DEPARTMENT: National Training Team
POSITION TITLE: Instructional Assistant, Data Center
REPORTS TO: Director, Tech Instruction, ITS/EUDS
DURATION: Contract (up to 3 months)
COMPENSATION: $21/hour
LOCATION: Fayettevile, GA

#LI-Onsite

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Per Scholas seeks a detail-oriented, learner-centered, and technically curious individual to serve as an Instructional Assistant for our IT Support and Data Center Technician program.

The Instructional Assistant will support a hands-on training program that prepares entry-level adult learners for roles in IT support, help desk, desktop support, user device support, data center operations, and data center technician support. This role is designed for someone who can assist the Lead Instructor with classroom facilitation, technical labs, learner coaching, assessment support, equipment readiness, attendance tracking, and certification preparation.

The ideal candidate is patient, organized, safety-minded, and comfortable helping learners build confidence with end-user devices, computer hardware, operating systems, networking concepts, ticketing systems, enterprise equipment, data center infrastructure, and AI-enabled learning tools. The IA should be able to support Per Scholas’ workplace simulation approach by helping learners connect classroom practice to real IT support and data center expectations.

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

Classroom and Lab Support

• Assist the Lead Instructor in delivering technical training for UCI 1032.3: IT Support and Data Center Technician.
• Support hands-on labs related to computer hardware, laptops, desktops, mobile devices, printers, operating systems, networking, troubleshooting, user support, data center infrastructure, server hardware, and virtualization.
• Help learners practice core CompTIA A+ skills, including identifying components, disassembling and reassembling devices, installing and configuring hardware, troubleshooting common failures, and applying structured diagnostic methods.
• Support labs involving Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, including installation, configuration, updates, drivers, file systems, command-line tools, performance utilities, and troubleshooting workflows.
• Assist learners with mobile device, laptop, printer, and peripheral setup and troubleshooting.
• Support networking labs involving IP addressing, wired and wireless connectivity, switches, routers, patching, basic cabling, ping/traceroute, DNS, DHCP, VLAN awareness, and connectivity troubleshooting.
• Support ticketing and ITSM-style activities, including ticket intake, troubleshooting notes, escalation, SLA awareness, customer communication, and ticket closure documentation.
• Assist with data center labs involving rack and stack concepts, server components, FRUs, storage devices, RAID concepts, cable management, power and cooling awareness, physical security, data-bearing device handling, and remote management concepts.
• Reinforce OSHA, NFPA 70E, and general safety expectations during IT lab and data center-adjacent activities.
• Help learners use AI tools responsibly to support troubleshooting practice, log review, ticket writing, study planning, technical explanations, and documentation while reinforcing verification and human judgment.
• Support class sizes as determined by the program model and maintain a safe, organized, inclusive, and professional learning environment.

Managing Learner Performance

• Provide learners with ongoing feedback during labs, practice activities, troubleshooting exercises, and study sessions.
• Identify learners who need additional support with hardware, operating systems, networking, ticketing, documentation, safety, professionalism, or certification readiness.
• Support individualized study plans and small-group review sessions under the direction of the Lead Instructor.
• Monitor learner participation, attendance, lab completion, professionalism, safety behavior, and technical progress.
• Help learners connect technical performance to workplace expectations, including customer service, documentation quality, punctuality, teamwork, escalation, troubleshooting discipline, and accountability.
• Participate in learner progress meetings with the Lead Instructor and support teams as needed.
• Support learner preparation for CompTIA A+, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, NFPA 70E Electrical Safety, and other assigned course badges or learning activities.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO US

Instructional Skill Sets

• Graduate of a Per Scholas training program preferred.
• Experience supporting learners, trainees, help desk staff, desktop support technicians, data center technicians, or technical teams preferred.
• Ability to coach or support adult learners in a highly interactive, hands-on training environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical steps clearly and patiently.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow documented processes.
• Team-oriented work style and willingness to collaborate with the Lead Instructor, Professional Development, Learner Support, Business Solutions, Technology, Operations, and Product teams.
• Comfort using Canvas, Salesforce, Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, AI-enabled tools, and other platforms used to support instruction and learner performance.
• Flexibility to adapt to changes in lab pacing, learner needs, equipment availability, and instructional priorities.

