Part Time Lab Jobs in Tacoma, WA (NOW HIRING)

Appointment: Regular, part-time (0.5 FTE) position.

Work Location:
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only.

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary:

The Studio Art Lab Technician for the Department of Art and Art History is responsible for maintaining studio art facilities, tools, furniture, and equipment in the Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting, Printmaking, Drawing, and Digital Media studios. The Studio Art Lab Technician also inventories, orders, and organizes materials, equipment, and tools integral to the studio art program, and coordinates projects with Facilities Services and outside contractors' including disposing of waste in accordance with the latest environmental health and safety requirements.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Place, track, and unpack orders, inventory, organize, and pick up materials for sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and painting studios as needed. Provide additional specialized support in labs where faculty are part-time.
2. Repair equipment and tools in all five studio art areas (ceramics, digital art, painting, printmaking, and sculpture), including kilns, printmaking presses, drafting tables, light units, woodshop equipment and tools, metalshop equipment, welding equipment, CNC router, taborets, and handheld tools;
3. Contribute to the maintenance and functionality of studio facilities, including general carpentry, painting walls, installing items such as hooks for tools, art display hardware, shelves etc.;
4. Work with Facilities to manage work orders and the disposal of toxic waste and other materials;
5. Work with Tech Services to manage work orders for digital media lab;
6. Act as liaison, in consultation with department chair, with Facilities and outside contractors on work orders and larger remodeling projects;
7. Assist with the installation and de-installation of exhibits in the Kittredge Gallery, including packing, framing, moving artwork on and off campus, building mounts and pedestals, etc., in collaboration with the Kittredge Gallery Manager;
8. Serve as AAH representative on the Arts and Sciences Safety Committee
9. Provide safety instruction and support to students as needed, such as supervising use of power tools when students build stretchers for canvases or engage in other projects.
10. Identify unsafe working conditions and studio hazards, including issues related to ventilation, fumes, silica dust, equipment, and material handling. Implement corrective measures as appropriate and communicate safety concerns and recommendations to faculty and staff.
11. Other duties as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Budget Responsibilities

The Studio Art Lab Technician is responsible for working in close consultation with studio faculty to prioritize the use of instructional and equipment annual budgets as well as determining needs for yearly operating and equipment budgets requests.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred; studio art or relevant experience preferred;
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks;
• Ability to organize and complete projects in an efficient manner;
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds;
• Experience working as a studio or shop tech, studio assistant, or equivalent experience preferred;
• Experience maintaining woodworking, metalworking, and welding equipment
• Experience maintaining and repairing electric and gas kilns.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.

Compensation and Benefits:

Career Framework Information:
Job Family: Academic program Support
Level: S2
Pay Grade: 2
The anticipated hiring range for this position is $20.65 to $21.90, up to $24.30 for an experienced candidate in this role. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!)

Please note:
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits.

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf - Google Drive

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline:
Review of applications will begin July 15, 2026 and will continue on a rolling basis. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• 3 Professional References (At least 2 supervisors)

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks.

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.