Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Pottery Instructor / Studio Assistant

Reports To: Studio Manager / Assistant Manager

Location: Bitter Root Pottery Beverly Grove

This combined role teaches ceramic classes and keeps the studio running. Instructor/Studio Assistants lead safe, engaging classes for adults, children, and private groups, and handle pottery processing, kiln and clay work, customer service, cleaning, and event support.

Before applying, make sure you have at least 1 year of experience wheel-throwing. The role suits someone patient, adaptable, and service-minded who can manage mixed-skill groups in a fast-paced studio and is willing to learn the technical side of the craft.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching & Instruction

• Teach wheel throwing and handbuilding to adults and children
• Lead private lessons, parties, camps, and large group events
• Demonstrate clearly, adjust to skill levels, and give constructive feedback
• Monitor student safety, tool use, and studio behavior

Class Management

• Manage classes of 12–14 students (larger for private events) and keep to the scheduled time
• Communicate studio expectations (cleanup, timelines, breakage)
• Coordinate with reception and staff on check-in and transitions

Student Communication & Policies

• Reinforce policies: pottery may break in firing, and processing takes 6–8 weeks
• Answer basic glazing and pickup questions; send scheduling, shipping, and account questions to the front desk

Pottery Processing

• Mark pots with student, member, or class identifiers and glaze information
• Glaze, wipe, reglaze, and dremel glaze problems; bag and call finished pots
• Track and document missing or broken pots

Kiln & Clay Operations

• Load and unload bisque and glaze kilns; monitor kiln shelf condition
• Assist with clay unloading and storage
• Mix glazes (with supervision)
• Re-wedge and label demo clay for the next teacher

Customer Service & Member Support

• Greet and assist members, students, and guests
• Assist with orientations, renewals, and collection pick-up
• Sell gift cards; book private lessons, parties, and camps
• Handle reservation emails and share operations updates on Slack

Studio Cleaning & Maintenance

• Post-class reset: wipe sinks, surfaces, wheels, and shared tools; remove excess clay; rinse sponges
• Daily cleaning: trash, sweeping, tables, lockers, shelves, glazing areas, walls, storeroom, loft
• Clean windows and glass with Windex; launder aprons and towels (check pockets, remove nametags)
• Maintain supply storage and support studio flow during busy periods

Opening & Closing Procedures

• Opening: lights and music on, open doors and windows, check email, clean common areas, review the daily task list
• Closing: lights and music off, lock up, clean, check email, confirm next day's tasks, send the End of Day report to all staff

Administrative Support

• Log reservations and track attendance
• Respond to emails promptly and professionally
• Attend staff meetings; know studio policies, schedules, offerings, and systems

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrate wheel-throwing experience, 1 year (required)
• Strong communication, group-management, and customer service skills; comfortable teaching mixed-level classes
• Organized and detail-oriented; calm and positive in high-energy settings
• Works well independently and on a team; willing to learn kiln loading, glaze mixing, and other technical tasks
• Able to lift 50 lbs (clay, glaze buckets, kiln shelves)
• Evening and weekend availability required

Instructor / Studio Assistant Profile

Goals

• Give every student a supportive, fun, educational experience
• Keep the studio safe, clean, and welcoming
• Process student and member work accurately and on time
• Grow technical and teaching skills in the ceramic arts

Intentions

• Patient and adaptable: students learn at different speeds
• Clear and consistent: set expectations early and reinforce them kindly
• Proactive and detail-oriented: act without being asked; accuracy protects student work
• Team-minded: communicate clearly and support smooth shift transitions
• Welcoming: make everyone feel valued

Job Expectations

• Arrive early, prepared, and positive
• Teach with professionalism, clarity, and enthusiasm
• Keep the classroom and kiln, glaze, and clay areas safe
• Complete assigned cleaning and reset tasks every shift
• Accurately process, mark, glaze, and track student and member work
• Respond to emails and log reservations promptly; report issues (missing pots, student concerns, equipment) to management
• Attend meetings and trainings; represent the studio positively

Job Tags

Similar Jobs