Course-Aligned Technical Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of IT support, help desk operations, desktop support, data center support, or a closely related technical field preferred.
• Familiarity with CompTIA A+ concepts, including hardware, operating systems, networking, mobile devices, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
• Ability to support learners with desktop, laptop, printer, mobile device, peripheral, and end-user device troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, including installation, configuration, updates, basic command-line tools, and troubleshooting.
• Basic understanding of networking concepts, including IP addressing, DNS, DHCP, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, switches, routers, ports, cabling, and common connectivity tools.
• Familiarity with help desk ticketing systems, ITSM workflows, customer service expectations, escalation practices, and service level agreements.
• Basic understanding of cybersecurity practices, including password management, endpoint protection, malware prevention, encryption awareness, backups, and user security behaviors.
• Familiarity with data center infrastructure, including racks, servers, network equipment, power, cooling, cabling, physical security, access control, and operational procedures.
• Ability to support learners with server hardware recognition, FRU identification, storage devices, RAID concepts, cable management, and remote management concepts.
• Basic understanding of virtualization and cloud concepts, including virtual machines, hypervisors, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and common cloud platforms.
• Ability to model safe use of lab tools and equipment, including ESD safety, basic hand tools, cable handling, server/device handling, PPE expectations, and workspace housekeeping.
• Willingness to complete or support course-aligned training related to CompTIA A+, OSHA 10, NFPA 70E, ITSM, ServiceNow, AI tools, data center operations, and related technologies.

Preferred Skill Sets

• CompTIA A+ certification or active preparation toward A+.
• CompTIA Network+, Cisco, ITIL, ServiceNow, or comparable entry-level IT credential.
• Experience in help desk, desktop support, IT support, device repair, data center support, or technical customer service.
• Experience troubleshooting desktops, laptops, printers, mobile devices, operating systems, software, and basic network issues.
• Experience using an SLA-based ticketing system, ServiceNow, remote support tool, or ITSM platform.
• Familiarity with Windows Server, Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, Group Policy, or enterprise support tools.
• Familiarity with structured cabling, patch panels, racks, switches, and basic cable testing.
• Familiarity with server hardware, rack assembly, storage devices, RAID, remote management tools, and data center hardware workflows.
• Experience supporting hands-on labs, study groups, technical bootcamps, workforce development programs, or adult learners.
• Experience using AI tools to support documentation, troubleshooting, practice questions, lesson review, or learner coaching.

Professional Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent practical, technical, instructional, military, apprenticeship, or industry experience.
• Strong technical aptitude with tools such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Excel/Sheets, Slides/PowerPoint, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom, Canvas LMS, and related platforms.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with detailed follow-through.
• Excellent written communication, presentation, coaching, and customer service skills.
• Solid understanding of employer expectations for IT support, help desk, desktop support, and data center technician roles.
• Strong evaluation and data management skills, including learner progress tracking, assessment review, certification readiness monitoring, and performance documentation.
• Ability to collaborate with internal teams, including curriculum, learner support, professional development, business solutions, operations, and technology support.
• Passion for technology, workforce development, and supporting learners entering the IT field.

Personal Characteristics

• You are patient, approachable, and able to build learner confidence.
• You are detail-oriented and understand the importance of accurate troubleshooting, documentation, and lab setup.
• You are safety-minded and model responsible equipment handling.
• You communicate clearly and professionally with learners, instructors, and staff.
• You are comfortable giving learners feedback during hands-on practice.
• You are organized and able to maintain a clean, safe, and well-prepared lab environment.
• You are flexible and able to support a fast-paced, hands-on training environment.
• You are tech-savvy and can learn new tools quickly.
• You are a lifelong learner who is willing to grow technical and instructional support skills.
• You stand behind the Per Scholas mission, believing that individuals from any community should have access to well-paying career opportunities and that talent should be recognized and developed from diverse sources.