Gallery & Education Coordinator

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Seattle, WA • Starting Immediately

The Application deadline is September 20th, 2026

About Pottery Northwest

Founded in 1966, Pottery Northwest is Seattle’s preeminent non-profit ceramics organization, promoting innovation, arts excellence, and education with a mission to foster an inclusive community centered in clay. Our nationally renowned ceramics studio offers vibrant programming to over 2,000 students each year. Artists from around the world come to Pottery Northwest in the spirit of artistic dialogue and as a formative step in their careers. We believe clay is for everyone and are committed to creating intentional space for people to explore their creativity and personal growth.

Position Summary

Pottery Northwest is seeking a full-time Gallery & Education Coordinator to provide essential administrative and operational support to our Education and Exhibitions departments.

Education and exhibition programming at Pottery Northwest are intentionally collaborative and closely connected. Exhibitions regularly include educational components such as artist talks, demonstrations, workshops,  and other opportunities for public engagement. Likewise, educational programs often create meaningful connections between students, instructors, exhibiting artists, and the ideas presented in the gallery. This position supports the administrative coordination behind both areas, helping ensure that these interconnected programs are organized, communicated, and carried out successfully.

This position provides administrative support for our exhibition and educational programming, including class scheduling, student correspondence, art inventory maintenance, and artwork sales. The Gallery & Education Coordinator will also be a consistent presence in the gallery, welcoming visitors, assisting customers, processing sales, and helping create an accessible and engaging experience for everyone who enters the space. The ideal candidate will be comfortable moving between focused administrative responsibilities and responsive customer service throughout the day.

 

Hours, Location, & Conditions

Reports to: Programs & Exhibitions Director
Location: Seattle, WA
Type: Full-time, permanent, nonexempt
Salary: $50,000-$52,000/year DOE
Remote/On-site: Fully on-site at our new studio in South Lake Union

Shift Times: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Occasional evening and weekend work outside of this schedule will be required for exhibition openings, public programs, special events, installations, and other major organizational activities.

Benefits: 

  • Generous PTO

  • 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance 

  • 401(k) retirement plan opt-in 

  • Monthly commuter stipend

  • Annual professional development stipend

  • Complimentary classes, workshops, and studio usage 

 

Duties & Responsibilities

Gallery Support (45%) 

  • Serve as a welcoming and knowledgeable presence in the gallery during public hours.

  • Greet visitors, answer questions, provide information about artists and exhibitions, and help visitors engage with the artwork and Pottery Northwest’s programs.

  • Assist customers with artwork and retail purchases while providing attentive, approachable, and low-pressure customer service.

  • Process gallery and retail sales accurately through Pottery Northwest’s point-of-sale system.

  • Prepare receipts, package purchases safely, and coordinate customer pickup when applicable.

  • Enter and maintain accurate artist, artwork, retail, consignment, pricing, and inventory information in gallery and point-of-sale systems.

  • Assist with artwork intake, unpacking, condition documentation, labeling, storage, packing, and return.

  • Maintain accurate inventory records throughout exhibitions and retail consignment periods.

  • Assist with sales reconciliation and provide accurate information needed for artist payments and consignment reporting.

  • Format, proofread, print, and install artwork labels, price lists, checklists, artist information, gallery signage, and other exhibition materials.

  • Support exhibition installation and deinstallation, including preparing the gallery, unpacking and moving artwork, placing labels, patching and painting walls, cleaning, and resetting the space.

  • Assist with exhibition receptions, artist talks, tours, sales events, markets, and other public programs.

  • Respond to basic gallery inquiries by phone, email, and in person, escalating curatorial, financial, or artist-related questions when appropriate.

Education Support (45%)

  • Assist with program data entry and instructor information for each academic quarter.

  • Assist with the organization and scheduling of partner, satellite, youth, and community programs.

  • Collect, edit, proofread, organize, and archive instructor biographies, images, class descriptions, and other program materials.

  • Assist students with class and workshop registration, account questions, transfers, and basic troubleshooting.

  • Answer phone calls, manage public email correspondence, and sort incoming/outgoing mail.

  • Maintain the public-facing events calendar and various internal shared staff calendars.

  • Ensure students have completed required studio orientations, forms, tuition payments, and fees, and update registration records accordingly.

