Wood Studio Assistant Manager
Groundworks Art Lab
Groundworks Art Lab | Boulder, Colorado
Employment type: Part-time hourly up to 20 hours per week, nonexempt
Compensation: $25 per hour
Benefits: n/a
Schedule: Flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends
Are you an experienced woodworker who enjoys helping others learn while keeping a working studio safe and organized?
Groundworks Art Lab is hiring a Wood Studio Assistant Manager to support the daily operation of our Boulder, Colorado wood studio. This hands-on position combines woodworking, power-tool and equipment maintenance, studio operations, studio
administration, instruction, student service, and occasional manager-on-duty responsibilities.
Our mission is to cultivate the artist in each of us through creative collaboration and the study, practice, and advancement of the studio arts. The Wood Studio Assistant Manager helps ensure that every class, workshop, open studio, and community event delivers a welcoming and high-quality student experience.
What You’ll Do
- Open, close, clean, organize, and prepare the wood studio
- Maintain and troubleshoot lathes, saws, planers, jointers, sanders, dust-collection equipment, and ventilation systems
- Coordinate outside repairs when needed
- Track lumber, materials, tools, supplies, and consumable inventory
- Teach or assist with woodworking classes, workshops, one-day events, and team-building programs
- Substitute for instructors when necessary
- Demonstrate woodworking techniques, power-tool use, and safe studio practices
- Enforce health, safety, and facility requirements
- Serve as manager-on-duty when the Wood Studio Manager is unavailable
- Direct staff and volunteers, respond to student concerns, and make operational and safety decisions
- Support community art projects, demonstrations, fundraising, and marketing efforts
What You’ll Bring
- Demonstrated woodworking experience in areas such as furniture making, woodturning, joinery, carving, or related processes
- Working knowledge of woodworking tools, machinery, dust collection, and safe operating procedures
- Ability to troubleshoot and maintain wood studio equipment
- Teaching experience or the ability to clearly demonstrate techniques and safety practices
- Strong communication, organization, and customer-service skills
- Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and solve problems
- A kind, calm, collaborative, and low-drama approach
- Ability to pass a criminal background check
Physical and Studio Environment
This active studio position requires extensive standing, walking, reaching, gripping, repetitive equipment operation, fine-motor work, bending, crouching, kneeling, and occasional ladder use. The role involves regularly handling lighter materials, frequently lifting or moving items weighing up to 50 pounds, and occasionally moving heavier materials with assistance or by breaking loads into smaller portions.
The wood studio includes power tools, vibrating machinery, sawdust and other fine particles, noise, chemicals, sharp materials, and the possibility of cuts, burns, or other
injuries. Safety glasses are required, with gloves, hearing protection, face shields, respirators, and other protective equipment used as appropriate.
If you’re a woodworker who wants to support artists, students, and an inclusive creative community, we’d love to hear from you.
Compensation: $25 / hour