Pottery Instructor (Wheel + Handbuilding)

Role Summary The Ceramics Instructor leads beginner-friendly wheel-throwing and/or handbuilding classes and workshops, delivering clear demonstrations, hands-on coaching, and a safe, organized studio experience. The instructor supports student success while maintaining studio standards for cleanliness, materials handling, and kiln-ready workflow.

Key Responsibilities

- Teach scheduled classes (wheel, handbuilding, or mixed-format) for adults, teens, and occasional private events.
- Deliver step-by-step demonstrations (centering, pulling, trimming, attachments, surface design, basic glazing concepts).
- Coach students 1:1 during work time; adapt instruction to different skill levels and learning styles.
- Set up and reset stations: clay, tools, bats/boards, water buckets, cleanup supplies.
- Manage student work flow: labeling, tracking pieces, ensuring work is properly prepared for drying, bisque, glazing, and pickup.
- Maintain studio cleanliness and safety during and after class (wheels, tables, splash pans, floors, sinks, reclaim areas).
- Communicate class expectations clearly (timelines, breakage risk, firing schedules, glaze options, pickup windows).
- Support customer experience: friendly check-in, answering questions, handling minor issues professionally.
- Provide feedback to studio leadership on class pacing, student needs, inventory/materials, and improvements.

Qualifications

- Strong foundation in ceramics (wheel-throwing and/or handbuilding) with the ability to teach beginners.




- Demonstrated ability to explain processes clearly and safely in a group setting.
- Comfortable with basic studio workflows: reclaim basics, clay prep, cleaning tools/wheels, organizing shelves.
- Reliable, punctual, and able to work independently while following studio procedures.
- Strong communication and customer service skills.

Preferred (Asset) Skills

- Experience with glazing fundamentals (application, wax resist, common defects, basic troubleshooting).
- Kiln familiarity (loading/unloading, cone packs, kiln logs, bisque vs glaze firing), if applicable to the role.
- Experience teaching youth programs, private events, or corporate/team-building workshops.
- Content creation support (short clips/photos of class demos, studio moments), if requested.

Work Conditions

- Part-time or contract; evening and weekend availability is typically required.
- Standing for extended periods; lifting clay/tools (up to approximately 25 lb).
- Studio environment with clay dust controls and standard PPE expectations.

Performance Expectations

- Consistent class quality and student satisfaction.
- Safe instruction and clean, well-managed classroom environment.
- Accurate labeling/tracking of student work and adherence to firing workflow.

Job Types: Full-time, Part time, Permanent, Fixed term contract, Casual, Seasonal, Freelance Pay: From $17.60 per hour

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Company events
- On-site parking
- Store discount

Application question(s):
- Briefly describe your experience with wheel throwing

Work Location: In person

📌 Pottery Instructor (Markham)
🏢 OOTB Art Studio
📍 Markham