About The College

The College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati invites applications for a Lab Associate (position is hourly and benefits eligible) in the top-ranked School of Design’s (SoD) Fashion Technology Lab.

The College of DAAP has as its primary mission the creation of a better cultural and design environment. The School of Design’s role in advancing that mission is to prepare our approximately 700 undergraduate and graduate students to be responsible professionals and citizens in a complex and evolving world. We achieve this through a distinctive, rigorous, carefully sequenced curriculum that includes a substantial cooperative education program component dating back 100 years. This curricular model, expressed in classrooms, research labs, and professional offices all over the world, integrates practice and theory. It inspires interdisciplinary projects and builds solid corporate partnerships, and contributes to our strength as a leading design institution.

The Fashion Design curriculum covers all facets of fashion design, technical design, textiles, design research, fashion illustration, and product development. Students are prepared for careers in fashion design, including apparel design, technical design, CAD design, product development, and trend forecasting. The Fashion Technology Center, a comprehensive suite of lab facilities in development, innovation and production, supports students’ abilities and creative pursuits through industry standard machinery, software and technology.

Job Overview

The Fashion Technology Lab Associate will plan, design, evaluate, modify, and coordinate programming for the Fashion Design Program studio and lab spaces, technology, equipment, and assets.

Position Details: Type of Appointment: 75% (30 hours/week), Work Location: 5470 Aronoff (Clifton/Uptown Campus West) Option to teach as an  adjunct for additional compensation, dependent upon program needs.

Essential Functions

⦁    Manage the daily operations, including opening and closing specialty labs, and scheduling of the Fashion Design Program facilities, technology and assets (equipment, machinery, dress forms, etc.). 
⦁    Support student efforts through open lab hours/drop in advising in craft/sewing, garment production, pattern making, technical development, and technology applications. 
⦁    Supervise, recruit, train, schedule, and evaluate TAs/Co-Ops, including student support staff for all specialty lab spaces (Textile Innovation and Apparel Production Labs specifically). 
⦁    Research and analyze relevant industry practices and emerging technologies in order to propose new programming and technology/machinery acquisitions.
⦁    Collaborate with faculty partners in specialty lab/studio/facility spaces (textiles, knitting, digital design) to support student access; develop, refine, and implement student training programs.  
⦁    Perform regular and preventative maintenance, order supplies, maintain records of consumables, etc. 
⦁    Manage, update, and maintain the Fashion Technology Lab website. 
⦁    Maintain the functionality, cataloguing, and security of studio assets, specifically, industrial sewing machinery and dress forms. Repair and/or address machine issues. 
⦁    Coordinate with external service contractors to schedule maintenance when necessary. 
⦁    Assist in developing budgets, monitoring expenditures, preparing funding proposals, ordering supplies, and preparing periodic reports.
⦁    Perform related duties relevant to program outreach, including the annual fashion show, and other duties based on department need.

Required Education

• Associate's Degree.
• Three (3) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Required Experience

• One (1) year of experience in an area of technical specialty.

Additional Qualifications Considered

⦁    Master’s or bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field within apparel design,
⦁    production and/or development.
⦁    5+ years of recent and relevant industry experience in apparel design, development and/or production.
⦁    Experience must be in fashion design, fashion product development, fashion production, or a related function within the apparel industry.
⦁    Excellent training and facilitation skills along with the ability to present complex and technically sound material clearly and effectively.
⦁    Working knowledge of contemporary industry practice related to garment construction, manufacturing practices and quality control/craft.
⦁    Experience managing supplies/materials/consumables and budgets.
⦁    Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholder to solve complex problems effectively.
⦁    Ability to teach courses within the fashion design program.

Application Process Information

Interested and qualified candidates must complete our online application and include your resume and cover letter which should not exceed one page and should detail your interest and qualified experience, skills, or education required for this position. If Applicable, please also include your portfolio demonstrating technical and/or creative abilities or a teaching portfolio.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment