Graduate Assistant for Design Thinking Job Description – The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A paid position to support Taylor design-thinking outreach and education to promote changemaking and social impact for 2020 – 2021 year. Specific employment dates will be determined with the supervisor and could include summer employment.

Download all Taylor Student Employment job descriptions (pdf).

[vcex_button url=”https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=g4HpndklE0ufw03lSJwfOxSsWGOkjWBDv5PxWyBpoSpUQ0hCOUE3WTYxSkhDQllYTU5GM0RGN01JWCQlQCN0PWcu” title=”Visit Site” style=”flat” align=”left” color=”red” size=”small” target=”_blank” rel=”none”]APPLY NOW[/vcex_button][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can also submit your application via email to taylor@tulane.edu.

Download the application as a word document.

Taylor is seeking a diverse team of responsible, open-minded, motivated, and dynamic “changemaking” Student Fellows and Graduate Assistants (GAs) who are excited to join a culture of collaborative social innovation and design thinking at Tulane and in New Orleans. Taylor “Student Fellows” are more than the usual student worker and will be treated as paraprofessionals. Taylor GAs are expected to perform to a high level of professionalism. Both Fellows and GAs will shape our continued growth and impact.

Specifically, Taylor Center Student Fellows and GAs:

Are ambassadors of the Taylor Center engaging the Tulane and New Orleans community through on and off campus programming and social media
Create, implement, and communicate Taylor programs and outreach materials
Are self-starters who can self-structure their work and are comfortable with ambiguity
Possess the initiative to thrive in a dynamic environment
Must be comfortable working at a fast pace

Taylor Graduate Assistant Employee Commitments

Work for the time commitment stipulated in the individual job description, which may include summer
Work 15-20 hours per week, depending on the specific Some weeks will be busier, and some weeks will be lighter, depending on the specific position.
Work evening and weekend hours, as required and communicated in

Eligibility

Must be enrolled as a student at Tulane in both Fall and Spring 2020/2021
Must be in good academic standing for the term prior to selection and during entire period of employment
Must maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0

Training /Orientation

Student employee orientation on Friday, August 23, 2020 from 12-5 pm
Required for Taylor Student Fellows
Not Required but recommended for R&S GAs

Position Summary

The Graduate Assistant for Design Thinking at Taylor will help design and offer training experiences for campus and other audiences in design thinking for social impact, as well as lead groups through design processes to address challenges. The work will be a part of regular programming at the Taylor Center as well as contributing to custom design facilitation based on special request (“Taylorized” programs). The individual will work collaboratively with other Graduate Assistants in Design Thinking, as well as with Tulane faculty, outside trainers and facilitators.

Performance Standards/ Job Duties

Primary duties include providing support, as part of the design thinking team, such as:

planning and providing logistical support for design thinking workshops and events,
co-creating and co-facilitating design thinking workshops for Tulane and non-Tulane audiences, with other members of the design thinking team and Tulane / Taylor partners including Tulane faculty and staff,
co-creating design thinking and social innovation pedagogical tools e.g. games, method cards and worksheets,
researching and writing (academic and non-academic) about design thinking and helping to document the work of the design thinking team at Taylor.
Document design thinking for social impact activities (via visuals, photos, and writing products among other methods)

Required Qualifications for Graduate Assistants for Design Thinking

Enrolled in a degree-bearing graduate program at Tulane at the masters or doctoral Applicants can be enrolled in any discipline or department at Tulane
Interest in social impact and changemaking skill

Preferred Skills for Graduate Assistants for Design Thinking

Openness, flexibility and a willingness to experiment with new ways of doing and being
Research skills
Writing for academic and non-academic audiences
Organizational ability, punctuality, self-motivation, and initiative
Strong, professional communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Excel and Word
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, especially Illustrator and Indesign
Demonstrated commitment to personal and departmental development, professionalism, multi-cultural education, creativity, collaboration, and initiative
Self-motivated worker
Professional and ethical.

It is anticipated that the combination of skills of all of the team members would cover all of the preferred skills.

Required Qualifications for all Taylor Student Employees

Character Traits

Approachable and friendly demeanor, with a strong customer service orientation
Flexible and adaptable
Empathy: have strong people and relationship-nurturing skills
A can-do, optimistic attitude
Self-motivated and able to work independently when needed
A team player: Able to collaborative effectively and generously as part of a team, with diverse students, staff, faculty and community partners

Competencies

Strong oral, written communication, and public speaking skills
Strong relationship building and people skills
Ability to prioritize, handle multiple tasks, and work
Ability to balance professional and personal boundaries
Writing skills for short blog posts, email communications to a general audience, use social media and write reports

Knowledge/Skills

Strong problem solving, organization, presentation, and decision-making skills
Working knowledge of standard computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint), Google Drive, BOX, desktop publishing, and/or website maintenance
Comfortable using social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram)
Good time-management skills: must be punctual, timely, and deadline-oriented
Strong problem solving, organization, presentation, & decision-making skills

Preferred Qualifications for All Taylor Student Employees

An interest in social innovation as a field (i.e., changemaker, social entrepreneurship, design thinking, community engagement)
Proven leadership skills via student organizations, employment, event planning, community service and/or outreach
Experience in advertising, communications, marketing, promotions, or other outreach experience via business, class projects, student or community
Photography or multimedia experience and graphic design skills
Work experience with community agencies, social enterprises, and/or non-profit organizations (volunteer, internship, or paid)
Working knowledge of campus cultures, departments, student organizations, and other resources relevant to Taylor

Remuneration

The GA for Design Facilitation will work 15 hours/week on average from August to May (specific hours/week might vary from 10/week to 20 hours/week at times, owing to the timing of specific design projects). Pay rate is $15/hour, paid in monthly stipends ($7,500 total)
Students are eligible to apply to Taylor student funding for up to $1500/year.

Supervision

The GA for Design Facilitation will report to the A. Director of Design Thinking at Taylor (DT Professor of Practice), Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel.

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