Laboratory Technician (Part-time)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt | Salary Schedule: 60, Grade: 26 | Bargaining Unit: CSEA | Months Per Year: 10 | Hours Per Week: 18 | Mandated Reporter: Yes

About the Role

This is technical work involved in organizing, coordinating, and maintaining supplies, equipment, and instructional support services for a college chemistry laboratory. Under direct supervision, the employee uses subject-matter knowledge to set up laboratory experiments, prepare and organize solutions and materials, demonstrate safe use of biologicals and chemicals, store and dispose of supplies, and assist faculty in maintaining laboratory operations.

Public contact is extensive, primarily involving faculty and students for the purpose of providing safety and procedural information concerning laboratory operations. A moderate degree of independent judgment and creativity is required to apply safety policies and resolve frequent minor and occasional major problems. Consequences of errors in judgment could impact student and employee safety, employee time, and financial resources. The Laboratory Technician may lead the work of student assistants as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Sets up laboratory equipment for various courses
• Maintains laboratory environment in a safe, clean, and orderly condition
• Sets up and puts away equipment for instructors and students
• Creates and maintains an inventory of lab supplies using a computer database and restocks supplies as needed
• Recommends and assists faculty in the purchase of new equipment; researches vendors, pricing, delivery timelines, and selects vendors as appropriate; orders new equipment, supplies, and materials
• Provides support and maintenance of area-specific equipment, supplies, and related materials
• Makes minor repairs to equipment
• Maintains an orderly environment
• Inventories, monitors, and maintains a list of instructional media used in the lab
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of an Associate degree in Chemistry or related discipline
• Experience in laboratory techniques specific to the discipline/course syllabus
• Demonstrates developing knowledge of applicable regulatory and other safety policies and procedures
• Experience in laboratory operations, including research and implementation of state-of-the-art equipment, supplies, and materials
• Experience with the organization and maintenance of online and manual records and reports
• Experience with computer data entry, modification, and retrieval, and use of a variety of software to produce routine reports and written materials
• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff

Skills

• Technical laboratory operational procedures, protocols, equipment, materials, and supplies related to chemistry
• Biological and chemical hygiene safety and control measures
• Preparation of laboratory experiments in a teaching environment
• Oral communication, including giving clear and concise instructions
• Organizing, sorting, categorizing, and accurately retrieving a variety of materials, supplies, and equipment
• Working accurately and safely under deadline pressure
• Scheduling, coordinating, and performing specialized and technical duties to assure efficient laboratory operations
• Following detailed oral and written instructions
• Using spreadsheets and a variety of other computer software to track, format, and report data
• Communicating respectfully and sensitively with people from diverse backgrounds
• Detailed electronic and manual record keeping
• Working effectively as part of a team

Physical Requirements

• Visual comparison and acuity
• Manual dexterity
• Data analysis and comparison
• Oral communication to small and large groups
• Attention to detail
• Bending, stooping, pulling, pushing, reaching overhead, moving objects of moderate weight, kneeling
• Handling live animals
• Exposure to chemicals, fur, dust, odors, and fumes
• Active listening
• Directive communication
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Tact and good memory

Benefits

• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• Optional tax-deferred flexible benefit 403(b) and 457 plans
• Eligible employees may participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California