Building Services Specialist II

About the role

The Student Innovation Center is seeking a Building Services Specialist II (Shop Supervisor) to support the daily operations of our Metals and Woods Makerspace. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about safety, skilled in fabrication and shop environments, and excited to work with students, faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Metals and Woods Makerspace.
• Train and supervise students, faculty, staff, and student employees on the safe operation of tools and equipment.
• Implement and enforce shop safety standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Support course, research, club, and individual project needs.
• Maintain training records, equipment documentation, and operational records.
• Help ensure the makerspace remains safe, organized, accessible, and welcoming for all users.
• Operate, inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform minor repairs on metalworking and woodworking equipment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and functional makerspace environment.
• Aid in inventory management, equipment setup, and supply ordering.
• Develop and improve equipment training materials, standard operating procedures, and shop practices.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource for makerspace users and fabrication projects.
• Ensure the safety and security of equipment, facilities, and users.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience.

Qualifications

• Self-starter who values safety, enjoys working with people, and takes pride in maintaining a well-run shop environment.
• Comfortable teaching others, solving problems, and supporting a wide variety of projects.
• Strong candidates will have experience working with metalworking and woodworking equipment and fabrication processes, along with the ability to learn new equipment and technologies.
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to build positive relationships with community of makerspace users.

Skills

• Experience supervising employees or students in a shop, laboratory, makerspace, or similar environment.
• Experience developing, implementing, and enforcing safety procedures and standard operating procedures for equipment use.
• Experience providing customer service or technical support in a hands-on environment.
• Experience operating, setting up, or training users on fabrication equipment such as mills, lathes, welders, drill presses, bandsaws, table saws, sanders, CNC equipment, or additive manufacturing equipment.
• Experience troubleshooting, maintaining, or repairing shop, laboratory, or makerspace equipment.

Benefits

The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including retirement benefits, health and work-life benefits, and flexible spending accounts. The work schedule is Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with scheduled 30-minute breaks at noon and 5:30 p.m. Regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners is expected. The work is performed in an active makerspace environment and requires adherence to established safety standards, training requirements, and operating procedures.

Pay

This position is compensated based on qualifications and experience, with details provided in the original posting.

Schedule

The work schedule is Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with scheduled 30-minute breaks at noon and 5:30 p.m.

About the Student Innovation Center

The Student Innovation Center is a campus-wide hub for creativity, collaboration, and experiential learning. It provides access to makerspaces, tools, equipment, and programming that empower students to explore ideas and bring them to life. Staff play an important role in fostering an inclusive and innovative environment that supports student success and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Additional Information

This position is located on-site in the Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University. The work schedule is Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with scheduled 30-minute breaks at noon and 5:30 p.m. Regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners is expected. Work is performed in an active makerspace environment and requires adherence to established safety standards, training requirements, and operating procedures.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: Resume/Curriculum Vitae, Letter of Application/Cover Letter, and Why Choose Iowa State University?