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Lead Educator

POSITION: FULL TIME

LOCATION: IN-PERSON, PHILADELPHIA

CLOSING DATE: applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

our mission

Tiny WPA’s mission is to grow and support a diverse multigenerational community of civic change agents—Building Heroes—who lead others in making Philadelphia a better, safer, healthier, more equitable, and prosperous play to live, work, and play. We believe that through design-build and citizen-led improvements, we can create stronger places and more equitable spaces across our city.

the role: lead educator

Tiny WPA is seeking a Lead Educator with extensive wood fabrication experience to co-teach its Building Hero Training Program and lead the organization’s additional educational programming. We’re looking for someone who not only has experience teaching or leading in formal or informal settings, but also finds real joy in helping everyone from teens to seniors design and build projects that positively impact their communities.

The ideal candidate is comfortable experimenting, making mistakes, and learning alongside others, and able to work with, lead, and follow people from diverse ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. A deep curiosity about how people learn, create, and collaborate is a strong plus.

As Tiny WPA expands its educational offerings, the Lead Educator will also manage the organization’s in school and out of school programming along with community workshops. Like all roles at Tiny WPA, this position offers significant room for growth and leadership.

PRIMARY ROLES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Leading the Building Hero Training Program

The Building Hero Training is a free 8-week (16-session) program offered in spring (March–June), summer (June-July) and fall (September–December) for 10–12 participants. Classes are held at Tiny WPA’s community workshop at 3145 W Jefferson St in Brewerytown on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30–8:00 pm.

Fundamentally different from other design-education initiatives, this action-oriented, product- and process-driven program teaches participants to use design to solve real-life challenges. Participants build products to address personal or community needs while learning hands-on design and fabrication skills through projects like stools, coat racks, and benches. The program concludes with a needs-driven, community-build service project in partnershp with a local nonprofit, school or organization. Past projects include creating a school garden, making improvements to a community garden, and building amenities for Philadelphia public pools.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Deliver engaging, high-quality instruction following the established curriculum.

  • Coordinate weekly prep with co-teachers, including ordering materials, milling wood, prototyping, and preparing lessons.

  • Follow up with participants on attendance, project deadlines, and upcoming lessons.

  • Conduct regular assessments, including daily lesson reflections and program-start and program-end evaluations.

  • Document and share the program through photos, updates, and stories for social media and communications.

  • Assist in planning and preparing the community-build project

Leading Tiny WPA School Programs and Community Workshops
Tiny WPA partners with schools and community organizations to lead single-session, multi-week, and months-long design-build workshops. Many of these workshops take place off-site in schools and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, with schedules varying based on partnership requests. The one consistent program is our Wednesday afternoon session with high school students from Science Leadership Academy Beeber and Center City.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Teach and lead small-scale building and design projects at partner sites and at Tiny WPA’s workshop.

  • Assist with workshop preparation, including creating lesson plans, ordering materials, milling wood, and prototyping.

  • Conduct regular assessments, including daily lesson reflections and participant feedback through surveys or other tools.

  • Document and share program activities through photos, updates, and stories for social media and communications.

  • Coordinate and communicate with partnering schools, teachers, and community organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking a stellar educator, builder, and community/team builder who is excited to inspire and support learners of all ages.

  • Extensive woodworking and wood fabrication experience, with proficiency on a range of shop machinery.

  • 1+ years in a role similar to the responsibilities outlined in this job description.

  • A deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and the mission of empowering diverse communities.

  • Strong proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar), experience with Adobe products (Illustrator) and CAD software (SketchUp, Fusion, etc.) is a bonus.

  • Experience teaching or leading groups of 8–30 people in learning, creative, or service activities.

  • Exceptional ability to engage, support, and inspire participants of all ages.

  • Strong design sense; please share work or project samples that showcase your aesthetics, whether professional, school, or personal projects (for example, a website, portfolio, or Google Slides).

  • Attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills; over-communication is encouraged in our collaborative environment.

  • General project management experience.

  • Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel to various projects and schools across Philadelphia.

  • Employment is contingent upon successful completion of PA Act 153 background checks (Child Abuse, State Police, and FBI Fingerprints), which will be initiated upon hire.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Tiny WPA is a “lead by doing” environment. To successfully fulfill the responsibilities of this role, the candidate must be able to perform the following essentail functions:

  • Regularly lift, carry, and maneuver materials and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

  • Navigate and remain active within a fabrication workshop and across outdoor community construction sites with uneven terrain.

  • Skillfully and safely operate (and teach others to do so) woodworking equipment and other shop machinery.

  • Maintain high levels of visual and auditory awareness to ensure personal and team safety in an active shop environment with high ambient noise and moving machinery.

  • Assist in “filling gaps” during projects and programs, which may include digging, assembly, and hands-on fabrication alongside our Building Heroes.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position that is on-site at Tiny WPA’s workshop, located at 3145 W Jefferson St in Brewerytown.

Tiny WPA is a small nonprofit. We work hard and deeply love what we do, but we also strive for a culture where everyone feels supported, healthy, and happy.

  • Pay: The hourly rate for this position is $25 to $30, based on experience. This position is a standard 37.5-hour work week with 30 minutes of unpaid lunch daily.

  • Classification: This is a Non-exempt position; hours worked over 40 in a workweek are paid time-and-a-half.

  • Health & Wellness: Includes a health insurance stipend, vacation days, and paid sick leave.

At Tiny WPA, we value lived experience alongside formal credentials. If you don’t meet every single qualification but believe you have the skills to thrive in the role, we encourage you to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email a cover letter, resume and project samples or portfolio to Renee Schacht at renee@tinywpa.org. The subject heading of your email should be ‘Lead Educator: Your Name’. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If you move forward we will set up an interview followed by a session to see how you design, build and collaborate in real-time. We will ask you to join us for a paid, multi-hour design-build session alongside our Building Heroes. This is the best way for you to decide if you love our hands-on pace, and for us to see how your leadership style fits within our team.