The Rebuilding Exchange invests in our communities by reusing building materials, reducing construction waste, and training, supporting, and connecting people seeking careers in the building trades. We divert building materials from landfills through two reuse retail stores in Evanston and Chicago and offer deconstruction services to homeowners that want to save their building materials from landfills. We teach community members to repair and repurpose building materials through education workshop programs. Finally, we run a paid workforce training program to support individuals overcoming barriers to employment to access careers in the building trades.
Our education programs build a culture of reuse through a variety of classes and workshops that:
- Engage community members in conversations about sustainability and environmental action through fun, creative activities that repurpose reclaimed materials;
- Build skills in woodworking, carpentry, electrical and plumbing so that residents have the tools to repair and beautify their homes.
The Lead Education Instructor teaches safe and inspirational classes and workshops for our education programs in Chicago and Evanston. The Instructor supports our contract instructor group, on-boards new instructors and trains volunteer teaching assistants, staff and workforce trainees on workshop tools. The Instructor is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of each location’s woodshop.
The Education Instructor must be a natural trainer, connector and community builder. They must be comfortable teaching youth and adults. They must have the skills to teach a variety of woodworking classes from beginning to advanced level; home improvement skills are a plus. They must be experienced with tool maintenance and enjoy the challenge of extending the life of donated tools.
This is a full-time salaried and exempt position of 40 hours per week. The hours are flexible but consist of regular nights and weekends for workshop instruction with occasional weekday instruction for special events. The Lead Education Instructor reports to the Education Manager.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Instruction and Development - roughly 10-20 hours per week
Instruction of Classes & Workshops
- Deliver instruction of in-person classes using reclaimed building materials. Engage students in design challenges and problem solving with patience and a focus on positive learning and skill development
- Monitor and manage Open Shop on Sundays
- Train and coach Contract Instructors and TA volunteers in class flow, safety, set up, and best practices
- Work with Education Manager and customers to design private individual and group classes
- Design and build custom commissions roughly 1-2 per year
- Work with marketing team on “how to” videos
- Prioritize and maintain an environment of exceptional customer service
Curriculum Development and Program Support
- Work with the education team to develop new curriculum (prototyping new ideas, creating & refining lesson plans and class descriptions, etc.)
- Collaborate with education team to identify and implement improvements to programming and departmental processes
- Create Instructor Workshop Descriptions for new and existing classes
- Participate in interview process for new Contract Instructors
- Gather feedback from Contract Instructors and participants to implement class improvements
- Build partnerships with related organizations to expand offerings and awareness of Rebuilding Exchange
- Contribute to a collaborative environment of success with Staff, Trainees, Contract Instructors and Volunteers
Shop Management - roughly 20-30 hours per week
Shop Safety and Maintenance
- Define safety protocol for operating and maintaining each machine in the Chicago and Evanston shops
- Conduct tool authorizations for Contract Instructors, TAs, Staff and Open Shop participants
- Maintain tools on a regular schedule; coordinate tool repair as needed
- Manage shop maintenance and supply budget
- Define and communicate shop clean up standards
- Work to maintain a respectful space, for all to learn in
Shop Organization and Scheduling
- Maintain a reliable inventory of woodshop consumables (blades, bits, screws, sandpaper, etc.)
- Ensure that prep is completed on a weekly basis
- Collaborate with the Education Manager to coordinate basic space improvements, tool utilization, and updating as needed
- Gather requirements from other programs; design and implement improvements to the shop to meet the needs of Education, Workforce Training and the Retail Store
- Monitor the workshop schedule to ensure smooth transition between programs and projects
- Manage the project storage area to ensure people remove their projects in a timely manner
JOB SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in educational programming and teaching
- Demonstrated expertise in woodworking, including safe operation of related power tools and hand tools
- Experience in shop operations and maintenance
- Excellent communications skills - verbal and written
- Flexibility to move between tasks and responsibilities fluidly as needed
- Ability to build strong interpersonal relationships both inside and outside the organization
- Able to travel and physically work in two woodshop locations throughout the seasons
- Interest in our nonprofit mission and being a part of a fun and collaborative team!!
BENEFITS:
- Employee healthcare, vision & dental, group life insurance
- 50% off store materials
- Use of the workshop when it’s available
- Paid time off
- Option to participate in a 401(k)
The Rebuilding Exchange is committed to building a representative and diverse staff team. We encourage applications from all qualified persons.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $46,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Evenings as needed
- Weekends as needed
Work setting:
Ability to Commute:
- Evanston, IL 60202 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Evanston, IL 60202: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person