Forward-thinking business leaders including wood products executives Gary LeBlanc, Organizational Development manager of Richelieu, and Bill French, owner of Wood-Mode, are leading an effort to create a new community college in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania.
As part of that effort, the group is actively searching for an experienced woodworking shop instructor to train/mentor students in cabinetmaking skills. Students will be trained through a structured curriculum offered by the National Woods Board designed to prepare students for the woodworking field.
"The youngest Baby Boomer is 60, and in six years, they will be 66 and over each retirement age," said LeBlanc. "I don't expect that many of them won't be sticking around. We don't have enough cabinetmakers who are being trained or technicians who are being trained to fill those roles. Not saying that there isn't training going on. There's some excellent training going on. There's just not enough of it. And as I've also found, that the curriculum that's being taught in some of these schools is geared towards commercial and residential construction, rather than the skills that are required for the cabinetmaking or architectural woodworking industry, and so work needs to be done here."
The Susquehanna Valley is a region of low-lying land that borders the Susquehanna River in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Some of the communities in the valley include Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania as well as Oneonta and Binghamton, New York.
The Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project, Inc. is the overarching group developing the community college. It started with a nursing program, and the second program under development is woodworking.
Woodworking Shop Instructor Job description Position Summary The Woodworking Shop Instructor will conduct classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for students each week of the school season (16 weeks) commencing in August 2025. The classes last 2 hours from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. There is an equal amount of time outside of class required for preparation. Students will take 4 courses, each taking one semester of instruction, to graduate with a certificate in woodworking. There is a paid instructor training program prior to the start of school. Compensation for this position is negotiable. Essential Functions Implement metrics for evaluating students’ skills and development level of expertise through the appropriate course instructional level. Lead students through the basics of CNC machining lessons that teach skills relevant to the unique needs of the cabinet industry and our advisory panel members comprised of local woodworking shops. Evaluates students' performance and provides summaries. Mentors students to be the best they can be. Represents the State of Pennsylvania in a professional manner and upholds the highest standards of ethical business practices and socially responsible conduct in all interactions with students, advisory panel members, suppliers, and other third parties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Qualifications 10+ years of cabinet experience Knowledge and proficiency in working equipment. Proficient in AutoCAD technology Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings. Knowledge of operational, maintenance and safety aspects of saws, drills, planers, sanders, speeds and feeds for machining all types of metals Ability to use micrometers, electronic gauges, calipers and similar tools and equipment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Attention to detail. Self-starter Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills Physical Demands Required to sit; climb, balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl Required to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds Required to possess specific vison & abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and capacity to adjust focus Our Values Passionate about Innovation: Improving student knowledge by delivering advanced technology in a learning environment is at the core of what we do. We are passionate in our role of improving the lives of our students as we prepare them for a career in woodworking. Advisory Focused: We listen to the needs of our advisory panel to ensure our course training is relevant and market focused. Teamwork: Working together, anything is possible. We value every student on our team and treat each other with respect. We are accountable to one another and support each other. Together, we make each other stronger. Driven: We pursue our mission with energy and passion. We are nimble, results-oriented and decisive. We overcome obstacles that arise in our quest to deliver solutions that will improve the lives of our students and their future employers. Equal Employment Opportunity Other Duties If interested in this position, please send a copy of your resume and cover letter to: Dr. Lenaire Ahlum |
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