Wood Shop Operations Specialist


The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is seeking a Wood Shop Operations Specialist. Under the direction of the Chief Preparator, the Wood Shop Operations Specialist is the primary contact for scheduling work in the museum woodshop. This position oversees the day to day operation of the wood shop, maintains safety of the equipment, ensures proper usage, and schedules work appropriately.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Coordinates activities in the shop related to the delivery and execution of shop quality drawings provided by others.
  2. Establishes working methodologies and practices for the work flow of the shop, maintains best practices, and provides the parameters achievable for in house wood shop production.
  3. After identifying supplies and services needed, obtains comparative prices, selects vendors, obtains purchase order number, and prepares purchase order to accompany work request. Initials invoices, confirming goods received and accurate billing, and forwards to Department Head.
  4. Works with the technical crew to maintain a workable system of exhibition furniture inventory for: pylons, pedestals, cases, and vitrines.
  5. Works with the Chief Preparator to identify projects within the woodshops and assign to appropriate personnel to achieve department goals and deadlines.
  6. In conjunction with the Health and Safety Officer, ensures compliance with OSHA safety standards within the shops (de Young, Egbert warehouse, and Legion cage area).
  7. Maintains all first aid supplies within the woodshops.
  8. Oversees daily maintenance compliance on all shop tools and machinery.
  9. Works with design and planning teams on fabricating prototypes and material selection for desired results.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Art or Architecture, or related field, in addition to coursework in construction and carpentry.
Work Experience: Six years of progressively responsible experience in the preparation, construction, and installation of exhibit displays, OR an equivalent combination of training and experience. Oversight of a shop environment of a comparable size. Experience must include safe working practices and maintenance of OSHA standards.
Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to create, read, and work from shop quality drawings about the construction and installation of museum exhibits.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the curatorial, exhibition design, and conservation staffs.
  • Ability to estimate costs.
  • Ability to construct a wide variety of fixtures.
  • Considerable skill in the use and care of hand and power tools, and in the use and application of various materials.
  • Experience directing the work of Museum Technician crews in a wood shop environment or similar environment.
  • Must have a valid California Driver License, be able to drive a truck, lift from 50 to 75 pounds, and stand for long periods of time.

Step 1 of the pay range is $28.48 per hour.
This is a union position eligible for the Museums' benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance plus a generous time off package.
Application Deadline: September 25, 2018

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are the city's largest public arts institutions and comprise the de Young and the Legion of Honor museums. The de Young, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and located in Golden Gate Park, showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The Legion of Honor displays a collection of over 4,000 years of ancient and European art including Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a Beaux-Arts style building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge.
COFAM is the Corporation of Fine Arts Museums and is the privately funded non-profit corporation which supports the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, a department of the City and County of San Francisco.
COFAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all phases of employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws.