Position Title: Laboratory Specialist

Location/Department: SPC Downtown/Midtown Natural Science Department

Hourly Compensation: $17.36 - $21.05

Weekly Hours: Full time 40hrs./wk. with benefits

Position Summary: This is the first of two levels in the Laboratory Support series. Incumbents report directly to the Laboratory Coordinator and provide logistic and technical support for teaching labs associated with the Department of Natural Science. The Laboratory Specialist works directly with all science faculty and staff to facilitate lab instruction. Duties include but are not limited to the preparation and breakdown of lab experiments, assisting in the control and inventory of lab supplies, chemicals, and equipment. The Lab Specialist would also troubleshoot and perform basic maintenance on laboratory equipment, and maintain live specimens. In addition, this position would be required to travel to other campuses in need as deemed appropriate by the lab coordinator when other Laboratory Specialists are not able to be on their home campus.

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor's in field related to area of assignment.

Experience Requirements:

Two years of hands-on experience in a laboratory environment.

* An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may be acceptable in lieu of those requirements listed above.

Typical Essential Duties (General Responsibilities):

• Communicate with staff and faculty to prioritize tasks
• Hire the Student Assistants for the Natural Science Department
• Assist with grant funded purchases
• Manage department group purchase orders
• Perform laboratory set up for lab courses
• Carefully pipet aliquots of experiment solutions, label, and store properly
• Preparation of standard solutions and buffers, and dilutions
• Preparation of bacteriological media following good aseptic techniques
• Inoculation of bacterial cultures (liquid and agar plates)
• Maintaining a safe environment including wearing PPE, proper disposal of waste
• Assists in updating of safety information with Chemical Safety Training and communicate with the safety officer
• Coordinate and assist in the management of chemical waste for storage and disposal in compliance with the College's chemical hygiene plan
• Maintaining and inventorying supplies and equipment as needed
• Maintaining a clean, orderly, and well-supplied prep room and classroom
• Safely unpack and organize stock of specialized items utilized in the department facilities
• Perform related duties as required- every day is a little different!

Knowledge:

• Laboratory equipment and materials.
• Applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Inventory principles.
• Teaching principles and practices.
• Chemical solutions and chemical waste disposal.
• Sterilization techniques.
• Computer and related software applications.

Skills:

• Setting up, troubleshooting, operating, and repairing laboratory equipment.
• Organizing and maintaining labs.
• Applying regulations, policies, procedures, and processes.
• Providing instruction.
• Using computers and related software applications.

Physical:

• Positions in this class will require reaching, standing, walking, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, fumes, odors, dust, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, and oils.

Responsibilities:

Formal review of applications will begin on March 25th.