Employment Opportunities

After 20 years in business, Queen City Clay is one of the largest public ceramics studios and clay retail shops in the United States. We serve a range of skill levels, from clay beginners to professional potters and sculptors, while offering activities for families, schools, corporations, and various groups. In addition, we play an important role in arts education in the community, supplying schools throughout the region with materials and training, offering internships and an artist-in-residence program.

Queen City Clay

Retail Manager Position Available

Queen City Clay is seeking a Retail Manager Position.

The Retail Manager plays a pivotal role in providing exceptional customer service, managing inventory, and supporting the educational mission of the studio by supplying high-quality clay tools & materials to students and artists.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in retail management preferable, especially if in a specialized or educational setting related to ceramics or art supplies
• Knowledge of ceramics and clay techniques, materials, and equipment highly preferred but not necessary 
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse customer base.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and multitasking abilities
• Team management & leadership skills with the ability to motivate and inspire the retail team
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends and evenings as needed

Skills required: 

• Strong leadership, time management & organizational skills
• Adaptability and creative problem solving skills
• Analytical thinking skills

• analyze sales data to identify trends and make data-driven decisions
• solve problems that arise in the store and develop strategies to improve store operations and customer experience

• Strong social & negotiation skills

• Have the ability to recognise, understand and manage one’s own emotions and those of others to aid in conflict resolution, building strong relationships and maintaining a positive work environment. 
• Employ empathy, self-awareness and self-regulation to perform effective management.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Managing team of retail associates

• Overseeing day to day operations within the retail store
• Have a working knowledge of the everyday functionality of the store and studio

• Opening & closing tasks
• Customer Service
• Transactions / running POS system
• Packing / Shipping ecomm orders
• Maintaining communications with customers via phone, email & in person
• Tracking special orders
• Unpacking shipments
• Making deliveries
• Scheduling retail staff

• Act as liaison between retail team and rest of studio staff

Customer Service

• Maintain positive and professional relationships with local community including –

• school teachers
• arts organizations
• professional potters
• hobbyists
• studio students & members

Ordering and Inventory

• Order essential materials for the studio and store (clay, glaze, tools, dry materials)
• Keep inventory and up-to-date pricing of all retail products
• Research new products and communicate with suppliers

Store Appearance/Merchandising and Maintenance

• Ensure the store is safe, clean, well-organized and visually appealing
• Controlling inventory to ensure sufficient stock in store & warehouse

\Marketing & Promotion/Customer Education

• Orchestrate monthly retail workshop series
• Developing sales and promotions within the store

Administrative

• Manage Lightspeed loyalty program
• Reports to VP and Director of Operations in regards to

• Ordering, sales, etc. 
• Strategizing store profitability
• Making sure to meet budgetary/financial targets
• Developing store strategies to raise customers’ pool and expand store traffic 
• Developing promotional campaigns
• Setting competitive pricing 
• Analyzing sales data to identify trends 
• General opportunities for improvement

Physical Aspects of the Job:

Must be able to consistently lift 50lb boxes of clay.

Should feel comfortable on a ladder.

Ability to be on your feet most of the day.

Expectations of Time:

Some weekends and occastional travel will be required.

Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience
• IRA contributions
• PTO & sick time (to be determined at time of hire) 
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement within the organization
• Access to a vibrant artistic community, state of the art ceramics facility (and largest community clay studio in the US) and ample high quality educational resources
• Personal booth space in staff studios area & access to main studio
• Store discounts - 20% off everything in retail & special employee clay pricing 
• 24 hr access door code & personal building key
• Free use of studio dipping glazes, glaze spray booth, wood shop tools (grinders, welders, other tools, etc. pending proper safety training) & use of downstairs kilns (some conditions apply) 
• Audit one 8 week class per session for free
• Free firing services - limit 5 pieces / week (if more pay per lb at member price) & full or half  kiln load = employee kiln load price
• Access on situational basis applies to the following - workshops, atmospheric kilns, slip casting studio, reclaim clay, architectural studio & glaze kitchen.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to bsuell@queencityclay.com

Subject line: “Retail Manager” by April 19th.