  • Draft, schedule, send, and respond to student communications.

  • Communicate important class information, schedule changes, deadlines, cancellations, and reminders to students and instructors.

  • Check students and participants in for classes, workshops, events, and orientations.

  • Keep the website’s public programming information and class calendar accurate and up to date.

  • Maintain the public-facing class and events calendar.

  • Provide friendly and informed assistance to prospective students seeking information about classes, workshops, tuition assistance, studio policies, and registration.

Shared Leadership (10%)

  • Participate in team check-ins, weekly staff meetings, and planning and support for Pottery NW events.

  • Produce an annual work plan with metrics tied to overall organizational goals.

  • Help maintain and order staff office supplies.

  • Identify and participate in professional development opportunities that advance skills for the role.

  • Help maintain the various internal shared staff calendars.

  • Contribute to a workplace culture grounded in communication, inclusion, accountability, adaptability, and care.

This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. Pottery Northwest employees may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Technology: At Pottery Northwest, we use the following hardware, operating systems, and databases: Apple’s Mac computers/operating systems, the Google Suite, Monday, Bloomerang, Art Galleria, and Shopify.

 

Our Ideal Candidate

Values alignment:

  • Deep and demonstrated commitment to DEIA, racial and gender equity, and understanding the role inequities play in our society.

  • Passionate about maintaining an adaptive, people-centered studio grounded in fostering an inclusive community around clay, with the highest priority placed on creating and ensuring everyone has access to learning and enjoying ceramics.

  • Values sharing power, trusting each other, being transparent, celebrating small successes, integrity, and cross-cultural respect and sensitivity.

Qualifications:

  • 1-2 years of administrative, coordination, customer-service, gallery, retail, educational, or related professional experience.

  • Demonstrated customer-service skills, including approachability, attentiveness, empathy, patience, and positivity.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate records.

  • Proficiency in planning, organization, prioritization, and deadline management.

  • Ability to move between focused administrative work and frequent public-facing interactions.

  • Ability to take initiative, identify what needs to be done, and follow projects through to completion.

  • Ability to handle confidential student, artist, customer, and financial information appropriately.

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop trust with students, instructors, artists, customers, partners, and community members.

  • A collaborative approach to problem-solving and the ability to adjust to immediate needs or unforeseen circumstances.

  • A persistent commitment to clear and respectful communication, including during moments of challenge or conflict.

  • Ability and willingness to learn new software, registration systems, inventory platforms, and point-of-sale tools.

  • Interest in or connection to ceramics, contemporary craft, visual art, arts education, or nonprofit cultural organizations.

  • Ability to safely handle delicate artwork and follow detailed packing, installation, inventory, and condition-reporting procedures.

The strongest candidates will have:

  • Two or more years of direct experience supporting an arts, education, gallery, retail, or nonprofit organization.

  • Previous experience working in a gallery, museum, artist studio, retail art environment, or cultural organization.

  • Experience with artwork inventory, consignment records, condition reporting, sales, art handling, exhibition installation, or deinstallation.

  • Experience with class registration, student communication, instructor coordination, or educational program administration.

  • Familiarity with Shopify or another point-of-sale and inventory management platform.

  • Prior experience supporting a ceramics studio or knowledge of ceramic processes.

  • Experience producing reports, reconciling records, or maintaining detailed databases.

  • Experience working effectively with people from a wide range of cultural, financial, ethnic, educational, and ability backgrounds.

Physical Requirements:

This position regularly involves working at a computer, standing and moving throughout the gallery, assisting visitors, handling and packing artwork, and supporting exhibition installation. The employee must be able to safely use a step stool or ladder and lift and move objects weighing up to approximately 40 pounds, with reasonable accommodation available as required.

 

Application Instructions:

Pottery Northwest is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be a place where DEIA builds the foundation for people.

Don’t meet every single qualification? If you’re excited about this role, but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Pottery Northwest is most interested in attracting a teammate who will be successful and fulfilled in this role, not just someone who can check off every box.

To apply, submit a completed application. We do not want a cover letter; please just fill out the application in its entirety. Email questions to Jasmine@potterynorthwest.org. 

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The application deadline is September 20th, 2026