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Assistant Fabricator / Designer

POSITION: FULL TIME or part-time

LOCATION: IN-PERSON, PHILADELPHIA

CLOSING DATE: until filled

Tiny WPA seeks a self-motivated, dependable and detailed-oriented person to assist with the organization's community-driven participatory design-build work throughout Philadelphia. In addition, the individual will assist with Hero Fabrication, custom contract design and building services, as well as the design and production of Building Hero products for its social enterprise retail shop. This is a special opportunity to build your skills and work with other amazing people on projects that are nationally unique.

Ideal candidates should be excited about design, building and helping others make and do great things. While having experience with wood working tools, a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter and/or Adobe Illustrator is extremely helpful, having a high level of attention to detail and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make sure something is done well--whether the task be large or small--are the most important traits required for this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE

1- Realizing Hero Fabrication, Tiny WPA’s custom contract design and fabrication services. 

This includes assisting with the design and fabrication of products and custom client work as well as executing community builds, following drawings and cut lists, helping purchase materials and supplies, adhering to production schedules, striving for quality control in work, as well as directly engaging with project partners, community members and clients. 

2- Supporting community-driven design-build projects in Philadelphia.

The Assistant Fabricator / Designer will assist with designing, building and installing projects in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. This work takes place at Tiny WPA’s workshop as well as onsite, whether it be in front of a library, in a community garden, at a rec center, on a vacant lot, or in a park. Projects range in scale from high end furniture and custom signage to play spaces and multi-year community-driven initiatives.

Other responsibilities include:

  • Prototyping, designing and/or fabricating new and existing Building Hero Products

  • Working with Philadelphia residents of all ages on design-build improvement projects

  • Assisting with other aspects of design, fabrication and production as needed

  • Prepping for projects (i.e. gathering and organizing tools and materials, etc.)

  • Helping organize and maintain tools in the workshop

  • Maintaining a clean and organized workspace

Do you have design experience or are a fabricator who’d like to grow as a designer? Great because EVERY position at Tiny WPA involves opportunities to design! Furthermore, this position can involve a heavier emphasis on design and we will adapt positions and roles to match a team member’s strengths and interests.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

  • Ideal candidates will be familiar with woodworking tools, a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter, Adobe Illustrator, and SketchUp.

  • Experience with Google Docs is required. 

  • Attention to detail is a must.

  • Positive attitude, strong interpersonal skills, and willingness to learn. 

  • Good communicator and comfortable working in a small team environment.

  • Comfortable and confident working on multiple projects simultaneously. 

  • Strive for quality in work and detailed focus on all levels. 

  • An independent problem solver with a collaborative spirit.

  • This is an in-person active job that involves a lot of physical labor including building, lifting and digging, which means you may be fabricating (standing) all day and, at times, helping lift 50+ lbs.

COMPENSATION

This is a full time or part time position that is on-site at Tiny WPA’s workshop, located at 3145 West Jefferson St in Brewerytown, Philadelphia. Tiny WPA is a small non-profit. We work really hard and deeply love our work, but we also strive for balance and making sure everyone on our team is happy, healthy and feels supported. A typical work week for full time employees averages 40 hours. When there are significant work surges, we will happily provide compensatory time off.

The salary range for this position is $15-22 per hour, depending on experience. Tiny WPA offers a competitive benefits package for full time employees including health insurance and PTO.

HOW TO APPLY

1- Please email a cover letter, resume, portfolio, website, and/or images of at least four work or project samples to Renee Schacht at renee@tinywpa.org with "Assistant Fabricator/Designer: Your Name" in the subject line. We love Google Docs, so feel free to share a folder with all of these items.

  • Please provide work/project samples that demonstrate your fabrication skills. Showing professional and school work as well as personal projects (even small personal creations such as furniture, graphic design, art, etc.) will help us get a good sense of your abilities and how you approach design.

2- Share anything else that helps us understand how you see and approach building, design, learning and/or community development. This can include your website, Instagram feed or photos of even the smallest hacks, improvements or creations you’ve made around your home, neighborhood or work. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position(s) is filled. 

Finalists will be contacted to schedule a time to design-build for a few hours with our Building Heroes. Our team needs to see how you learn, design and build with others! You will quickly know if you love or hate the reality of our work and our team Building Heroes will get to see if you are a good fit for Tiny WPA.

Tiny WPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. A diverse staff is critical to our mission and individuals of diverse interests and backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.