Lead Studio Technician

Seattle, WA
• Starting Immediately

Final date to receive applications is October 13th, 2026 at 5pm PST

Founded in 1966, Pottery Northwest is Seattle’s preeminent non-profit ceramics organization, promoting innovation, arts excellence, and education with a mission to foster an inclusive community centered in clay. Our nationally renowned ceramics studio offers vibrant programming to over 2,000 students each year. Artists from around the world come to Pottery Northwest in the spirit of artistic dialogue and as a formative step in their careers.

We believe clay is for everyone and are committed to creating intentional space for people to explore their creativity and personal growth.

The Studio Technician will join the studio team at Pottery Northwest’s full-scale, community ceramics studio in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. The studio team at Pottery Northwest is responsible for maintaining the overall studio space, equipment, and materials; assisting with the Apprentice program; and supporting our classes and events. The Studio Tech will work under the supervision of the Studio Managers to support studio operations and maintenance.

Type: Part-time, hourly, permanent
Hours: 20 hours per week
Reports to: Studio Manager
Remote/On-site: 100% on-site
Pay: $26/hour

1 hour PTO accrued for every 20 hours worked

1 hour sick leave accrued for every 40 hours worked

Complimentary classes, workshops, and studio usage

Shift Times: This role is 100% onsite, working four 5-hour shifts per week; all shifts will be nightly from 4:30 to 9:30pm

Assist with day-to-day maintenance, upkeep, and effective functioning of the studio

Monitor, repair, and maintain studio equipment such as kilns, wheels, shop tools, etc

Maintain studio glazes, slips, chemicals, clay, and dry materials, including mixing and making glazes and recycling/reclaiming clay

Organize studio tools, equipment, and materials as needed

Perform facilities maintenance as needed (replacing air filters, minor repairs, etc.)

Independently load, fire, and unload electric kilns

Experience firing gas/soda kilns preferred, but not required (willing to train the right candidate)

Clean and maintain studio tools, sinks, equipment, materials, and floors

Take out studio trash & recycling

Deep clean the studio floors once per week before or after open studio hours

Assist with unloading clay and supply deliveries

Assist in the fabrication of special projects such as new test tile walls in classrooms and other classroom and studio improvements

General end-of-day cleaning procedures including: mopping, wiping dirty surfaces, and making sure members clean up after themselves

Help move student work through the firing cycles in a timely fashion

Glaze and package work for one-time classes and parties as needed

Assist with set-up and breakdown for workshops and events

Maintain workshop supplies and materials

Under the direction of the studio managers, support, guide, and train the Apprentices on studio-related tasks as needed

Update weekly apprentice training logs as applicable (these are used to accurately track apprentice progress and provide informed feedback during quarterly check-ins)

Participate in end-of-quarter apprentice check-ins with the studio managers to provide feedback on any apprentices they’ve worked with

Monitor the studio, answering the door and the studio/office phone as needed

Answer student questions, grab clay for students, and assist students in the studio

Assist with quarterly clay and dry materials inventory

Participate in team check-ins, staff meetings, and planning and support for Pottery Northwest events as…