Technical Instructor Interaction Station – Willem de Kooning Academie (0,6 – 0,8 fte)

Technical Instructor Interaction Station – Willem de Kooning Academie (0,6 – 0,8 fte)
Bring technology to life and help the next generation of makers turn their ideas into interactive experiences. Join our Interaction Station and be part of a creative, experimental and collaborative environment.

What are you going to do?

As a technical Instructor, you play a key role in creating a welcoming, safe and inspiring environment where students can turn their ideas into reality. You combine technical knowledge support with a hands-on, student-focused approach: helping students explore practical solutions, supporting them in using equipment safely, and encouraging them to learn by doing. You work closely with fellow teachers and colleagues, contribute to the development of our technical knowledge base, and help foster a workspace where everyone feels comfortable, supported and included.

Principal accountabilities:

• Support, guide and instruct students in the safe and responsible use of equipment and tools at the station;
• Monitor and maintain inventory, ensuring materials and equipment are available and well managed;
• Recognize when students need additional support and connect them with the relevant colleagues or expertise;
• Support other station teachers before, during and after their classes;
• Develop and facilitate technical extracurricular workshops focused on specific skills and techniques (in colaboration).
• Contribute to clear and accessible technical documentation of tools, equipment and processes on our wiki;
• Keep workspaces organized, inviting and ready for students to experiment, learn and create.

Willem de Kooning Academy

The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (WdKA/RUAS), offers a variety of bachelor and master’s programmes in the field of visual culture, art, design, education in arts, and leisure management. The curriculum of the Willem de Kooning Academy is founded on an interdisciplinary ethos. The Majors are the entry point of study for all Bachelor students, the interdisciplinary research contexts in the second half of the Bachelor programs and the highly unique Stations (advanced workshops focused on Research through Making) complete the three pillars of the institute.

The Stations

The stations are centers of knowledge and expertise. They are locations that cover traditional as well as innovative technologies. The stations are at the vanguard of the developments within the professional field and the processes of production that are relevant for the art and design practice. Stations are not only a space of execution and production, but also a space in which tutors, instructors and students question why we make, how we make and for whom we make. Stations are part of a collaborative effort (an educational instrument) to develop a student-driven curriculum that supports self-directed learning.

About the Interaction Station

In the Interaction Station we focus on a broad array of creative (digital) technologies; from programming, machine learning, and AI, to augmented and virtual reality, electronics, and real-time 3D. We take an open and experimental approach to technology, acknowledging that the definition of interaction is constantly shifting. We like to experiment with new tools, technologies and hardware, always with a critical eye to new and developing technologies and how they can be appropriated for creative uses. We’re equally interested in how older technologies can be re-evaluated in contemporary contexts. The instructors and teachers in the Interaction Station come from a variety of backgrounds, with diverse sets of expertise. We’re here to help students develop their ideas into working projects providing individual consultation, station skills and lessons.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

You are a supportive and hands-on collegue to join our Interaction Station. As one of the first points of contact for students and staff visiting the Interaction Station, you will contribute to an open, collaborative and inclusive learning environment. You enjoy working with people, are approachable and proactive. You also have a genuine enthusiasm for helping others learn, experiment and develop their ideas. You communicate clearly, collaborate easily with others, and have the ability to support the workflows and organizing principles in a dynamic environment.

You also bring:

• Good English communication skills; communication in Dutch (or willingness to learn with academy support) is an advantage;
• Working knowledge of (or being able to learn) programming and electronics, with particular focus on TouchDesigner, microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, Touch Board), and physical computing (sensors, motors, etc)
• Experience with physical computing includes prototyping and troubleshooting, soldering, breadboarding, and using a multimeter and lab power supply.
• The ability to read and modify Arduino code, find libraries and find relevant technical documentation is an advantage.

What do we offer?

• A one-year contract upon starting employment (D4 CAO HBO) with the possibility to extend it to two years
• Salary in scale 8: € 3.477,51 – € 4.595,29 gross per month (based on full-time employment, depending on experience and qualifications)
• A contract of 24 - 32 hours per week
• 8% holiday allowance + 8,3% year-end bonus
• Up to 9 weeks of vacation (based on full-time)
• Sustainable employability hours, or your personal development and work-life balance (calculation based on contract)
• Possibility of paid parental leave and hybrid working
• Excellent pension scheme (ABP)
• Bicycle scheme with tax benefits
• Compensation for internet, commuting, and working from home
• Laptop, phone, and home office facilities
• Extensive training and development opportunities

Location

You will be working at Willem de Kooning Academie in Rotterdam, which is easily accessible by public transport.

Our organisation

WDKA is part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. With over 39,000 students and 4,200 dedicated staff members, we are a vibrant knowledge institution offering practical, real-world solutions to today’s societal challenges. Our mission? To equip students with the skills and mindset needed for the careers of today and tomorrow. We guide (young) professionals in their development, always placing student success at the center of everything we do.

The selection process may include an assessment.

Providing a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required, as well as a work permit if you are from outside the EU.