Looking for Fab Lab Manager in Boston, MA

Job title: Fab Lab Manager

Company: The Possible Zone

Job description: Fab Lab Manager



About The Possible Zone



The Possible Zone (TPZ) is a multi-year, youth entrepreneurship program offering students exciting project-based experiences:

• the creation and running of student-directed, passion-based ventures


• hands-on experiences within TPZ Social Enterprises


• work-based learning opportunities through internships and fellowships


• learning about and use of high-technology maker equipment, such as laser cutters, 3-D printers and clothing printers/presses


• personalized college and/or career advising

Throughout their TPZ journey, students work with dedicated educators, advisors, peers, and field experts; earn stipends; design products and services in a state-of-the-art makerspace; attend pitch panels and marketplaces; build and apply essential skills, mindsets, and social capital; and explore the exciting opportunities that exist post-high school. Students have fun learning, growing and interacting with peers as they design their futures.



TPZ is in its second decade of operations, having served nearly 1000 students in the greater Boston area. The organization employs 30+ professionals with plans to grow significantly in Boston over the next 4 years, as well as other cities beyond 2025. TPZ offers a strong professional development ethos, a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture, innovative curriculum & pedagogy, and a commitment to excellence and student impact. Importantly, TPZ is highly committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in everything we do. Currently in an expansion mode, TPZ recently opened a 35,000 sq ft Boston Innovation Center with plans to serve 1000 students a year by 2024.



About the Role



Making, design thinking, and STEAM education are deeply embedded within The Possible Zone’s entrepreneurship and social enterprise programs. In 2022, TPZ launched a 35,000sqft youth innovation center in Boston which will serve 1,000 students at scale. This facility includes four makerspaces embedded in its classrooms as well as a 4,000sqft advanced manufacturing fabrication lab (the Fab Lab) on its lower level. The Fab Lab houses specialty 3D printers, electronics workstations, laser cutters, large-format printer/cutters, direct-to-garment printing, CNC embroidery, sewing machines, CNC milling, large-format UV printing, large-format CNC routing, a digital media studio, and a woodshop. The Fab Lab will be a resource not only for our students but also for our staff and community members, hosting classes, hackathons, workshops, and open studio hours. Anticipated student and community projects include (and are not limited to) robotics, apparel, game design, photography, music production, product design, packaging, and furniture making.



The Fab Lab Manager will be the primary point of contact for all Fab Lab operations, serving both as matchmaker, connecting users of the space with each other and with Fab Lab resources, and as orchestrator, ensuring smooth, coordinated operation of the Fab Lab among multiple stakeholders. This position will work closely with TPZ’s educators, building staff, and STEAM teams to ensure safe, responsible use of the space while also cultivating a culture of collaboration and sense of belonging within the innovation center’s makerspaces.



Responsibilities



YOU may be a good fit for this role if you are excited about learning new technology, increasing STEAM access for youth and communities, celebrating others’ work, working with young people, and maintaining an organized and safe space. The responsibilities include:

• Serve as first point of contact for Fab Lab customer service and user support, including answering questions, giving tours, responding to equipment and facility needs, and connecting users with tutorials, our team of technicians, and skilled volunteers


• Manage use and scheduling of the space among multiple, diverse stakeholders, balancing community workshops, Makers in Residence, entrepreneurship classes, open studio time, training sessions, and production runs, among other activities into an org-aligned calendar system


• In collaboration with our communications team, develop the Fab Lab’s online presence, including newsletter and social media communications


• Document and celebrate work taking place in the Fab Lab


• Curate, maintain, and assist in the production of tutorial videos and documentation for students, educators, and community members, updating TPZ’s MakerHub online resource center (makerhub.possiblezone.org) with resources for new software and equipment, fleshing out the MakerHub prototype into a comprehensive, public tutorial and resource database


• Lead training and certification sessions on TPZ’s most-used equipment


• Collaborate w/techs to keep track of maintenance schedules, support equipment maintenance as needed


• Implement and ensure adherence to safety protocols for makerspace equipment, including laser cutters, CNC routers, flatbed printers, woodworking equipment, 3D printers, electronics stations, and garment/textile work


• Develop and maintain organizational protocols for inventory management, maintenance tracking, user credentialing, and small equipment check-in/check-out systems


• Manage the Fab Lab’s schedule of equipment and spaces, including print queues and equipment reservations, as well as the schedule of the woodshop, multimedia studio, recording studio, garment studio, and the Fab Lab’s open work area


• Oversee student workers (including TPZ students and students from local colleges) and volunteers to develop a core community team to assist with makerspace operations


• In collaboration with members of the STEAM team, facilitate workshops and classes for staff, students, community members and other stakeholders, focusing on both technical and social-emotional skill development


• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion


• And other duties as required

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics), or maker education required


• Entrepreneurial mindset - comfort with taking educated risks, excitement to pilot new ideas, research best practices, and reflect on experience for continuous improvement


• Prior experience coordinating a shared workspace


• Prior experience creating with digital and fabrication technologies


• Prior experience with photo and video recording and editing, ideally in the context of project documentation


• Ability to quickly learn new pieces of technology, including digital fabrication equipment and design software


• Teaching/mentorship experience


• Creative spirit and collaborative nature


• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and troubleshoot in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment


• Very strong organizational and time management skills


• Bilingual in Spanish, Portuguese, or Hatian Creole a plus

Beliefs and Attitudes

• A demonstrable passion for the mission, vision, and values of The Possible Zone and a fundamental belief that all youth can and will succeed if provided with excellent instruction and hands-on learning opportunities


• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, based on the communities they have served and the teams they have led


• Enthusiasm for serving high school students in low income communities and working with creative colleagues from diverse backgrounds


• Proactive attitude, upbeat personality, good sense of humor, and ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced environment


• Driving passion for making a difference for the students TPZ serves, with a longstanding commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive instruction

Compensation & Benefits:



The Possible Project offers a robust compensation and benefits package including high-quality health benefits and an employer contribution to your 401(k) plan. Salary range $62,000 - $87,000 depending on experience.



DEI Statement:



We believe every member of our team and student body deserves opportunities for growth, success and inclusion. We recognize that for many of our students, staff and communities, their life journeys run through oppressive structures and systems (e.g. classism, racism, sexism) — and that’s what makes our organizational culture and work so necessary and important.



We believe that diversity in perspective, backgrounds, ethnicities and lived experience is a strength, and from that strength, we can accomplish great things with the students we serve. Together as students, staff, organizations, communities, volunteers, and partners, we are intentional about creating safe spaces where all members can speak authentically and be themselves.



We are committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. As members of The Possible Zone community, our progression along this ongoing journey raises thoughtful questions, reveals biases, and opens conversations. We celebrate one another and are unified in our commitment to young people, excellence, and innovation. This work is our shared responsibility and our opportunity to welcome all members who share in our mission and strive to provide pathways that further prepare students in achieving their desired success.



COVID Vaccination Policy:



The Possible Zone is requiring that all employees receive a primary series of COVID-19 vaccination as well as a booster dose. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen, and receives a booster dose when eligible. In order to be qualified for employment at The Possible Zone, final candidates must comply with the vaccination requirement or receive an approved exemption.



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Expected salary: $62000 - 87000 per year

Location: Boston, MA

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