Lab Technician - Chemistry

The College was established by referendum in 1965 and opened September 1967. It is named for Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement in the United States and the first president of the University of Chicago. Harper College is now one of the nation’s premier community colleges and one of the largest, serving approximately 29,000 students annually in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. The College’s academic programs prepare students for rewarding careers and for transfer to four-year universities. Harper offers associate degree and certification programs, advanced career programs, workforce training, professional development, continuing education classes, accelerated degree options for adults and developmental education programs.

Requirements

• We are committed to fair and equitable compensation for all employees. In compliance with Illinois state law, we prioritize transparency in salary information. Our salary ranges reflect our dedication to attracting and retaining top talent while ensuring equitable pay practices. We encourage open discussions about compensation and invite you to reach out with any questions you may have regarding salary details. Harper College typically offers compensation up to the median market rate for this position. We aim to ensure our pay is competitive while aligning with both the role's requirements and the candidate's experience.
• To review all benefit information visit us at: https://www.harpercollege.edu/about/directory/hr/index.php

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry with an emphasis on laboratory skills and instrumentation or a Bachelor’s degree in a science discipline with at least 24 hours in chemistry.
• Experience: At least one year of chemistry laboratory experience including operation and maintenance of common laboratory instrumentation. Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software required. Knowledge of chemistry laboratory safety preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, prepares, and inventories supplies, and equipment required for laboratory courses and ensures supplies and equipment are accurately prepared, readily available, and set up as required.
• Provides technical laboratory and safety support to faculty for laboratory exercises.
• Makes sure laboratory needs are met by collaborating with course instructors to monitor any changes to laboratory protocols.
• Takes corrective action in case of problems with laboratory experiments, equipment, instrumentation.
• Maintains inventory and identifies needs of all department supplies, equipment, instrumentation, and laptop computers.
• Maintains laboratories, stockrooms, preparation rooms, storage rooms, and instrumentation rooms in an orderly and neat condition by cleaning and storing supplies and equipment.
• Coordinates care and performs routine maintenance including calibration, repair and/or construction of all department laboratory equipment and instruments.
• Maintains facilities and utilities such as de-ionized water, plumbing, compressed air, natural gas, electricity, and ventilation.
• Communicates all facilities, utilities, and custodial issues through proper channels and to all appropriate parties.
• Responds to unexpected situations and contacts the appropriate personnel.
• Meets regularly with the department chair and laboratory coordinator to collaboratively discuss workflow, troubleshoot issues, and assess department laboratory needs.
• Aids chemical hygiene officer and/or laboratory coordinator in monitoring health, safety and storage issues with respect to: lab instruction, evaluating hazards, assessing risks in procedures and supplies used in laboratory experiments.
• Collects and disposes of laboratory waste according to OSHA safety standards.
• Aids in maintaining a file of Safety Data Sheets and other appropriate safety documentation.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Works indoors with hazardous chemicals.
• Work involves moving throughout the laboratories in an area with an outside perimeter of nearly an eighth of a mile and occasionally climbing ladders.
• Work may also involve lifting of containers up to 30 lbs. and moving compressed gas cylinders.

Equipment/Tools Used

• Utilizes technical laboratory equipment and computers in order to perform the duties of the job.