Manual Arts Instructor-Benchwork-Oregon State Hospital

Posted: 09/16/2026 • Application deadline: 10/06/2026 • Agency: Oregon Health Authority • Position type: Employee (full‑time, permanent, SEIU‑represented)

About the role

The Oregon State Hospital (Salem campus) seeks a Manual Arts Instructor for the Benchwork area within Vocational Services. This on‑site position supports patients in the forensics program by providing vocational training in benchwork skills such as assembling parts for consumer use, heat packaging, kit building, and packaging screw packs for auto kits. The instructor works with clients assigned by an Occupational Therapist, teaching specific tasks and helping patient workers develop vocational skills that aid their transition back to the community. The hospital serves a culturally diverse patient population with severe mental health challenges, and staff receive crisis de‑escalation and safety training upon hire and annually.

Responsibilities

• Provide benchwork instruction to patients assigned by an Occupational Therapist.
• Teach and oversee assembling parts for consumer use.
• Conduct heat packaging activities.
• Guide patients in kit building for automotive, camping, and retail products.
• Supervise packaging of screw packs for auto kits.
• Support vocational services by addressing work readiness, skills training, pre‑vocational activities, sheltered work, work hardening, job search, and competitive employment preparation.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, and organized work environment.

Requirements

• Six months of experience in each of at least three of the following areas:
  • Applying theories, methods, and practices common in a landscaping environment.
  • Applying work adjustments to training techniques.
  • Applying instruction principles and procedures.
  • Using tools and equipment common to assembly and benchwork.
  • Directing individuals and groups in a work setting.
  • Communicating (verbal and written) with a diverse variety of people.

Qualifications (desired attributes)

• Experience creating and maintaining a respectful, accepting work environment for diverse team members.
• Passion for and experience helping people with severe mental health challenges.
• Experience creating an encouraging work environment.
• Experience creating organized, detail‑oriented work instructions.
• Experience in verbal de‑escalation when working with others.
• Experience working in a high‑security, locked facility environment.
• High level of situational awareness in landscaping settings to ensure health, safety, and welfare of patients, staff, and visitors.

Benefits

• Excellent, low‑cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for employee and family.
• Optional benefits: life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Pay

Salary range: $4,124 – $5,193 per month (non‑PERS qualifying range). If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, Day Shift, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; on‑site at 2600 Center St. NE, Salem, Oregon.