Foundations Technical Specialist

Provides technical support for faculty and students for Foundations.

Salary/Rate:$24.48-$25.89, 40-hours/week

Essential Functions: This position has supervisor authority
Administrative

• Daily operations/management. Ordering equipment and materials. Oversight of safety training, documentation, and technology foundations courses.
• Support Director of Foundations in documenting and archiving foundations courses including curricular materials and project outcomes
• Support Foundations exhibitions
• As needed provide tours of Foundations
• Document the Foundations experience to support recruitment efforts
• Support Director of Foundations and faculty in creating a safe, inspirational, and sustainable learning & teaching environment.
• Support physical teaching environment improvements and preparations
• Monitor studios outside of class meeting times to support students
• Supervise and train in studio procedures, studio maintenance, safety and the use of equipment
  and supplies that are used in Foundations
• Maintain records of receipts and purchase orders for budgetary review.
• Prepare purchase orders/requests, maintain records of and follow through on all orders.
• Assist in the planning of purchases and perform routine analysis and reconciliation of
  budgets for internal and external purposes.
• Oversee the foundations studios, shared office and equipment which requires maintaining the equipment that graduate and undergraduate students are permitted to borrow for class projects such as digital cameras, projectors, printers, etc.
• Co-ordinate studio set-up at the beginning of each semester and co-ordinate all clean-up
  schedules at the end of each semester.
• Initiate and submit work orders, oversee and follow up on projects. Liaison between the Division Chairs and the professional staff with respect to administrative matters and facilities projects. Gather research and data as requested.
• Design and assist with publication materials such as ad layouts, brochures, posters and catalogs.
• Assist with orientation of rotating instructors.
• Assist visiting artists: provide transportation, secure lodging, locate materials and equipment needed for demonstrations and projects.

General Support

• Do basic carpentry work including design, construction, and repair of items.
• Maintain the Foundations web presence and provide content as needed for social platforms.

Instructional

• Provide additional technical instructional assistance for students when needed.
• Instruct students in standard operation procedures.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• During summer months, prepares foundations studios (equipment, materials, building), repairs for fall, supports incoming student exhibition, summer workshoRS and institutes as requested.
• Manages summer projects to support facilities.
• Supports and assists in creating intersections for faculty, staff and students that will assist in transforming people's lives.
• Supports and assists in creating an evolving culture of mentoring and rich engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
• Maintains a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a high degree of cultural competence and respect for a wide range of identities and experiences, therefore welcoming and supporting all faculty, staff and students and expanding access to the AU experience.
• Maintains a safe working environment within and around their facilities and associated equipment and supplies including, but not limited to, obtaining Safety Data Sheet (SOS) information pertaining to any hazards associated with their work environment.
• Participates in all required assigned training, including safety training and will comply with safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Contributes to the overall success of the University by performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications-Education & Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred with 5+ years of experience in the visual arts.
• Two to five years of work experience. Experience working in a Fine Arts Educational environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Suite, MS Office.
• Knowledge of equipment and materials used in foundations studios.
• Must be able to maintain complete and detailed records in an organized manner and work on many kinds of projects simultaneously.
• Must be self-motivated, have good communication skills, and be able to work well with a wide range of people and personalities including faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, support staff, future students, and visiting artists.
• An interest in learning new technologies, methods, materials, and techniques is important as in an interest in working in an arts environment.

Applications will be accepted through June 1, 2026. For questions please contact Trevor Bennett, Director of Foundations. 

Physical Demands & Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Personal Protective Equipment must be worn when required.  A respiratory function test and the ability to use respirators may be required.  Stairs and uneven surfaces may be present; artificial lifts, etc. may or may not be available.  The position may require the incumbent to walk outdoors in all types of weather to other buildings or offices located on the campus.  The Campus is located in an area that contains numerous hills and slopes and may not always be fully accessible for mobility impaired individuals. 

About Alfred University
Lighting the way for students since 1836.“We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor and community have made us a unique kind of leader since 1836.”  

Alfred University (AU) was founded on principles of social justice in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. The University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins. Alfred University is the second oldest coeducational college in the United States as well as one of the earliest nineteenth century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. It has a long-standing history of educating socially conscious students who make a difference in their professions and their communities. 

Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, counseling, and school psychology to its nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students that live, learn, and play on a 232-acre campus located in an idyllic, creative valley in Western New York. To learn more, visit alfred.edu. 
 

Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.