Ceramics Education Coordinator at Union Project

Hiring Organization: Union Project
Job Title: Ceramics Education Coordinator 
Position Reports To: Deputy Director 
Status: Full-Time, Exempt Employee 

Position Summary: 

The UP Ceramics Education Coordinator (CEC) will coordinate UP’s ceramics custom programs. This will include setting up partnerships and program details, scheduling and coordinating teaching artists, creating curriculum, and evaluating program offerings. The CEC will also drive the Wheel Mobile to locations throughout Allegheny County to provide demonstrations and hands-on activities. In addition to coordinating programs, the CEC will participate in studio maintenance and teach ceramic programs across a wide range of ages, skill levels, techniques, and venues. 

The CEC is an essential part of the Union Project team, spreading the joy of ceramics, helping people build their ceramic skills and understanding, supporting program growth, upholding UP’s brand, and meeting the organizational goals directed by the Capitalization Plan and fiscal year budget. The CEC will help position UP as a leader in the field of ceramic arts by supporting ceramic learners of all ages.   

This is an in-person, non-remote position. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management – 45% 

• Coordinate ceramics custom programs. 

• Field inquiries, coordinate program details and implementation, schedule teaching artists, update internal calendars, and set program goals. 

• Substitute for other teaching artists in situations where another substitute is not available.  

• Ensure ceramics programming is in line with UP’s values and provides quality, enriching arts experiences for students of all ages. 

• Monitor supplies, identify and request any necessary materials for order.  

• Manage data intake and data entry within program area – including client data and program data. 

• Send invoices, monitor payments, and submit the necessary paperwork to pay any invoices received.  

• Work with the Deputy Director to calculate and set program prices.   

• Work with the teaching artist team.  

• Train teaching artists in classroom processes.  

• Work with Teaching Artists to develop and implement age/skill level appropriate, quality, curriculum that is replicable.  

• Schedule teaching artists for programs.  

• Collaborate with UP Staff to recruit, vet, and hire new teaching artists as needed. 

• Cultivate and foster relationships with schools, non-profit organizations, and other groups.   

• Collaborate with other staff members to ensure consistent, quality programming throughout the organization. This includes participating in staff meetings, assisting with organizational events (Mother of All Pottery Sales), and facilitating artist participation.  

• Work with UP staff and CFO to build and monitor annual budgets. 

Teaching – 25% 

• Teach classes, custom programs, camps, school programs, residencies, and private workshops with community partners, both at UP and off-site.   

• Drive the Wheel Mobile (UP’s mobile clay studio) to locations throughout Allegheny County and provide demonstrations and hands-on learning. 

• Transport supplies and ceramics work to and from program sites and Union Project.   

• Work with program participants to meet their individual needs by providing technical guidance, offering suggestions, and educating them on the firing timeline and workflow management. 

• Maintain a clean environment and perform any necessary set-up and cleanup on- and off-site. Ensure that all attendees clean their areas and tools.  

• Develop and document curricula and lessons for ceramics programs.   

• Act as a representative of Union Project, promoting programs and events, and ensuring all attendees leave with a positive experience. 

Studio Maintenance – 25% 

Participate in daily ceramics studio operations, primarily the firing and loading of electric kilns, but may also include: 

• Maintaining and repairing equipment. 

• Monitor and request ceramics materials and supplies. 

• Monitor studio procedures and studio functions. 

• Mixing glazes and clay. 

Other – 5%  

• Support marketing efforts by collecting written and visual content for promotional verbiage, post mortems, and impact stories as well as capturing images for use in e-communications and social media, flyers, mailings, etc.  

• Participate in staff meetings as needed. (Staff meetings may take place in person, via phone, or via video chat.)