.
• Keep kiln shelves cleaned, scraped, and kiln washed.
• Maintain wasters. Make new ones as needed, kiln wash, and keep organized.
• Make kiln wash.
• Change kiln elements and wire.
• Call electrician if needed.
• Clean and vacuum kilns.
• Clean grinder area.
• Organize and maintain inventory of kiln room supplies and communicate replacement needs.
• Advise students on grinder use and kiln firing.
• At the end of the semester:
  • Dispose of all leftover bisque.
  • Store glazed pieces through the next semester and then dispose of any not picked up.
  • Pull all glaze buckets out so facilities can clean floor and walls (work order may be needed).

Classroom:

• Keep clean, equipment straightened and maintained.
• Prepare Open Studio Schedule.
• Advise students on handbuilding projects.
• Assist students with throwing assignments.
• Assist students in slabrolling, extruding, and wedging.
• Cleanup after students that do not cleanup and provide a warning.
  • At the end of the semester:
  • Dispose of leftover items.
  • Clean all racks.
  • Apply new shelf labels.
  • Clean all equipment.
  • Clean equipment cupboards and shelves.

Student Storage Room:

• Dispose of leftover items at the end of the semester.
• Wipe shelves at the end of the semester.
• Apply new shelf name labels at the end of the semester.
• Pull out all racks so facilities can clean the room at the end of the semester.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Related Duties:

• Assist on special projects, art shows, empty bowls, etc.
• Understand the department's course curriculum and objectives
• Utilize technology, including AI-enabled tools and software where appropriate, to support teaching, learning, student engagement, professional responsibilities, institutional service, and other responsibilities. Use such technologies in a manner consistent with academic standards, professional ethics, confidentiality requirements, and compliance with institutional policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Capable of lifting and transporting at least 50 pounds.
• Move about 2/3 of the time and be stationary about 1/3 of the time.

Hours/Schedule:

Hours vary based on class schedules-days, nights and weekends. The terms of employment are based on college enrollment and class enrollment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED .
• At least thirty (30) college level credits.
• One-year related work experience.
• A strong background in Ceramics
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills and be able to utilize these skills with all stakeholders.
• Ability to function as a member of the Ceramic Department team
• Demonstrated ability to use technology relevant to the discipline and faculty role, including the capacity to learn and appropriately utilize emerging AI-supported tools. Ability to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness of AI-generated content; maintain confidentiality where required; exercise professional and academic judgment; and uphold ethical standards in the use of technology for teaching, learning, and service.

Preferred Qualifications:

Posting Date:

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please complete all sections of the application and submit required documents.

Our college strives to make a positive difference in people's lives through accessible and excellent educational programs and services.

Washtenaw Community College seeks to recruit and retain a productive workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve our community and to build on the success of our students, faculty & staff. Washtenaw Community College is committed to creating a welcoming environment.

Washtenaw Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary/Hourly Rate:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $24.22

Salary Comments:

Publicly available compensation information can be found: Here

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you meet the minimum qualifications for this position?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you presently legally authorized to work in the United States?
  • Yes
  • No
• * In order for WCC to employ you, would you require WCC to provide a petition or a letter to the Department of Homeland Security unless authorized as a F1 student to work?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Unofficial Transcripts 1

Optional Documents

• Certificate
• Letter of Reference 1
• Other Documents
• Unofficial Transcripts 2
• Unofficial Transcripts 3

Washtenaw Community College does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status as provided for and to the extent required by federal and state statutes. Nor does the college discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Click here for Notice of Nondiscrimination and Other Compliance Statements.