This page is a new way to see all the things that can be done at the Fab Lab by YOU! Whether you are a member who wants to volunteer between projects, a person in our community who has a special skill set to help with either ongoing or one time projects, or someone looking for a paid position at the Fab Lab, this is the place to go to see a bit behind the curtain!
Employment Opportunities
After school program instructor
Part Time Position
This position is part time, being between 12 and 20 hours a week on a typical week
work with kids
The successful candidate will work with up to 10 kids per session (each session being between 2 and 5 weeks long) between the ages of 11 to 15. There are two groups per session, as well. A Monday/Wednesday group of 10, and a Tuesday/Thursday group of 10. Applicants must have experience working with kids in an active environment.
What are the typical hours?
A typical week will be Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 7pm. The program itself runs from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. There will never be Fridays or Sundays. There may be Saturdays for extra hours, but any Saturday hours are also negotiable and not mandatory. Those hours would be between 9am and 4pm, but not all of them. Usually a 4 hour period of time somewhere within that time range.
Ok, the work sounds good. What is the pay?
This position will pay $15 per hour, and comes with several perks. The successful candidate will have a 24/7 access membership to the Fab Lab for their own projects. The successful candidate will (after a suitable training period) be able to help with the planning phase of the curriculum, and have direct input on the types of programs we offer to the after school program. They will also receive free training on all machines and tool bays of the Fab Lab, which is practically a license to build anything.
Read the full text of the position here
The Iowa City Fab Lab is currently looking for a part-time after-school program instructor. The position begins as soon as March 18th, Monday-Thursday from 4pm to 7pm, with occasional Saturdays optional. This position will work closely with kids from age 11 to 15 on a variety of hands-on projects. A typical week will have 15 to 20 hours possible.
The typical day in this position will include up to 10 students working on a variety of projects, with multi-week sessions. One session of students Monday/Wednesday, and one session Tues/Thurs. The Saturday hours will be occasional depending on project type, and will be optional (or not needed) for some activities.
Each after school session will focus on a different subject, with hands-on projects which can include painting, clay, laser cutting Dungeons and Dragons (DMing), sewing, 3D printing, electronics, computer modeling, and a variety of other design and creative areas. Applicants do NOT NEED EXPERIENCE with all of these, there will be training on specifics, and knowledgeable support staff on hand for training and help.
The biggest need is for someone who can learn quickly and adapt to a changing environment well, and be able to have fun while still remaining nominally in control of a pile of 11 to 15 year old kids. Successful applicants will have the option of remaining year-round, with extra hours available (not mandatory) during off school days, holiday breaks, and full time hours during the summer.
The after school program instructor position will pay $15/hour and comes with 24/7 access to the space for the duration of the employment, meaning the position automatically receives a full Fab Lab membership.
Job Duties include:
Interaction (in person, on phone, and by email/text) with parents during program hours
Responsibility for up to 10 campers age 11 to 15 in a dynamic environment
The ability to learn quickly and adapt to daily and weekly changes in activities
The ability to walk and be on your feet a lot
The ability to lift 40 lbs, walk up stairs, operate machines, and have knowledge of Windows 10.
The applicant should live in or near Iowa City, be able to reliably get to work, and plan on staying in Iowa City for a year or more. (I don’t want to have to hire someone every semester or every year.)
A positive attitude and experience in dealing with a diverse group of intelligent kids.
Desirable qualifications:
Light programing (Arduino based) and knowledge of electronics (nothing complex)
Experience in some of the following: Minecraft, 3D printing, Cosplay, camping, drawing, animation, design/prototyping, general knowledge of science, general knowledge of crafting (tape, hot glue, fabrics, etc).
To apply for the After School Program Instructor position, email a resume with applicable experience to [email protected] by March 25th (position can start as early as March 10th). If you want to write about some of your experiences beyond what your resume lists, that would be great, but an official ‘cover letter’ is not needed.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to volunteer and have a specialty skill set, we have immediate opportunities for Champions in the following areas:
Welding/Metal work
We are just getting set up with our small welding and metal working area. We have equipment ready to go, and need to raise more money to pay for the space renovation and the additional equipment. We do not need help with the capitol campaign, we need experienced welding and metal worker(s) to help us develop safety protocols, choose the right equipment to purchase, and design the layout of the space.
Electronics
Do you love to tinker with electronics, like Arduino, raspberry pi, flashlights, and things that light up and go *Bzzrrrt*? Awesome! We need a champion to help us turn our electronics area into something more streamlined so that when there are projects, people can get down to business instead of spending so much time looking for bits and bobs.