Digital Design Studio Coordinator

The Digital Design Studio (DDS), housed within Wesleyan’s Digital Design Commons (DDC), supports curricular digital design projects (digital fabrication, digital photo editing, laser cutting, etc.), and facilitates work created by students for classes and faculty in their teaching in the arts.The studio is an interdisciplinary arts space, primarily used by design students in the arts.

The Digital Design Studio Coordinator and Technician position manages technical and operational administration of the DDS and provides hands-on technical instruction in an arts context. It oversees the day-to-day operation of the DDS, including scheduling the space, supporting faculty and students who use DDS equipment, training users in the operation of DDS equipment, managing the DDS’ student support staff, managing the DDS budgeting, and purchasing/maintaining DDS equipment/supplies. The position also supports DDS-related equipment in Studio Art spaces outside of the DDS proper.

The Coordinator is a member of the university’s Arts Production Department, a team of staff members specializing in supporting and facilitating work in the Visual and Performing Arts departments on campus. The department reports to the Producing Director for the Arts in consultation with a DDS Faculty Partnership Committee.

Primary Responsibilities Include

Studio and Classroom Support:

• Facilitates faculty and student use of digital applications that are central to the conduct of Arts curricula, including but not limited to 3-D modeling and 3-D printing; laser cutting, documentation of work, digital photographic editing, compositing, and output; and other digital design computer programs and fabrication methods.
• Manages the operation of the facilities, including coordinating the scheduling of DDS spaces for classes and other related uses by balancing the needs of multiple users simultaneously.
• Provides training sessions on the use of DDS equipment for relevant classes and students, demonstrating the correct and safe operation of relevant equipment.
• Performs and oversees maintenance of DDS and DDS equipment housed in other spaces, including projectors, computers, inkjet and large format printers, 3-d printers, computer milling, laser cutters, and scanners, and other fabrication equipment.
• Trains and supervises student staff to serve as monitors in the space to offer afternoon, evening, and weekend support for users of the DDS. Student staff can range from 12-15 students.
• Manages the relevant budgets for the DDS including, the operational budget, student staffing budget, and any DDS-related grant funding.
• Maintains all equipment and materials to ensure they are at peak performance and that the equipment meets the needs of constantly evolving disciplines.
• Liaisons with Physical Plant and Facilities for DDS-related minor and major facility maintenance and new construction projects.
• Provides fabrication, technological, production and exhibition assistance to students and faculty for the creation of work using digital design tools (digital fabrication, digital photo editing, laser cutting, etc.).
• Oversee the documentation of Studio Art Thesis work by students, including running workshops and interfacing with the university’s library to coordinate the archiving of documentation.
• Tracks industry developments and recommends the purchase of new and/or updated technologies.

Collaboration

• Consults on operations of the DDS with the DDS Faculty Partnership Committee for matters such as operational policies, equipment purchases/retirement, and other matters impacting functional ability and operational practices of the DDS.
• Collaborates with Professor of Practice in Video and Audio Production on relevant DDS/DDC-related projects, facility matters, and other shared uses of the space.
• Works closely with Wesleyan’s Information Technology staff to coordinate image management and deployment, printer networking, software licensing, and computer support.
• Conducts end-of-semester surveys of users of space to inform the operations of the space moving forward.
• Find opportunities for the broader campus to engage with the studio, such as the Gordon Career Center and other Center for the Arts partners.
• Engages in professional development opportunities related to their field of expertise and growth areas to foster their own personal growth and growth of studio.

This position is required to work on campus.

(Relocation assistance to CT is available for those who qualify).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Knowledge of makerspace facilitation and fostering creativity and collaboration.
• Experience in digital fabrication.
• Fluency in Adobe Suite, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign (or equivalent), and at least one 3-D modeling program.
• Ability to learn new applications and skills and keep up to date on changing technologies and individual student and faculty needs.
• Demonstrated ability to foster an inclusive learning environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA or advanced degree in an arts related field.
• Experience in maintaining a digital facility.
• Experience in budget management.
• Experience managing a student staff.
• Experience in the assessment of operations and implementing improvements based on the assessment.
• Experience with Rapid prototyping tools such as Laser Cutters and 3D Printers.
• Proficiency in Rhino3D. (or equivalent)
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. (minimum of Adobe Illustrator)
• Proficiency in audio recording software. (Avid Pro Tools; Logic Pro X)
• Proficiency in interactive design software. (Qlab; Isadora)

Position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by October 18, 2024 when first review of applications will begin.

As part of your application, please upload a cover letter and resume.

Compensation: $26.05-$30.51

Work Location: On Campus

All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator.

Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at https://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.html.

Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers. For more information visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/handbook/compensation-practices/index.html

Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.

Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.

About Organization

A private, non-sectarian liberal arts university in Middletown, Conn., founded in 1831, Wesleyan offers its 2,900 undergraduates and 200 graduate students a demanding educational environment that fosters creative, independent and experimental work.