Technical Instructor - Weave - Casual Worker (0.4FTE, FTC)

Do you have experience in the weave industry as a maker and want to deliver your knowledge and impart your skills to students?

An opportunity has risen within the Weave Technical Services Workshop for a Technical Instructor at the Royal College of Art. The position is available for two days a week on a casual basis until the start of September 2025.

The Royal College of Art is one of the world’s most influential institutions of university status devoted to the study of art, design, humanities and communication.

You would be working within Technical Services in the Fashion and Textiles department joining a team of talented Technical Leads, Specialists and Instructors to deliver a high level of skills and knowledge to students undertaking postgraduate studies. The main purpose of the post, duties and responsibilities plus what this role involves are listed below.

Please apply directly with your CV and a description of your relevant experience to Talitha Richardson, Fashion and Textiles - Technical Services Coordinator. Talitha.Richardson@rca.ac.uk

When sending your application via email, please use the vacancy job title in the subject:Technical Instructor in Weave - Casual Worker position.

Main purpose of the post:

• Contribute as part of a team in the effective provision and availability of specialist equipment and work areas in order to facilitate academic delivery, student learning, and Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (RKEI) activities.
• Provide highly skilled technical assistance, guidance and instruction to all users, demonstrating equipment and processes as appropriate.
• Provide support to the Lead Technical Instructor and Technical Coordinator in the day-to-day function of technical services within the area of weave. 

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Provide technical support, advice and demonstrations in woven and related constructed textiles. This includes all technical aspects of hand, and dobby looms, from yarn preparation through to finished cloth. Using industry standard warp, weft and yarn calculations. Working with specialist software in relation to the dobby and power looms.
2. Support the growth of the weave workshop resources across the College, including the acquisition and commissioning of new equipment and development of the hand and dobby woven textile technical spaces.
3. Be responsible for the weave technical spaces, contribute to the creation of learning materials and operate and maintain tools, equipment and processes in the Weave workshop.
4. Monitor work being carried out in the weave technical spaces, ensuring high standards of health & safety and housekeeping at all times.
5. Support the research, buying and setting up of new equipment and services by maintaining industry links and identifying new and relevant technologies and practices.
6. Assist students and staff of all abilities in problem solving and finding technical solutions.
7. Support events and exhibitions as required including the handling, transportation and installation of art works.

This role involves

• Knowledge and experience of the processes, techniques and skills required in the use and demonstration of Hand, Dobby and Jacquard (TC2) Looms.
• Experience of maintaining hand and dobby looms.
• Experience of delivering in person technical instruction.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to use initiative and work as part of a team.
• Excellent organisational, time management, planning and problem solving skills.
• Experience in the use of a Jacquard power loom would be desirable.

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