Motawi Tileworks Job Posting
July 18, 2008
Coordinator
Seeking an experienced production coordinator for Dip Glazing Dept. If you have a head for details, can maintain process controls, are conscientious, hardworking, flexible, and a fast learner then please apply. Work requires accuracy, heavy lifting, ability to prioritize, organize, and work standing most of the day. Ceramics exp. a plus. Benefits available. Salary negotiable. Submit cover letter & resume to: Motawi Tileworks, 170 Enterprise Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Fax 734-213-2569 or e-mail, motawi@motawi.com subject: Dip Coordinator Position. For more details click here.
Administrative Assistant
Do you thrive on varied tasks and a fast-paced day? Our ideal candidate will have strong oral & written communication skills and a talent for organizing and handling multiple tasks in the marketing aspects of our art tile studio. A can-do attitude, Microsoft Office & graphics software proficiency a must. Quickbooks, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Photoshop exp. a plus. In return we offer a fair wage, benefits, coffee and a humor-filled environment. Interested candidates will submit thoughtful cover letter & resume to motawi@motawi.com, subject: Admin. Asst.
For more details click here.
Reception & Retail Salesperson
- Do you thrive on serving others?
- Do you instinctively notice the differences between people and adapt your communication accordingly?
- Are you a person your friends think of as utterly dependable?
We are looking for a friendly, perceptive, service-oriented person to be responsible for our front desk. This is a very important role as you will be the first person to greet our customers in person or over the phone. We need someone who will remain calm and productive in a busy office. In between juggling phones and walk-in customers, you will be responsible for maintaining and organizing our front retail area, entering sales receipts and assisting with some marketing tasks. We have a great staff and you will be integral in helping them do their jobs by transferring calls, greeting contacts, and keeping track of what’s going on in the office on any particular day. Submit thoughtful cover letter & resume to: Motawi Tileworks, Attn: Reception/Retail Position, 170 Enterprise Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or e-mail motawi@motawi.com (Subject: Reception/Retail Position)For more details click here.
|
|
General
Description of Motawi Tileworks
Nawal Motawi started Motawi Tileworks in a garage in 1992 and with her
brother, Karim, has grown it into a nationally respected art tile studio
with a staff of thirty. The Tileworks produces custom designed tile projects,
a line of made-to-order architectural tile, and a line of stocked gift
tile and other flights of fancy.
Three types of tile are currently
produced: field tile, bas-relief, and raised line. All are RAM pressed
with moist clay and utilize a bisque firing then a mid-range to high temperature
glaze firing. Motawi Tiles are sold directly from the studio through upscale
tile showrooms nationwide, and through over 300 galleries, gift stores
and museum shops across the country.
Studio
Life
The studio atmosphere is productive, cheerful, and occasionally goofy.
Staff work schedules vary and are tailored to the demands of the ceramic
process. The work is divided between five departments and employees generally
work in the department for which they were hired, although everyone is
expected to help out from time to time in any department that needs help.
Guided tours occur frequently,
so the studio is kept tidy and employees interact in a friendly and informative
way with Tileworks visitors. Continuous process improvement is an important
facet of the environment. Everyone spends time each week problem solving,
and key production data is tracked.
How
to Apply for a Job at Motawi
Send a job history resume of no more than two pages plus a thoughtful
one-page cover letter. In the cover letter, explain which position you
are applying for (if applicable), what led you to apply, what you have
to offer and how employment at Motawi Tileworks relates to your personal
and/or professional goals. It is entirely reasonable to apply in a general
way and indicate that you are interested in being considered for future
openings.
Send the resume
and cover letter to the attention of the Hiring Department, Motawi Tileworks,
via mail, fax (734-213-2569), or email.
Motawi
Tileworks Employee Benefits Quick Summary
(Updated 01/01/08)
Competitive Base Pay - Entry-level regular staff positions
start at approx. $10.00 per hour, compensation varies in relation to the
number of employees under your supervision, job performance, technical
expertise, length of employment and other factors.
Two Annual Pay Increase Opportunities – year-end
review/raise program and mid-year cost of living adjustment.
Profit Sharing – quarterly bonus program for eligible
employees.
Paid Holidays – New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth
of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. These are paid during the
trial period.
