Construction Lab Manager

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Position Title:

Construction Lab Manager

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Laboratory Supervisor

Job Duties:

Position Summary

The Construction Lab Manager oversees daily operations, safety, and instructional support of the construction lab at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning within the College of the Arts & Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. This role ensures that students, faculty, and staff have a safe, well-maintained, and fully equipped environment for creative work, research, and fabrication. While the manager may supervise and mentor student shop assistants, the primary responsibilities, decisions, and accountability for the shop rest with this position.

This position reports directly to the Director of Facilities for the College of the Arts & Architecture.

Key Responsibilities

Shop Operations & Safety 25%

• Oversee daily operations of the academic wood shop and nearby fabrication areas.
• Enforce safety protocols and train students, staff, and faculty on proper tool use, including CNC routers, SawStop table saws, bandsaws, jointers, planers, sanders, and other woodworking equipment.
• Ensure compliance with university safety standards and OSHA regulations.
• Perform regular inspections, preventive maintenance, and safety checks.

Instructional & Technical Support 20%

• Provide occasional demonstrations in the shop and offer technical guidance to students on a wide range of woodworking and finishing techniques as needed.
• Advise on material selection, construction methods, and finishing processes.

Equipment & Facility Management 50%

• Supervise maintenance, repair, and calibration of equipment, including CNC machines, SawStop table saws, hand tools, and dust collection systems.
• Create and enforce shop use policies, scheduling, and orientation procedures. Organize and maintain the lab workspace in a clear and orderly fashion.
• Keep track of supply inventory, order materials, and monitor usage for budget planning.

Staff & Student Supervision 5%

• Serve as the primary authority and responsible manager for all shop operations.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student shop assistants to support monitoring and routine shop tasks as needed.
• Ensure that student assistants understand their supportive role, with the manager maintaining full responsibility for shop functions and safety.

Work Schedule

• Academic Year (Fall & Spring): 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The total hours will remain the same, but the actual time may change based on departmental needs.
• Winter & Summer Recess: Flexible hours to be determined based on project and facility needs

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Ensures compliance with established policies and procedures

• Develops, directs, schedules, and secures resources for operational assignments and special projects in technical areas of laboratory testing

• Participates in professional meetings and conferences

• Develops, directs, and evaluates laboratory studies, methods, and protocols to ensure quality control, quality assurance, and maintain Standard Operation Procedures (SOP)

• Identifies new and applicable techniques and procedures

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Department:

The School of Architecture & Urban Planning (SARUP) within the College of the Arts and Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. SARUP offers a unique range of externally funded studios, building long-term relationships with regional industrial and institutional partners. Our track record in establishing these relationships provides ample opportunity for our students to engage professionals in numerous fields outside of architecture. Additionally, SARUP is now home to two significant international design awards, the Marcus Prize and the Urban Edge Award. Both highlight SARUP's commitment to Milwaukee by bringing international talent into the studios. The school offers BARCH, BSAS, M. Arch., MS, MUD and Ph.D. degree programs and faculty are encouraged to teach at all levels. The school is open to all areas of expertise and design research including but not limited to contemporary theory, climate change and ecology, media and computational design methodologies, beginning design, housing, and public space studies.

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee and its suburbs offer a variety of housing options, diverse, walkable and livable neighborhoods, access to good schools, an established arts and cultural scene, and research opportunities around the Great Lakes ecology, urban community cultures, and post-industrial heritage. The urban context of the school allows faculty research to build on the specific and unique conditions of Milwaukee.

Compensation:

Expected Salary is $46,200. Final salary offer is contingent upon skills, knowledge, and abilities as demonstrated throughout the selection process.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field (e.g., Fine Arts, Industrial Design, or similar discipline) or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency with woodworking tools and machinery, including CNC routers, SawStop table saws, bandsaws, jointers, planers, and sanders.
• Knowledge of a broad range of construction, joinery, and finishing techniques.
• Strong commitment to safety, training, and community building in an educational environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education, especially in arts, design, or architecture programs.
• Knowledge of digital fabrication workflows, including CAD/CAM software for CNC operations.
• Certification in shop safety or occupational safety and health.
• Understanding of first aid, CPR, and emergency safety procedures.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field (e.g., Fine Arts, Industrial Design, or similar discipline) or equivalent professional experience.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are required to apply online and provide the following at time of application:

• Cover Letter addressing each of the required and preferred qualifications
• Resume

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from a candidate’s application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

Apply electronically by the application deadline date of November 30, 2025. Questions about this position should be directed to Coua Xiong at xion2447@uwm.edu.

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy , UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/ , or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.