Description
University of Colorado | CU Denver
College of Architecture and Planning
Design Fabrication Lab Professional
Position #00350172 – Requisition #21538

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The University of Colorado Denver seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment. We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.

The College of Architecture and Planning has an opening for a full-time University Staff (unclassified) Design Fabrication Lab Professional position.

As Colorado’s public urban research university, the University of Colorado Denver educates a diverse student body through quality academics, ambitious research, creative work, and civic engagement in the city we call home. CU Denver graduates gain the powerful combination of immersive classroom and real-world experience that are in demand today. The city benefits from a well-educated top talent that fuels the future of Denver and our region.

CU Denver offers more than 100 degree programs, from the bachelor’s to the doctoral level, in the heart of downtown. Here, more than 15,000 students pursue academic programs that range from global energy management to music industry studies to criminal justice. As part of the state’s largest public university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with nearly 2,500 employees and annual economic impact of $800 million.  Read CU Denver Quick Facts here.

Jobs in this career family provide general business operations of the organization or a combination of operational responsibilities covering multiple career families.  Functions include institutional research, statistical analysis, policy development and review, strategic planning and broad unit business operations such as parking and transportation services, risk management, childcare services, real estate and property management, retail services or job responsibilities that combine fiscal, HR and operational management responsibilities.

Professionals at the intermediate level are responsible for exercising discretion, analytical skill, personal accountability and responsibility in a wide range of areas including academic, administrative, managerial and student services functions. Work involves creating, integrating, applying and sharing knowledge directly related to a professional field.

At the intermediate level, duties may be more limited in scope and are performed with guidance and direction from other professionals.

Position Emphasis:

The position of Design Fabrication Lab Professional is established to work collaboratively with the Design Fabrication Labs Director in day-to-day operations of the design fabrication lab, 20+ student employees and fabrication labs resource management, and Fabrication and Design related training and instruction for the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) traditional/analog and digital fabrication labs.  CAP’s design fabrication labs (including traditional, digital and full-scale build out spaces) provide resources and instruction for over 900 students, faculty and staff. The labs support all disciplines as well as provide woodshop, metal fabrication, and digital fabrication specific coursework and integration as a support resource to CAP’s programs and expanding areas of digital fabrication.

Digital Fabrication and Design [60%]

• Works with Students, Faculty and Staff to teach ideas and methods of making with instructional emphasis coming from disciplines of design, art, architecture and digital fabrication. The Labs Professional provides technical expertise and performs a variety of highly digital, and precision computer generated work involving CNC machines, 3D Printers, lasers, 3D modelling and has the ability to process and work with wood, metal, plastics and other materials. Candidates will have a strong background in Design using digital technologies such as CNC, Rhino 3D modelling, lasers, and 3D printers. Robotics and/or VR/AR knowledge is beneficial as the College of Architecture and Planning continues to grow in to new and different areas of representation and fabrication technology.  
• Instructs student employees and students in support of their coursework in the use of machinery and general shop equipment and tools to provide instructional safety demonstrations, project fabrication assistance through design advising/critiquing and mentoring students through a “best practices” approach to the relationship of design to real-world objects at a variety of scales and other forms of support for students and faculty.
• Machinery used includes, but is not limited to:
• CNC Machines for wood and metals
• Laser Cutters
• 3D Printers
• Tablesaws, Bandsaws, Sanders, Jointers, and Planers
• Welders, Metal Saws and Torches

• Regularly provides technical and design instruction and guidance to support students in design education and pedagogy on the use of design tools and programs in coordination with the course requirements and learning outcomes to enhance academic and research projects.
• Assists the Design Fabrication Labs Director in the development and delivery of coursework specific to the design labs in support of CAP faculty with workshops specific to their curriculum. This may include custom-designed training for our nationally recognized Design-Build program, workshops catering to specific course needs such as furniture design, fabrication heavy installation studios and other such courses. 
• Other duties include:
• Regularly provides routine maintenance on all machines and overall shop cleanliness;
• Monitoring equipment and materials inventory;
• Adherence and enforcement of safety policies and protocols.

General Lab Support and Management [20%]

• In collaboration with the Director implements policies and procedures with faculty, student and staff assistance and feedback that govern multiple aspects of student life and college functions. Policies may cover personal safety, fire safety, chemical safety, machine safety, facilities policies, classroom policies and studio use.  Ensures compliance with health and safety standards of operations.
• In Collaboration with the Director this position manages and trains 20+ student employees.
• Works on a variety of projects that will contribute to the future needs of lab fabrication, define the projects, produce timelines, key milestones and benchmarks, and collaborate on an ongoing basis with the Design Fabrication Labs Director and CAP’s management team to ensure the labs support high quality design instruction.
• This position works with the Director of Labs to build/design and coordinate workshops and demonstrations both specific to ongoing coursework and develops new methods through project based learning in order to train students the practical, safe uses of equipment and materials.
• Researches and proposes new technologies to the Director of Labs and plans how new equipment will be integrated in to curriculum and methods for support, instruction and management/maintenance.

Facilities Management [15%]

• Report building and grounds services needed by building occupants to the appropriate office (facilities, police, etc). These service needs may include maintenance, janitorial, safety, security, renovations and construction, project planning, University Police and security, and environmental health services.
• Act as liaison for building projects initiated by administration and faculty; the position is responsible for six floors of the downtown campus’ CU Building and annex, totaling about 140,000 square feet.
• Manage all CAP construction, renovation, and elective maintenance projects in the college assigned spaces by coordinating with the CAP administration, the campus project management and the Faculty, Staff and Students impacted by changes to the space.
• Support CAP Staff and Faculty in the coordination of College exhibitions through building modification and display fabrication advisement and management of Student Staff when available to assist. Works Collaboratively with the Lab Director and CAP administration to design and propose exhibition infrastructure in the CU Building for the display of various types of professional exhibits.
• Perform duties in coordination with CAP Leadership acting as the Building Proctor for the CU Denver (Dravo) Building occupied by CAP.
• Manages, communicates and acts as the project manager on the CAP side of renovations in support of the College’s mission and vision to provide high quality work and educational spaces within the building, as the only professional Architecture Program in Colorado the building often needs to adapt to suit our needs. This type of work can range from installation work to full renovations of spaces and this position manages the different levels and aspects that affect how we use the CU Building. This management role works with the campus PM or the PI of a build project to ensure projects are completed in an appropriate timeframe and the budget provided by the CAP administration is adhered to.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is anticipated to be between $55,000 to $70,000.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Diversity and Equity:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Art, Design or a directly related field from an accredited institution
• 3 years of professional level experience in a lab or shop environment

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a making or fabrication lab setting utilizing, preparing, repairing and maintaining digital and analog equipment.
• 5 years’ experience in the field of design, fabrication and/or manufacturing.
• Post-secondary degree/diploma in art, architecture, or design.
• Experience in a Higher Education Fabrication Lab or Shop environment.

Competencies

Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.Outstanding customer service skills.Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.
• Must be proficient in AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe Suite, and CAM software.
• Thorough technical knowledge of shop equipment, processes, and materials and have demonstrable experience with a variety of different construction materials such as wood, metal, glass, plastic, fiberglass, and concrete.
• Familiarity with the professions of architecture, landscape architecture, design and planning.
Demonstrated expertise and comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and fabrication techniques and methodologies.Strong organizational and time management skills including ability to prioritize work, attend to details and meet deadlines.Ability to evaluate policies and regulations and exercise good judgment in interpretation and application and analyze different situations and challenges and resolve problems.

Job Category: Business Services
Primary Location: Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: May 30, 2021
Unposting Date: Ongoing