Lead Instructional Specialist - Lab

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Description

THIS POSITION IS ON THE OXFORD COLLEGE OF EMORY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, 36 MILES EAST OF ATLANTA.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Manages the lab instructional components for all courses in a designated department.
• Hires, trains and supervises a small staff.
• Advises faculty about the appropriate equipment and reagents needed for various experiments in particular courses.
• Provides laboratory instruction to students enrolled in science courses.
• Ensures the availability of teaching materials, samples, specimens and equipment.
• Develops instructional methodologies, presents complex concepts and materials and responds to students' questions.
• Writes and administers academic tests.
• Establishes laboratory safety standards in compliance with organizational and federal guidelines.
• Performs related responsibilities as required.

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS:

The Lead Instructional Specialist, Lab supports the instructional laboratory operations of the Chemistry program, working collaboratively with faculty to ensure the effective delivery of laboratory-based courses. The position provides laboratory technical expertise; coordinates laboratory preparation; supports faculty and student workers regarding laboratory procedures, instrumentation, and safety; and supports the ongoing operation of multiple Chemistry laboratory courses.
The position is responsible for ensuring the availability, preparation, and appropriate use of laboratory materials, chemical reagents, supplies, and equipment necessary for instruction. The Lead Instructional Specialist also provides technical oversight and routine maintenance of specialized scientific instrumentation, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), rotary evaporators, maintains chemical inventories; coordinates hazardous waste management; and promotes compliance with applicable University, environmental, and federal laboratory safety requirements.
In collaboration with laboratory coordinators, the position supports laboratory instruction and the continued development and implementation of effective laboratory experiments for undergraduates. The position also hires, trains, schedules, and supervises student laboratory employees and may provide training and technical guidance to faculty, students, and other laboratory users.

Essential Functions

Laboratory Course Support – 40%

• Coordinates and supports the laboratory preparation components of designated Chemistry courses, with primary support anticipated for CHEM 150L, CHEM 202L, CHEM 203L, and other laboratory courses and activities as assigned.
• Collaborates with Laboratory Coordinators in planning, preparing, and laboratory instructional activities.
• Advises faculty regarding equipment, instrumentation, chemical reagents, supplies, and other materials necessary to conduct laboratory experiments.
• Prepares, organizes, sets up, and maintains laboratory materials, samples, chemical solutions, reagents, equipment, and instructional resources required for scheduled laboratory sections.
  Provides demonstrations, technical guidance, and other instructional support to students as appropriate to assigned courses and laboratory activities.

Scientific Equipment and Instrumentation – 15%

• Oversees the operational readiness and routine maintenance of Chemistry laboratory equipment and specialized scientific instrumentation.
• Performs routine maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, and operational checks on instruments including NMR, IR, rotary evaporators, and other current or future chemistry instrumentation.
• Coordinates with manufacturers, vendors, and University partners when specialized repairs, maintenance, or technical support are required.
• Develops and maintains appropriate procedures and documentation related to instrument operation and maintenance.
• Trains and provides technical guidance to faculty, students, student researchers, and other authorized users in the safe and appropriate operation of Chemistry instrumentation.
• Monitors equipment condition and recommends repair, replacement, or acquisition of equipment necessary to support instructional and research activities.

Laboratory Safety, Chemical Management, and Regulatory Compliance – 20%

• Serves as a primary resource for Chemistry laboratory safety practices and training.
• Establishes, implements, and maintains laboratory safety procedures and standards consistent with University requirements and applicable environmental and federal guidelines.
• Provides or coordinates laboratory safety training for students, student employees, faculty, and other laboratory users as appropriate.
• Maintains required chemical inventories, including chemical reagents and solvents, in accordance with Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) requirements.
• Monitors chemical storage, labeling, handling, and laboratory safety practices and works with faculty and University partners to address identified concerns.
• Coordinates the collection, storage, documentation, and disposal of chemical and hazardous laboratory waste.
• Serves as a departmental liaison between Oxford Lab Coordinators and research chemists and EHSO and other University offices regarding laboratory safety, chemical inventory, hazardous waste, and related compliance matters.
• Maintains applicable laboratory safety, chemical inventory, equipment, and compliance records for teaching labs.

Laboratory Operations, Purchasing, and Inventory – 10%

• Coordinates the purchasing, receipt, organization, and maintenance of chemicals, laboratory supplies, instructional materials, and equipment required for Chemistry laboratory operations.
• Maintains appropriate inventory levels to ensure materials are available for scheduled laboratory instruction.
• Anticipates instructional laboratory needs based on course schedules, enrollment, planned experiments, and faculty requirements.
• Works with faculty and Laboratory Coordinators to identify equipment and supply needs and assists with planning for replacement or acquisition of laboratory resources.
• Maintains organized laboratory preparation and storage areas and supports effective utilization of shared Chemistry laboratory resources.
• Develops and maintains operational procedures and documentation that promote consistency and continuity in laboratory preparation and support.

Student Employee Supervision and Laboratory Staffing – 10%

• Hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates student employees supporting Chemistry laboratory operations.
• Coordinates student hiring and employment processes with the appropriate University Student Employment office.
• Collaborating with lab coordinators establishes student employee work assignments and schedules based on laboratory preparation and instructional needs.
• Reviews and manages student employee timekeeping and ensures timely completion of required employment processes.
• Provides ongoing direction, training, and feedback to student employees and ensures that student workers follow established laboratory safety and operating procedures

Departmental Coordination and Other Responsibilities – 5%

• Collaborates regularly with Chemistry faculty, Laboratory Coordinators, and department leadership regarding laboratory scheduling, instructional needs, equipment, supplies, safety, and operational priorities.
• Identifies opportunities to improve laboratory preparation, equipment utilization, safety practices, and operational efficiency.
• Supports departmental efforts to expand laboratory instructional capacity and provide consistent, high-quality laboratory experiences for students.
• Maintains current knowledge of laboratory practices, scientific instrumentation, safety requirements, and relevant University procedures.
• Performs related responsibilities as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree in the biological or physical sciences or a related field.
• Three years of research or instructional experience in a science laboratory.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Master's degree in chemistry or a closely related field.
• Experience supporting undergraduate Chemistry laboratory instruction.
• Experience preparing chemical reagents, solutions, and materials for instructional laboratories.
• Experience operating, maintaining, or troubleshooting scientific instrumentation, particularly NMR, IR, or comparable analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with chemical inventory management, hazardous materials handling, and laboratory waste management.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and applicable environmental, institutional, and federal requirements.
• Experience training or supervising students or laboratory personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty and students in an academic laboratory environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of chemistry laboratory practices, techniques, instrumentation, and safety procedures.
• Ability to prepare and support multiple laboratory courses and sections with competing instructional schedules and requirements.
• Ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot specialized scientific instrumentation.
• Knowledge of chemical handling, storage, inventory, and hazardous waste practices.
• Ability to provide effective demonstrations, technical training to students, and laboratory users.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to anticipate instructional laboratory preparation needs and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in resolving laboratory operational, technical, safety, and equipment issues.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with faculty, students, staff, vendors, and University partners.
• Ability to supervise, train, schedule, and provide direction to student employees.
• Ability to lift objects up to 40 lbs.

NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location.  Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

Additional Details

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).

Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at [email protected] or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.