Fiber Technician in Kansas City, Missouri at Kansas City Art Institute

DIVISION: Academic Affairs

DEPARTMENT: Sculpture

REPORTS TO: Department Chair

PAY TYPE: Non-Exempt

WORKER TYPE: Full-Time, 9-month

UPDATED: April 2025

PAY: $18-$20/hour

The Sculpture Technician is responsible for maintaining a safe working environment and supporting students and faculty. Daily contact with students involves teaching them proper tool use and problem-solving.

The position includes managing materials and supplies, performing routine maintenance of equipment, training and supervising studio monitors, and maintaining proper communication between Faculty, staff, and students.

Essential Functional Responsibilities:

• Foster a culture of safety awareness and ensure adherence to safety protocols within the shop, including managing safety documentation. Conduct safety orientations and tests for students.
• Operate, service and run standard maintenance on metal shop cold saw, horizontal bandsaw, vertical bandsaw, drill press, hydraulic shear and punch, belt sander, grinder, bench grinder, media blasting cabinet, sheet metal brake, metal shear, metal slip roller, Festool equipment, electric kiln, gas kiln, and hand tools.
• Handle the entire lifecycle of material and supply acquisition, including research, ordering, receiving, inventory, and storage.
• Supervise students in helping to receive, move, and store large bulk orders. Keeps storage areas organized and ready to receive shipments.
• Perform routine maintenance of equipment, check and analyze problems with equipment, repair equipment, or outsource repair jobs to the best service provider.
• Manage the repair, fabrication, and installation of equipment and furniture as needed to maintain and improve the studio space's functionality.
• Serve as a primary resource for technical inquiries, safety procedures, and equipment usage for all Volker Complex users.
• Assist students’ requests for technical assistance with projects.
• Oversee and train work-study monitors in their assigned tasks.
• Co-supervise student studio/classroom areas, foundry, steel shop, kiln area,

Outdoor sculpture pad, loading bay, and storage with faculty.

• Manage the organization and cleanliness of studio and storage areas, including coordinating with the Department Chair and with other service departments as needed.
• Communicate regularly with the department chair and faculty on all relevant matters, including planning and budget management.
• Co-manage spreadsheets with the Department Chair to document costs through supply vendors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications:

• Proven history of maintaining a safe work environment and promoting an awareness of safety among shop users.
• Experience in MIG, TIG, ARC, Oxy Oxy-Acetylene welding.
• Experience in foundry operations with tilt furnace and burn-out kiln.
• Strong presentation and teaching skills.
• Possess the skills to read and understand hand-drawn and digital sketches, renderings, and diagrams.
• Working knowledge of standard computer software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Required Experience/Education:

• BFA or equivalent
• Certified welder or equivalent
• 1 year of experience as a technician

Preferred Experience/Education:

Statement

Kansas City Art Institute is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, gender identity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. KCAI provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need accommodation due to a disability, you may contact the Human Resources Department about your interest in employment. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Kansas City Art Institute’s Human Resource Administrator.

EOE/AA: Minorities/Females/Disabled/Vets

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.