Woodworking Shop Helper
Hours: 35 hours per week
Start date: April 25, 2022
End Date: August 30, 2022
Rate of Pay: $15.75/hr
Reporting to: Swami Premananda (Charles Green), Woodworking, Repair & Maintenance Manager
Contact: For more information or to apply, email hr@yasodhara.org
Summary
Yasodhara Ashram is a yoga retreat and study centre that has been supporting the development of personal and professional potential through year-round yoga programs for over fifty years. Spanning 115 acres of land, which includes both wild and managed forests and intensively managed gardens and grounds.
This job is a combination of building design and repair, and construction of cabinetry and furniture. A particular focus will be innovative design in Ashram specific projects. Additionally, the candidate will participate in community related workshops and events.
The goal is to give the young person enough experience and knowledge so that they will be in a position to apply for work in the woodworking and construction fields or develop an interest to further their education in a related field.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Key tasks and responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
- Creative, innovative thought, problem solving, solutions in furniture design and repair
- Introduction to power tools and equipment focusing on safety and efficienc
- Re-organizing and setting up a woodworking shop
- Using wood products harvested from the land and learning about the Ashram’s environmental sustainability initiatives
- Involvement in designing and creating functional furniture for guest facilities
- Working with volunteers which include youth and the elderly
Supervision
The Woodworking, Repair & Maintenance Manager will be training and supervising all of the projects that the Woodworking student will be involved with. The Manager meets with the student daily to assign tasks and provide instruction where instruction is required. The Manager will provide regular supervision and mentoring.
Orientation
The Woodworking student is introduced to the purpose of Yasodhara Ashram, partners and staff. This includes a tour of the site and location of tools, workstations, first aid stations and procedures for first aid situations. A period of two weeks will be allotted to ensure the candidate has proper introduction to tools, techniques and processes for all tasks.
Mentoring
The entire tenure will involve regular skill training and mentoring so the young person will be able to make informed decisions, deepen their knowledge of carpentry, communication, leadership, innovative creative design. The Ashram has a wide variety of on-going projects throughout the year and the student will be involved with the seasonal priorities. The student will learn the requirements for care and maintenance of all tools and equipment related to the job. The goal is to give the young person enough experience and knowledge so that they will be in a position to apply for work in the woodworking and construction fields or develop an interest to further their education in a related field.
Related to the Woodworking position, there are a variety of hand tools, machinery equipment and techniques that are used for each task. The student will be introduced to these and learn the basic maintenance of each. They will be encouraged to read appropriate manuals and information and ask questions when they are unclear of operation and safety.
The Woodworking student will be leading volunteers in tasks after they are trained and are comfortable with the tasks. Leading a team is a part of their skill development.
The skills and experience gained will be beneficial for the student’s competency and comfort level around power equipment and tools. As well, the student will gain experience related to project design and implementation.