Paid Vacation – earned as a proportion of hours
worked; approximately 10 days per year for full-time workers.
Paid Sick/Personal Days – three days per year for
full-time staff.
Flexible Benefit Plan – $230 per month credit (for
full-time employees) to spend on an HMO type health insurance plan, and/or
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, and/or Medical Reimbursement Account
Gift Certificates for Motawi Tile – distributed
quarterly.
Unpaid Time Off – upon request, subject to approval
by Motawi management.
SIMPLE-IRA – up to 3% of salary matched; eligibility
restrictions apply.
Free Lunch – once a month.
Opportunity to sell your own artwork – currently
twice per year at the Tile Extravaganza & Sale.
Benefits become available on the first of the month following successful
completion of a 90 day trial period. Some benefits have additional restrictions.
Summary of Staff Expectations at
Motawi Tileworks
This pared down list is meant to give prospective employees
an idea of what we expect of our staff. Management is here to inspire, inform,
train, and assist; then expect. This is the hard truth about what it takes
to make a living making beautiful tile.
Show up
- Keep to your agreed upon work schedule.
- Schedule time off in advance.
- Come to meetings on time.
Understand the work
- Exhibit competence in the required job skills.
- Adhere to current work process guidelines.
- Learn and apply new processes.
Produce enough high
quality work
- Meet productivity standards.
- Exhibit dedication to producing high quality ceramics.
- Participate in process improvement activities.
Support your co-workers
- Help them.
- Exhibit consideration and tact.
- Display a positive attitude.
Support the Tileworks
- Adhere to general policies and guidelines.
- Complete non-production tasks on time.
- Exhibit friendliness to Tileworks visitors.
Be flexible
- Adapt to changes in the work environment.
- Adapt to changes in work priorities.
Summary of Production Departments
Each of the five departments is run by a coordinator and
contains anywhere from zero to five additional staff. The skills and personalities
required for the positions vary; therefore, Motawi Tileworks generally
hires people to work in specific departments. Below are quick summaries
of the work done in each production department.
Moldmaking
The moldmakers make one-piece plaster molds, urethane models and air release
RAM press dies for production. They organize all the molds and models,
and carve new designs into plaster. The moldmakers are engaged in ongoing
experimentation to create molds that work better, changeover faster, or
are easier to make. Moldmaking entails moderately heavy lifting, the ability
to work within tight tolerances and ability to develop sensible experiments.
CNC experience is helpful.
Pressing
The pressers are the people who form the tiles in moist clay, mostly with
a RAM Press, but occasionally by hand pressing. Other parts of the job
include pre-press clay prep, post press clean up of the tiles, and cutting
custom tiles. The pressers also operate the tile dryer, load and unload
bisque kilns and sort bisque tile among the various projects. Pressing
is physically demanding and entails standing up all day, yet requires
precision to set up the press properly and prioritize work effectively.
Dip Glazing &
Firing
The dip glazers take the sorted bisque from pressing and glaze the field
and relief tile. They also mix glazes for production and glaze testing,
load glaze kilns, fire glaze kilns, unload glaze kilns and maintain the
kilns and related equipment. Dip glazing entails standing up all day,
lifting many trays of tile and many kiln shelves daily. It requires individuals
with strong backs for bending into kilns and some finesse with our fussy
glazes.
Bulb
Glazing
The bulb glazers are the people who actually glaze the multi-colored tiles.
Bulb glazing entails pooling ceramic glaze into areas of a tile separated
by a line of clay about 1/16” of an inch tall. This is very fine
handwork, which must be executed with some speed. Experience is not required,
just accuracy and hand speed. Similar skills include sewing, knitting,
needlework, carving, and cake decorating. Applicants will be required
to actually try bulb glazing as part of the hiring process. Loading and
unloading kilns and assisting other departments are also part of the job.
Shipping
The shipping staff receives tile from the kilns and checks quality, sorts,
counts, boxes, and ships the tile via package carrier or by truck. The
shippers get to look at lovely finished tile all day.
Departmental Coordinators
Each department is run by a coordinator who works alongside the rest of
the staff and also has managerial responsibilities. The coordinators are
involved with hiring and reviews. Among their many tasks are: day to day
management, work prioritization, development of training procedures, maintenance
of reference materials. |
