Carpenter Instructor
Carpenter Instructor
A prominent trade school in the United States is seeking a dedicated and experienced Carpenter Instructor to train and mentor aspiring carpentry professionals. This role involves teaching fundamental and advanced carpentry skills, ensuring students gain the hands-on experience, technical knowledge, and professional habits they need to succeed in the construction trades.
The ideal candidate will bring journey-level or above field experience in residential and commercial carpentry alongside a genuine commitment to student success and a desire to give back to the trade. This position blends classroom instruction, workshop supervision, and direct mentorship in a role that directly shapes the quality and character of the next generation entering the construction workforce.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Instruction and Curriculum Delivery
- Develop and deliver engaging lesson plans aligned with industry standards, program objectives, and current construction practices in both residential and commercial settings
- Provide hands-on instruction in carpentry techniques including framing, finish work, cabinetry, flooring, roofing, and blueprint reading
- Teach safety protocols, OSHA standards, and proper tool and equipment use, ensuring adherence to workplace safety practices at all times in the shop and classroom
- Stay current with industry trends, materials, and building codes and incorporate relevant updates into the curriculum on an ongoing basis
Student Assessment and Mentorship
- Assess student performance through practical evaluations, written assessments, and project-based coursework that reflects real-world industry expectations
- Mentor and support students in achieving their professional goals, helping them develop not just technical skills but the work ethic and professionalism employers expect
- Provide individualized feedback and intervention for students who are struggling to meet competency benchmarks, connecting them with additional resources when needed
- Support student career development by connecting graduates with apprenticeship programs, employer partners, and professional trade organizations
Workshop and Program Management
- Maintain the classroom and workshop environment to support safe, effective, and organized learning, including regular inspection and upkeep of tools and equipment
- Manage inventory of materials, tools, and supplies needed for instruction, coordinating with program administration on procurement and maintenance
- Collaborate with program directors and fellow faculty to ensure curriculum alignment, accreditation compliance, and continuous program improvement
- Participate in student recruitment, open houses, and community engagement activities that advance the trade school’s mission and visibility
Experience, Skills, and Credentials
Experience and Background
Technical Skill Areas
Candidates should have demonstrated proficiency across the core skill areas of the trade. Relevant competencies include:
Skills and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of carpentry tools, materials, and techniques across a range of applications from rough framing to detailed finish work
- Exceptional communication and instructional skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to students at varying experience levels
- Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and safety-first learning environment in both the classroom and the workshop
Preferred Qualifications
- Certification or licensure in carpentry, construction, or a related trade discipline (e.g., NCCER certification, UBC journeyman card)
- Experience working with apprenticeship programs through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters or similar joint apprenticeship training programs
- Familiarity with green building practices, sustainable construction methods, or emerging technologies in the construction trades
- Experience supervising or mentoring apprentices or junior workers on active job sites
What We Are Looking For
Deep, current expertise in carpentry across residential and commercial applications that gives students confidence they are learning from someone who has actually done the work at a professional level.
Unwavering commitment to OSHA standards, tool safety, and shop safety culture. Students who develop safe work habits in school are safer workers, and safer workers are better workers.
Ability to structure lessons and shop activities that build genuine technical competence through doing, not just watching — the kind of skill development that holds up on an actual job site.
Genuine investment in student success that extends beyond technical skill to include work ethic, professionalism, and the habits of mind that distinguish career tradespeople from people who just completed a program.
Ongoing awareness of changes in building codes, materials, techniques, and industry standards that keeps the curriculum relevant and ensures graduates are prepared for the current job market.
Commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds, including career changers, returning adults, and students without prior construction exposure, in developing the skills and confidence to succeed in the trade.
- Trade Mastery: deep, current expertise across residential and commercial carpentry that gives students confidence they are learning from a working professional
- Safety Leadership: unwavering commitment to OSHA standards and shop safety culture that shapes students into safe, professional workers
- Hands-On Instruction: ability to build genuine technical competence through doing — the kind of skill that holds up on an actual job site
- Student Mentorship: genuine investment in student success that extends to work ethic, professionalism, and career readiness
- Industry Currency: ongoing awareness of building codes, materials, and techniques that keeps the curriculum relevant and graduates job-ready
- Inclusive Teaching: commitment to supporting diverse students including career changers and adults new to the construction trades
Salary and Benefits
The institution offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Faculty are supported in ongoing professional development and encouraged to maintain active connections to the trade through continued industry engagement.
How to Apply
Excelon Associates is connecting qualified candidates with trade schools and CTE programs seeking experienced Carpenter Instructors. All submissions are handled confidentially. Review of applications is ongoing.
- Submit a resume and cover letter detailing your carpentry experience, any relevant certifications, and your interest in teaching the trade
- Highlight any prior teaching, mentoring, apprenticeship instruction, or on-the-job training experience in your cover letter
- Provide contact information for three professional references familiar with your trade work or instructional background
- Selected candidates will be invited for a conversation with the Excelon Associates team and, if advancing, a campus interview and shop demonstration with program leadership
For inquiries or nominations, contact Excelon Associates at +1 (828) 417-7094 or via the Start a Search page.
The best carpentry instructors are tradespeople who remember what it felt like to pick up a framing hammer for the first time. They understand that teaching the trade is not just about technique. It is about passing on a standard of craft and a professional identity that will stay with a student for an entire career.
Need to Hire a Carpenter Instructor?
Excelon Associates recruits skilled trades instructors, vocational faculty, and CTE program leaders for trade schools and career education institutions nationwide. Whether you need to fill a single workshop position or build out an entire construction trades department, we connect you with experienced, qualified candidates. Headquartered in Asheville, NC. Retained search since 2007.