Technical Director

Department: Geology
Campus Location: Main Campus
FLSA Status: Exempt / Salaried

About Us

At Colorado College, 2,100 students learn and live on our beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs. We attract top students seeking new perspectives with an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment. Here, students take only one class at a time to facilitate deep exploration of a topic. We call this the Block Plan. This unique approach allows members of our campus community to share a rhythm of experience as we work together to fulfill our mission.

About the role

The Technical Director is responsible for ensuring the effective operation, maintenance, and support of the Geology Department's laboratories, field equipment, instrumentation, and computing resources. This position provides technical expertise, training, and support to students and faculty while overseeing a diverse array of specialized scientific and instructional equipment, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation, and petrographic and stereo microscopes. For a full list of facilities and instruments, visit the department’s facilities page. The Technical Director works closely with faculty to support teaching, research, and field-based learning activities and reports directly to the Chair of the Geology Department. Colorado College supports ongoing professional development through workshops, conferences, manufacturer training programs, and other educational opportunities related to instrumentation, software, and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the Geology Department's laboratories, research instrumentation, field equipment, and associated facilities to support teaching, research, and field-based learning activities.
• Perform or coordinate routine maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and repair of specialized scientific instrumentation, including:
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) systems with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)
  • Benchtop and handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instruments
  • Polarized light and stereo microscopes
  • Geophysical and surveying equipment
  • Rock and mineral sample preparation equipment
• Oversee the operation and upkeep of laboratory and sample preparation facilities to ensure equipment reliability, functionality, and accessibility for faculty and students.
• Develop and implement laboratory procedures and ensure compliance with College policies and applicable safety regulations to support the safe and effective operation of geochemistry, research, and teaching laboratories.
• Manage the storage, handling, inventory, and disposal of laboratory chemicals and hazardous materials; maintain fume hoods and other safety systems; and ensure laboratory facilities, equipment, and materials remain organized, clean, and accessible.
• Promote a culture of safety and environmental stewardship by participating in safety training, reporting unsafe conditions, and implementing best practices for laboratory and field operations.
• Instruct users in the proper operation, maintenance, and application of scientific instruments, laboratory equipment, software, and field technologies.
• Support the integration of instrumentation and technology into teaching and research activities while maintaining current knowledge of emerging equipment, software, and analytical techniques through ongoing professional development and specialized training opportunities.
• Develop and maintain organized data management practices, including instrument documentation, standard operating procedures, file storage systems, and equipment records.
• Coordinate and oversee student employees and paraprofessionals responsible for the organization, maintenance, and preservation of laboratories, teaching collections, field equipment, and departmental resources.
• Collaborate with the Academic Administrative Assistant to support the maintenance and readiness of departmental vehicles.
• Coordinate with Information Technology Services to maintain department computing infrastructure and ensure systems remain current and operational.
• Purchase, install, manage, and maintain software licenses and applications used for scientific data collection, analysis, visualization, and graphics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in earth science or related field with at least one year of relevant work experience (such as in an analytical lab).
• Experience in the use and maintenance of XRF and SEM instrumentation.
• Proficiency using polarized light microscopes for PPL and XPL.
• Position requires driving College vehicles (drivers must be eligible for coverage under the College’s insurance plan).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in earth science or related field.
• Familiarity with common earth science software and MS Office package.
• Experience training others in instrumentation.
• Mechanical aptitude.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Proven ability to develop and communicate analytical or instrumental procedures.
• Willingness to learn new analytical techniques, instruments, and software.

Applicants are welcome to apply even if they do not meet the preferred qualifications. We value diverse perspectives and encourage individuals with a genuine interest in the role to submit their applications.

Pay

Anticipated hiring salary range: $58,096 to $69,715 per year.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Paid vacation and sick time:
  • Accrual of 7.34 hours of vacation per pay period (176 hours, 22 days per year).
  • 4 hours of sick time per pay period (96 hours, 12 days per year).
• Paid seasonal breaks and holidays (20 days per year).
• 403(b) retirement plans where employees contribute 5% of pay and the College contributes 10%.
• Tuition benefits for employee and eligible dependents.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Assistance Program.
• Wellness benefits.