Laboratory Manager and Chemical Safety Officer

Mary Baldwin University Pearce Science Center
Mary Baldwin University (Staunton, VA)

Position Overview

Mary Baldwin University seeks a full-time laboratory manager and chemical safety
officer for Pearce Science Center to begin immediately. This is a 12-month position. It
will provide important support to the University’s academic program in natural sciences, its faculty, and undergraduate students. The lab manager/ chemical safety officer works with administration, faculty, staff, and students as part of a team effort to ensure the efficient, safe, and economical functioning of the University’s undergraduate teaching and research labs as well as compliance with regulations for hazardous waste management across the Staunton campus.

Primary responsibilities of the position include the following:

● Lab preparation and management
Oversight of daily operation of all Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories with
potential support for psychology labs as needed, including preparation and clean-up
laboratory sections; Oversight of all laboratory spaces with particular attention to
organization and maintenance.

● Student employment supervision for Pearce Science Center
Training, supervision, record keeping, and verification of student workers; collaboration
with faculty to ensure correct and safe set up and clean-up of labs by student workers; and assignment of student workers to different departmental lab classes.

● Support for summer research
Lab preparation and management, oversight of student lab workers, ordering of
materials, technical and some clerical support for faculty and students engaged in
externally funded summer research projects.

● Equipment and material acquisition and handling
Purchasing lab materials, equipment, and chemicals utilized by science departments,
maintaining a material inventory, writing POs, utilizing a corporate credit card, reconciling payments through an online portal, and proper organization and storage of materials. Includes budget management and planning alongside department chair and business office.

● Coordination of equipment and facilities maintenance and repair
Maintaining contracts with service providers for various equipment maintenance,
monitoring lab equipment for proper function and troubleshooting issues as they arise. Seeking providers for equipment repair as needed. Maintaining a general knowledge of all lab equipment in the building, submitting work orders as needed.

● Research support
Support of faculty performing ongoing research. May include involvement in
experiments, ordering and management of grant funds, organization and setup of lab
space, and management of undergraduate student researchers, and membership on
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Senior research support: ordering
materials, accessing capstone research awards, assisting students with lab techniques and protocols, training on use of equipment.

● Chemical Safety Management
Compliance with MBU Chemical Management Plan; conducting routine lab and safety
equipment inspections; maintaining chemical storage, chemical inventory, and updated Safety Data Sheets; coordinating the disposal of hazardous waste in accordance with state and federal regulations; and maintenance of all records concerning chemical management and safety. Additional duties include working campus-wide on safety and ensuring compliance with inspection requirements.

● Potential to instruct biology lab/lecture sections on an as-needed basis
(dependent on qualifications)
Willingness and ability to teach a biology lab/lecture section should the need arise within the department. This would be on a separate contractual basis and be dependent on qualifications to meet university requirements for teaching.

Minimum Requirements

● Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or related scientific field.
● At least three years of experience in a laboratory setting.
● Demonstrated ability to successfully supervise undergraduate students.
● Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills.
● Flexibility and ability to multitask.
● Commitment to the development of undergraduates in science.

To Apply

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references to Dr. Rebecca Haberman at
rahaberman@marybaldwin.edu.