Fernweh Woodworking, LLC
Woodworker
Location: Bend, OR
Contact: founder/woodworker Justin Nelson, justin@fernwehwoodworking.com
The responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to: making batches of custom furniture parts from start to finish, assembling/gluing/shaping/sanding furniture, applying finishes, packaging furniture for shipment, and assisting in the maintenance of shop tools and equipment.
Experience requirements: At least 2 years of furniture experience is preferred, and/or a thorough set of coursework in wooden furniture. Applicant must have extensive woodworking knowledge and experience in a wood shop operating standard tools (table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, planer, jointer, lathe, drill press), including most of the following skills: wood selection, milling, turning, steam bending, mortise and tenon joinery, hand shaping with grinder/rasps/spokeshave, and finishing. A general Can-Do attitude and a penchant for problem solving are a must, as well as a general understanding of geometry, scale, and a comfort level using custom jigs and fixtures (for example, one piece in our fjoon collection utilizes about 20 different custom jigs). Optional but beneficial skills include: operating a CNC (no CAD/CAM required), upholstery, and weaving.
Our shop is a tight, small team, and we highly value safety, open communication, and valuing other people, no matter their beliefs/background/etc… We respect one another, and we also have a great time together. As the owner of the business, I believe strongly in the idea that there are no bad ideas, and I value input about safe practices or more efficient use of processes/time/fixtures & jigs from Fernweh employees. I ask that there is no personal phone usage during on-the-clock hours, with the exception of listening to audio when tasks allow.
All full-time employees of Fernweh Woodworking are eligible for our benefits program, which includes:
Employer elected retirement contributions at 2% of pay deposited monthly (in addition to full pay… not deducted from it)
PTO earned at the rate of 80 hours per calendar year,
Relocation assistance can be negotiated as well, in the form of temporary free rent in the private studio apartment on the shop property
Additionally, Oregon offers a generous paid leave program, which can be explored here.
The hours for this position are 40 hours per week. We take two 15-minute breaks (paid) and allow 30 minutes for lunch (unpaid) each day. Occasionally during an especially busy time, we may take on larger orders that will require employee overtime. If this is the case, I discuss the opportunities for overtime work with Fernweh employees and set an estimated duration and amount of anticipated overtime. As per the Oregon statutes regulating overtime, any overtime hours (over 40/week) are paid at a rate of time and a half. (We have rarely been so busy that overtime is a regular option, but it is a possibility.)
Employment with Fernweh Woodworking will be on an at-will basis, which means the employee and the company are free to terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason. This letter is not a contract or guarantee of employment for a definitive period of time. Having said that, we hope that you intend to maintain your employment at Fernweh for a period of at least 3 years, disregarding any unforeseen circumstances. I always hope to make this business a great place to work so that employees will want to stay for the long haul. There is also extensive opportunity for promotion / or lateral moves to different roles within the company as we grow; I encourage all our employees to be up-front and honest with me about what types of tasks/roles they are passionate about so that everyone is in the position that fits their skills the best.
Learn more: https://fernwehwoodworking.com/
