What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Lab Operations & Workforce Development position at University of New Hampshire?
The Assistant Director, Lab Operations & Training leads laboratory operations, directs the Workforce Development Training Program, and provides scientific support to companies and partners utilizing the UNH Biotechnology Innovation Center (BIC) and BioLoft Incubator. Reporting to the Executive Director of the BIC, this position ensures safe, compliant, and innovation-ready laboratory environments while advancing UNH’s leadership in regional workforce development for the biofabrication and life sciences industries.
This Role Integrates
Workforce Development Training Program Leadership (40%)
Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)
The University of New Hampshire is committed to providing a safe environment for all persons, including but not limited to children, and to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect and crimes against children. All UNH youth program staff shall be subject to a criminal background check as required by NH State Law. Staff and volunteers will also be required to complete periodic child safety training.
The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.
EEO Statement
The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.
Compensation Pay Range
$76,550.00 - $137,120.00
The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources
Location:
Manchester
This Role Integrates
- Ownership of the Workforce Development Training Program, including curriculum design, delivery, partnerships, and revenue generation.
- Leadership of laboratory operations, ensuring safe and efficient functioning of BIC research, instructional, and incubator laboratories.
- Scientific and technical support for start-ups, industry partners, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
- Academic program support, including experiential learning, internships, capstones, and student engagement activities (but not teaching coursework).
Workforce Development Training Program Leadership (40%)
- Provide full strategic and operational leadership of the Workforce Development Training Program.
- Generate revenue through paid courses, workshops, microcredentials, contract training, and cost-recovery models.
- Develop curriculum, assessments, hybrid/online training modules, and hands-on workforce-aligned laboratory content.
- Lead partnerships with ARMI/BioFabUSA, INBRE, CCSNH, regional industry partners, and the ReGen Valley Common Campus.
- Identify and pursue grant funding and externally supported training initiatives.
- Create and manage onboarding, safety certification, and competency systems for all BIC laboratory users.
- Deliver and coordinate workshops, specialized training sessions, and workforce-focused laboratory instruction.
- Supervision of training staff.
- Lead operations of all BIC laboratories, including research, instructional, and BioLoft incubator labs.
- Develop and maintain SOPs, safety protocols, emergency procedures, and quality systems.
- Ensure full EH&S compliance regarding hazardous chemicals, biological materials, and laboratory safety.
- Maintain chemical, biological, and cold storage inventories and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Respond to critical laboratory incidents, including after-hours events and facility alarms.
- Coordinate laboratory maintenance, repairs, inspections, and infrastructure support.
- Oversee procurement, vendor relationships, and equipment acquisition.
- Provide scientific support to BioLoft companies including troubleshooting, experimental support, and onboarding.
- Temporary technical assistance, troubleshooting, or safety support during staff absences or peak activity.
- Consultation on laboratory practices, experimental setup, or equipment operation.
- Supporting shared equipment or resource usage between CPS and BIC when appropriate.
- Maintaining continuity of essential lab functions during short-term staffing gaps.
- Coordinate and support biotechnology-related undergraduate and graduate experiential learning, including internships, co-ops, and project-based partnerships with industry.
- Support capstone projects requiring laboratory access, technical guidance, or collaboration with incubator companies.
- Assist faculty and program leads with aligning experiential learning activities to industry workforce needs.
- Facilitate placements of students into BIC, BioLoft, and partner organizations for hands-on applied learning.
- Participate in student recruitment, mentoring, career exploration events, and related programmatic initiatives.
- Acceptable Minimum Level of Education
- Master’s degree in a biosciences field, or proof that the candidate is enrolled in a Master’s degree program and will obtain the degree within one year of hire.
- Acceptable Minimum Years of Experience
- 4–6 years in laboratory operations, bioscience workforce training, industry R&D, higher education, or biomanufacturing settings.
- Demonstrated excellence in laboratory training and curriculum development.
- Experience in high-complexity laboratory environments.
- Demonstrated ability to build industry and educational partnerships.
- Experience managing budgets, procurement processes, and laboratory operations.
- Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Ability to respond to urgent laboratory needs outside normal business hours.
- Experience contributing to or securing grant funding.
- Experience with bioprocessing, cell culture, microbiology, or advanced scientific instrumentation.
- Experience supporting start-ups or incubator environments.
- Demonstrated adaptability, initiative, and collaborative leadership.
Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter
- Contact Information for 3 Professional References
The University of New Hampshire is committed to providing a safe environment for all persons, including but not limited to children, and to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect and crimes against children. All UNH youth program staff shall be subject to a criminal background check as required by NH State Law. Staff and volunteers will also be required to complete periodic child safety training.
The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.
EEO Statement
The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.
Compensation Pay Range
$76,550.00 - $137,120.00
The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources
Location:
Manchester
Salary : $76,550 - $137,120