Special Event Instructor Opportunity

Queen City Clay is the region’s largest & oldest existing clay studio, gallery, and supply center focusing on education and promotion of the ceramic arts. Queen City Clay consistently seeks on-call instructors for Special Events, Field Trips and Open Wheel Classes. Both Leads and Assistants needed.

Instructors will be responsible for leading or assisting with short term programs ranging from 1 to 4 hours at a time. Programs include beginning instruction in wheel throwing or hand building with clay.

Responsibilities Include:

• Setting up studio for instruction, gathering necessary tools
• Taking attendance during events
• Lead or assist with instruction on basic wheel-throwing or hand-building techniques
• Ensure students properly clean stations and studio

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with clay in a studio or educational environment
• Experience teaching or assisting with instruction in ceramic arts
• Desire to introduce beginners to the clay experience and promote involvement in our community

Hours and Benefits:

Events are scheduled 7 days a week within the hours of 9am and 9pm. Regularly scheduled events include Open Wheel (Fridays & Saturdays), private groups/parties,  and Field Trips during the school year (weekday mornings). Instructors are on call and choose the events they are available to lead or assist. Should be willing to work a minimum of 3 events per month.  Active instructors have the opportunity to use Queen City Clay facility.

Queen City Clay strives to build a culture of inclusion and diversity for all members and employees that respects their individual strengths, views and experiences. We believe that by building this culture in our studio, it betters us as a community and team.  We encourage BIPOC candidates to apply.

Queen City Clay is an Equal Opportunity Employer where all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veteran, or disability status. 

To apply send resume or detailed letter of experience to Jon Stein,  jstein@queencityclay.com.

2024 Summer Camp Instructor Opportunity

Queen City Clay is looking for art educators for Summer Camp 2024!

We are an energetic team of artists and educators who have a passion for clay education, imaginative experiences and introducing students to creative process. If you enjoy teaching children and art, in any medium, we’d love to interview you.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work with the Children’s Programming Director on planning projects and activities for campers within specified weekly themes.
• Teach fun and unique art camps within specified themes to students of varying ages and skill levels.
• Prepare projects and materials daily.
• Keep materials organized, classroom clean.
• Communicate student, class, and material needs with other teachers and Children’s Programming Director.
• Collaborate alongside other teachers and assistants to facilitate classroom management.
• Create a kind and supportive environment for children and other employees.
• Facilitate a camp art show at the end of each camp week.

Qualifications and Desired Characteristics:

• BFA in Art Education or related experience preferred.
• Has basic to extensive knowledge of multiple art mediums.
• Experience creating lesson plans and age-appropriate art projects.
• Experience in a children’s camp or classroom environment.
• Ability to clearly delegate needs, tasks and direction to assistants.
• An enthusiastic attitude towards teaching and working with young children.
• Respectful of diversity and the needs of individual children.
• Demonstrate kindness, respect, and professionalism always.
• Works to establish connection with students through conversation and creating.
• Can communicate in a clear, kind, and respectful manner to parents.
• Keeps projects and classroom space organized.
• Ability to create a fun and respectful atmosphere.
• Has any interest or knowledge relating to any summer camp themes (animals, plants, Harry Potter, Pokémon, Minecraft, Stop Motion Animation, etc.)
• A background check is required.

Workday:

10:00am-12:30pm & 1:30pm-4:00pm (Camp Hours)

8:30-10am, 12:30-1:30pm, & 4-5:30pm (Before & After Care and Lunch optional)

Commitment: 4 weeks of camps, consecutive or not, May 28th – August 9th.

Compensation: $600/wk (additional pay optional $14/hr for Before & After Care) Active instructors have the opportunity to use Queen City Clay facility.

Queen City Clay strives to build a culture of inclusion and diversity for all members and employees that respects their individual strengths, views and experiences. We believe that by building this culture in our studio, it betters us as a community and team.  We encourage BIPOC candidates to apply.

Queen City Clay is an Equal Opportunity Employer where all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veteran, or disability status. 

To apply, please email Jess your resume, sample lesson plans or previous programing experience, and a cover letter explaining why you would be a good fit at Queen City Clay!