Job Description

Parsons School for Design, a division of The New School, seeks a Full-time Technician in Print Media for the Making Center. Parsons Making Center is a collection of more than 70,000 sq. ft. of labs, shops, studios, and open workspaces that provide curricular support for making across a broad range of mediums and disciplines and supports experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Technician should be a personable, proactive, detail-oriented individual who will become integral to the daily workings of the facilities within the Making Center, with the ability to learn new skills and technologies as needed. This is a fast-paced dynamic environment that runs year-round. The Technician will interface with students and faculty daily and work with Making Center staff to support multiple processes and resources for all users in a range of making spaces including a self-service digital printing space for: Laser, Inkjet, Plotters & Risographs along with book-making equipment, service-based specialty printing on: UV, Solvent & Dye pigment printing as well as traditional printmaking spaces for: Silkscreen, Etching, Lithography, & Letterpress. This is an administrative position, governed by a Local 1205 Teamsters Professional union contract, that reports to the Facilities Manager, Print Media.

The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily workings of the Making Center facilities as assigned and maintain a clean and safe working environment. 

• Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment and a respectful shop culture for students, faculty, and staff.

• Provide a high level of customer service, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with students, faculty, and staff. 

• Work with other Making Center staff on the troubleshooting, repair, maintenance, installation, and continuous operation of a variety of hardware/software technologies and stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Assist supervisor and Making Center Leadership with the following:

  • Support faculty and students.

  • Lead demo sessions about various pieces of equipment.

  • Make hardware/software purchase and process recommendations.

  • Create and update web page content.

  • Create and conduct orientations, trainings, and tours.

• Participate in the onboarding process for new technician staff, through peer-to-peer trainings and skills sharing.

• Maintain administrative systems for scheduling, record keeping, inventories, and metrics tracking.

• Provide support for store and tool checkout functions as related to assigned areas

• Supervise student workers, including training, tracking accountability, and assigning tasks during shifts.

• Oversee tool and equipment checkout for both in-shop/lab use and off-site special requests.

• Create clear, accurate, user-friendly technical documentation, signage, and instructions for labs and equipment.

• Assist with facility improvement projects, shows and installations, and special Making Center, program, school, or Parsons-wide initiatives as needed.

• Adapt to changes in the work environment; adjust approach and prioritize competing demands as necessary.

• Ability to be proactive in addressing facility needs, including but not limited to maintaining organized workspaces, tracking inventory locations, and monitoring Technician communication networks. 

• Properly handle heavy paper/vinyl rolls and safely use ladders and other hardware to support facility needs.

• Acquire working knowledge of UV printers, solvent printers, dye pigment printers, vinyl cutting, within the first 6 months of employment. 

• Stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Upon hiring, completion of university-required staff trainings and necessary Certificate of Fitness for all Making Center Facilities. 

• Attend regularly scheduled Making Center staff meetings and perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelorâ™s Degree and 3 years of relevant or professional experience within the industry.

• Flexible schedule â“ ability to work non-traditional schedules that may include nights and weekends, in addition to schedule shifts with semester changes.

• Become proficient in the current equipment management system within the first 6 months of employment.

• Technical knowledge of various laser printers, inkjet printers, inkjet plotters, risographs, various mechanical book binding machines, hand book binding, and cold & hot lamination.

• Technical knowledge of independent and or commercial publishing processes and practices. 

• Technical knowledge of multi-page layout software and digital printing output for books.

• Full comprehensive experience running, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting necessary equipment/tools.

• Understanding of working in a cross-platform (Windows and macOS) environment, with a working knowledge of large-scale hardware and software deployment, network systems, printer drivers, and color calibration/profiling.

• Familiarity with the Google Suite and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator).

• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, close attention to detail, and strong organizational and time management abilities.

• Strong ability to assist students working in an interdisciplinary and/or experimental manner from concept to fabrication.

• Experience in handling high traffic customer service. 

• A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.

• Ability to handle objects weighing up to 25 lbs and on occasion may be expected to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs. 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Google calendar, or comparable equipment finance management and scheduling systems. 

• Familiarity with pay-for-print and e-commerce platforms such as Paper Cut and Touchnet.

• Active member of an independent zine/booklet publishing community.

• Formal knowledge working with analog traditional printmaking methods.

• Knowledge and interest in combining digital and analog printmaking processes. 

• Knowledge of digital printer repair and maintenance.

• Experience with various print and booklet finishing options. 

• Experience with running group workshops.

• Experience with direct-to-garment printing.

• A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.

 

WORK MODE

On-Campus Position - Employees in this position are expected to work on-campus during regularly scheduled work hours due to the nature of the work being that which is not feasible, or not in the best interest of the organization, to be performed remotely. #LI-ONSITE

SALARY RANGE

$26.10/hr

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

For full consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter in your application. 

We look forward to receiving your application!

About The New School

The New School, a leading university in downtown New York City, offers degree and nondegree academic programs in design, the social sciences, the liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. Students benefit from small classes, superior resources, and renowned faculty members who practice what they teach. Continuing education courses and public programs place the university at the center of New York’s cultural and intellectual life.

Connections working at The New School

Job Tags

Full time, Contract work, Local area, Remote job, Flexible hours, Shift work, Night shift,

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