Painting and Drawing Staff Research Associate

HOW TO APPLY

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 10-26-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Art Department currently consists of 12 permanent faculty, 30 visiting lecturers per year, 8 technical and clerical staff, and approximately 500 art undergraduate majors and 20 graduate students. Art Department faculty and staff support a graduate and an undergraduate program.

The Art department staff promote a strong spirit of teamwork and embrace UCSC's Principles of Community in meeting the needs of a diverse range of constituents.

More information can be found at: https://art.ucsc.edu

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Department Facilities and Operations Manager, the Painting and Drawing Staff Research Associate (SRA) primarily assists students and faculty in the use of wood shop, painting and drawing equipment and supplies. The SRA keeps work and studio spaces orderly and safe, and is responsible for ordering supplies, providing research support, and maintaining course materials fee budgets for the wood shop and painting and drawing areas. The SRA provides wood shop equipment demonstrations, including digital fabrication tools, framing and canvas making workshops, routine equipment maintenance, and safety protocols. Location will be in the wood shop (C-101) and painting studios (L-101, M-101, J-101) at the Baskin Visual Art Studios.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $3,789.48 - $4,102.47/monthly. (Full time equivalant is $6,315.81 - $6,837.45/monthly). Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Part-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 60%, 24 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri, Three full days per week. Actual days can vary quarter to quarter.
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Partial Year Career appointment with a two month furlough in July and August.

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Research Support Professionals (RX)

Job Code Classification: SRA 3 (009611)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Instructional and Technical Assistance

• Assists in the conduct of painting and drawing classes and wood shop equipment use.
• Utilizes extensive and specialized technical knowledge and skill on various wood shop equipment, including but not limited to table saw, band saw, digital fabrication tools, and a wide variety of hand and shop power tools.
• Discusses technical procedures with undergraduate and graduate students in support of classwork, or advises them on technical aspects of unique independent research projects.
• At faculty request, makes formal, in-class presentations or demonstrates stretching canvas and building frames; presents health and safety guidelines; demonstrates use of wood shop equipment and/or studio procedures.
• Conducts other technical workshops in the department as needed.
• Ensures student safety in a facility containing potentially hazardous equipment and materials by informing and training students on appropriate procedures and practices.
• Enforces safety guidelines in the studios and shops.
• Instructs and supervises students in tool, equipment and facility use, and tool checkout.
• Assists the professor in arranging field trips and transportation.
• Researches and prepares instructional materials for painting and drawing classes.
• Assists faculty and students with quarterly Open Studio displays.
• Coordinates safety and security of wood shop and painting and drawing facilities with campus police, Fire Marshall and Environmental Health and Safety.
• Maintains regulatory compliance with campus programs and government agencies (i.e. IIPP, OSHA, EPA).
• Drives a university vehicle to procure supplies from vendors and travel between multiple worksites on and off campus.

30% - Studio and Shop Management and Student Supervision

• Manages and maintains painting and drawing studios and wood shop facilities and their contents.
• Supervises work-study student employees charged with assisting the SRA with various projects.
• In cooperation with department facilities and operations manager and student employment offices, writes job descriptions, recruits, hires, trains and schedules student employees.
• Monitors, verifies and signs student employees' timesheets.
• Distributes supplies to painting and drawing classes, and procures equipment and materials to meet course requirements.
• Regulates student use of supplies and equipment.
• Responsible for the security of studio supplies, tools, and equipment, including hazardous materials.
• Conducts annual inventory of tools and equipment.
• Consults with and advises painting and drawing faculty, art and divisional staff on improvements to the painting and drawing and wood shop facilities, and on space utilization as it relates to the changing needs of the painting and drawing program.
• May participate in major capital planning and may write specifications for new facilities or for minor CAP improvement.

15% - Budget and Purchasing

• Responsible for managing a budget.
• Prioritizes expenditures and purchasing of supplies and equipment for painting and drawing classes and wood shop.
• Analyzes and researches faculty requests, studio and course needs.
• Utilizing the CruzBuy Purchasing System and in coordination with the Division Business Office, initiates the following: purchase orders, recharges, work orders, reimbursements, transfers of funds and expenses.
• Purchases appropriate supplies or equipment as required within budgetary constraints.
• Monitors budget balances, posts expenditures and reconciles them against Department ledgers.
• Makes budget reports, projections, and cost estimates to the department.
• Writes grant proposals as needed for the purpose of funding new and special programmatic needs, (i.e. Instructional Improvement Grants).

15% - Equipment Design, Fabrication, Maintenance and Repair

• Utilizes advanced levels of knowledge and skills in various crafts and technical fields, including laser cutting, CNC, woodworking, electrical, and mechanical.
• Uses skills and knowledge to create original designs for studio equipment, and to fabricate or initiate and supervise its fabrication and design.
• Maintains tools and equipment, makes repairs as needed or initiates, coordinates and supervises their modification or repair by campus facilities or off-campus contractors.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive community that fosters access, openness, and productive engagement for all.
• Demonstrated experience as a wood shop technician; advanced level of knowledge and skills with table saw, band saw, and power tools.
• Advanced level of knowledge and skills in laser cutting, CNC router, woodworking, electrical.
• Demonstrated experience stretching canvas and frame making.
• Demonstrated knowledge of health and safety issues in the arts.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent oral communication skills sufficient to develop and make presentations.
• Ability to interact with flexibility, sensitivity, and tact in dealing with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, and accomplish a wide range of duties and tasks despite continual interruptions.
• Ability to research and make creative and innovative use of equipment, tools and materials to accomplish artistic goals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Ability to conduct outdoor site visits, including use of required personal protective equipment, as required to conduct investigations, inspections, or view work in place.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements necessary to move light to moderate objects up to 60 lbs., with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Must reside within the State of California.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to work safely in areas where hazardous materials are present or stored.
• Ability to wear a respirator in accordance with the California Code of Regulations Title 8, 5144.
• Ability to wear proper safety attire (long pants, closed-toe shoes, etc.) and personal protective equipment common in a laboratory setting.
• Ability to read signs and follow directions on labels that are written in English as well as ability to read and understand Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and the proper use of chemical compounds.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.