West Virginia University Looking for Temporary Academic Lab Manager III – Department of Chemistry – Eberly College of Full Time

The department of Chemistry in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Temporary Academic Lab Manager III.

About the Opportunity

Under the direction and supervision of the Program Administrator Senior, the employee must organize, coordinate, and supervise the day-to-day operation of the general chemistry laboratories in the National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE) building on the Evansdale campus and assist, as requested by the supervisor, in the operational activities of the academic laboratories on the downtown campus.

What You’ll Do

Laboratory Management

• Oversee and participate in the operation of the general chemistry preparation room by preparing chemicals, solutions, and demonstration materials to be used in the general chemistry laboratories and by faculty who perform lecture demonstrations. Employee must dispense the solutions into suitable containers for laboratory use, properly label the containers for the student laboratories, and safely transport all chemicals and solutions to the laboratory rooms prior to the beginning of each laboratory session.
• Assist the faculty member in charge of coordination of laboratories with the development and testing of new experiments that are designed for use in the general chemistry laboratories.
• Be proactive and independently solve problems that are associated with specific experiments. Make recommendations for changes, as necessary, based on literature reviews. Pre-run proposed experiments to determine efficacy, check for inherent safety techniques, and determine that time will allow this experiment to be performed by undergraduate students in academic laboratories.
• Assist the general chemistry faculty with grading of unknowns, as requested.
• Be familiar with the problems of handling chemicals and exercise good practices in their storage and usage.
• Respond to requests by Teaching Assistants in laboratories (via intercom system) and immediately deliver the requisite supplies to the laboratories.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the preparation of requisite solutions in the proper concentration in units such as molarity, normality, molality, and percent.
• Maintain a working knowledge of laboratory equipment used in the undergraduate general chemistry courses such as Pasco equipment, electronic balances, pH meters, centrifuges, and digital thermometers. Oversee and participate in the process of distributing and maintaining all equipment used in the laboratories by moving or repairing equipment as needed or by contacting appropriate personnel to facilitate equipment repairs.
• Coordinate the general chemistry laboratory functions with faculty members and supervisor (via frequent meetings and interactions) to ensure that all materials and equipment are available at the appropriate times.
• Oversee the storage of chemicals in the General Chemistry Prep Room according to OSHA regulations. Many of the chemicals are toxic, flammable, corrosive, carcinogenic, and/or pyrophoric and hence must be handled with care. Knowledge of proper safety practices is essential.
• Maintain an up-to-date working inventory of chemicals and supplies that are needed for the General Chemistry Prep Room and initiate paperwork for reordering when necessary. Using Mountaineer Marketplace, prepare orders for approval by supervisor.
• Communicate with vendors to select appropriate supplies and equipment.
• Maintain good housekeeping in assigned areas. Participate in routine summer and winter overall laboratory cleaning, as requested by the supervisor.
• Stock gloves, towels, and other items, as needed, for laboratory courses.

Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal Responsibilities

• Oversee and participate in hazardous waste collection, storage, inventory, and disposal. Remove chemical waste from the general chemistry laboratories and other laboratories, as requested, in a timely manner, ensure that the hazardous waste is properly labeled according to departmental policy, and contact WVU EHS to arrange for waste collection.
• Assure that all hazardous waste collections and requests for disposal are in compliance with EHS and federal disposal rules and regulations.
• Complete the mandatory EHS hazardous waste training on an annual basis to remain in compliance with WV Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
• Complete weekly Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste container checklists (mandated by the WV DEP) and submit the documents to the Safety Director.
• Participate in research laboratory clean-outs. Ensure that all chemicals, solutions, solvents, and other
• hazardous materials are properly labeled. Arrange for all materials to be collected in a timely manner by the EHS waste specialists.

Safety and Supervisory Responsibilities

• Follow appropriate Federal, State, University, and departmental safety practices and regulations on a daily basis.
• Remain aware of acceptable safety practices and monitor the Prep Room/Stockroom areas for situations that might become hazardous.
• Properly train and supervise student workers with regard to handling, dispensing, storage, and transport of chemicals to ensure the students’ safety in the Prep Rooms and laboratory areas.
• Train, assign tasks, direct, and monitor the work of the Academic Laboratory II staff member at the NRCCE. Provide feedback to the supervisor regarding the employee’s work performance.
• Train, assign tasks, direct and monitor the work of the student workers essential to the operations of the Department of Chemistry. Make recommendations to the supervisor regarding the student workers’ performance evaluations at the end of the academic year.
• Supervise the safety responsibilities of Graduate Teaching Assistants per semester. Monitor student and GTA activities during each laboratory session. Report any problems or issues of concern to the supervisor.
• Ensure that requisite supplies are available and provided to the student workers.
• Administer first-aid to students and employees, participate in first-aid and CPR training, and remain first-aid and CPR certified.
• Perform inspections of safety showers and eyewash stations in the assigned areas according to the departmental schedule (four times per year), or as requested by the supervisor.

Chemical and Equipment Inventory Management

• Process appropriate paperwork to remove surplus equipment/instruments.
• Maintain proficiency with the computer hardware and software utilized in the inventory process. As requested by the supervisor, perform an actual physical inventory of all stocks of chemicals and equipment in departmental storerooms by reporting to the various storerooms, stockrooms, and laboratories, counting and categorizing the items, tallying the results and entering this information into the computer.

Pay Grade: 17

Length of Assignment: 5.5 Months

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related field required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Experience working with hazardous materials preferred.
• Experience following safety rules and regulations regarding chemical handling, storage, and waste disposal preferred. Supervisory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of chemical and physical principles
• Ability to pass First aid/CPR certifications within three months of employment
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques, equipment, and terminology used in chemistry, including ability to operate such equipment.
• Ability to organize an academic laboratory and to maintain good housekeeping in assigned areas.
• Ability to balance workload to meet all deadlines.
• Ability to travel between the NRCCE and downtown Chemistry labs, as needed
• Ability to work independently, as required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Mathematical skills to perform calculations.
• Ability to file and retrieve information quickly and accurately upon request.
• Ability to supervise undergraduate students.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills.
• Ability to give and receive oral and written communications and to follow work assignments.
• Ability to plan and complete both short-range and long-range projects for the supervisor.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative, productive working relationships with all departmental personnel and students.
• Ability to follow safety codes and policies established by the department, University, State and Federal government.
• Ability to function as a team player.
• Must possess good organizational skills and be able to handle numerous tasks simultaneously and efficiently to provide the department with quality, timely work products.
• Ability to use a personal computer and software that is used within the department and University.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to maintain proper unit attendance and punctuality standards.
• Ability to stoop, bend, lift, walk, reach, stand, and sit for extended periods of time.

• First aid/CPR certification or ability to be certified within three months of employment.
• The employee must have good hand/eye coordination and good visual attention for preparation of chemical solutions and maintenance of laboratory equipment. Mobility is important in this position as the employee must be capable of traversing several buildings on the Evansdale and downtown campuses in the performance of the job duties. Incumbent must be able to stoop, bend, lift, walk, reach, stand, and sit for extended periods of time. Employee must unload chemicals and equipment and transport them to their proper locations within the facility.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia’s land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley – the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you’re a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu. View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.