Job Details
Department: Learning Commons and Open Labs
General Statement of Job
The Emerging Technology Analyst researches, evaluates, recommends, implements, and supports emerging technologies for integration into the Makerspace, Open Labs, and Learning Spaces. This position reports directly to the Learning Commons and Open Labs Logistics Manager and collaborates with the Director on institutional initiatives.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions:
- Conducts pilots, proof-of-concept projects, and feasibility assessments to evaluate operational impact.
- Assists students, faculty, staff, and community with hands-on use of Makerspace technologies, including digital fabrication, multimedia, and creative software.
- Supports implementation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Makerspace and Open Lab technologies.
- Monitors emerging technology trends and assesses alignment with Makerspace goals.
- Assist in preparing reports, usage analytics, and recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
- Assists in overseeing and implementation of Makerspace operations, ensuring compliance with safety, usage, and professional standards.
- Develops and supports training, workshops, and documentation for staff, faculty, students and community.
- Conducts Makerspace tours, demonstrations, and presentations for classes, faculty, staff, and external visitors.
- Assists in maintaining inventory, tracks assets, and Recommends supplies, technology upgrades, and equipment acquisitions aligned with Makerspace and Open Lab needs.
- Supports leadership with evidence-based recommendations while ensuring successful operational deployment and user adoption.
- Monitors, maintains, and documents the operational status of Makerspace and Open Lab technologies.
- Ensure assigned areas are secure, organized, and well maintained, including furniture, tools, peripherals, and instructional resources.
- Provides and promotes excellent customer service while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative-focused learning environment.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer or engineering field required.
- At least two (2) years of experience in a Makerspace, fabrication lab, innovation lab, technology lab, or related technical environment, required.
- Experience supporting students, faculty, staff, and community in emerging technologies, preferred.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, various operating systems, and AI research tools.
- Experience with Digital Fabrication, Design & Engineering, Electronics & Coding, Traditional Crafts, Troubleshooting, AR/VR Technologies, Computer Networking Technologies.
- Ability to prioritize, organize, and complete multiple tasks with attention to detail, within stated deadlines.
- Ability to work independently as well as a team player within department and with others.
- Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed; willing to travel throughout the college district using own means of reliable transportation.
- Demonstrated commitment to achieving the vision and mission of South Texas College.
- Ability to read and interpret safety guidelines, technical manuals, and operational procedures.
- Ability to prepare reports, documentation, and instructional materials.
- Ability to present information and provide guidance to individuals or groups.
- Ability to apply practical problem-solving skills in standardized operational situations.
Checks, Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations
- Security-sensitive position; subject to criminal background check under South Texas College policy.
- Must have or qualify for a valid Texas driver's license and proof of liability insurance.
- Relevant technology or Microsoft certifications, preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
- Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
- Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
- Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
- Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.
- Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
- Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
- Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
- Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
- Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
- Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
- Standing particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
- Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and/or extensive reading, including color, depth perception, and field vision.
- Visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
- Mobility to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
Organization
Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers more than 120 degree & certificate options, including associate degrees in a variety of liberal art, social science, business, math, science, technology, advanced manufacturing and allied health fields of study. Additionally, South Texas College is the only community college in the State of Texas to offer four baccalaureate degrees. South Texas College has a faculty and staff of more than 2,700 to serve the college’s five campuses, two higher education centers, and one virtual campus.
Since 2000, the Dual Credit Programs has served over 100,000 high school students at 70 high school sites, saving families over 200 million dollars in tuition.
South Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Baccalaureate and Associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of South Texas College.