Lab Coordinator - Engineering
Penn State UniversityAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants . Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants . POSITION SPECIFICS The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks a Lab Coordinator - Engineering to coordinate the operational activities of research and instructional laboratories. This position ensures laboratory safety, readiness, efficiency, equipment availability, and compliance while providing technical and operational support to faculty, researchers, staff, and students. The position also serves as the department’s primary purchaser and purchasing initiator for teaching and research laboratory needs, including equipment, supplies, services, repairs, and related procurements. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Coordinate laboratory scheduling, preparation, setup, teardown, equipment availability, and general readiness for teaching and research activities. Support faculty, researchers, staff, and students in planning and conducting laboratory experiments, demonstrations, and testing; provide guidance on laboratory procedures, equipment capabilities, technical requirements, and appropriate supplies. Serve as the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering laboratory safety officer at ECoRE and coordinate departmental laboratory safety activities. Ensure laboratory operations, equipment, and procedures comply with Penn State policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Coordinate annual laboratory self-inspections and Penn State Environmental Health and Safety inspections; track corrective actions and maintain safety plans, records, training documentation, chemical and compressed-gas inventories, and other required documentation. Assist with the investigation and documentation of laboratory accidents, injuries, and safety concerns, and coordinate appropriate corrective actions. Promote safe laboratory practices, environmental awareness, waste reduction, and recycling. Serve as the department’s facilities representative for research and teaching laboratories, classrooms, computer laboratories, offices, administrative spaces, and designated student areas. Coordinate facility repairs, maintenance, renovations, upgrades, and other facilities-related requests; communicate with stakeholders regarding project status and completion. Additional responsibilities may include: Coordinate tours of departmental facilities for faculty candidates, prospective students and families, alumni, advisory council members, accreditation teams, contractors, architects, and other visitors as needed. Coordinate the acquisition, installation, maintenance, repair, calibration, storage, and disposition of laboratory equipment and apparatus. Develop equipment specifications, obtain information from manufacturers and vendors, troubleshoot equipment issues, and coordinate preventive maintenance, calibration, and technical services. Maintain accurate records for laboratory operations, including equipment and property inventories, supplies, maintenance and repair activities, safety training and inspections, purchasing activity, and laboratory documentation. Monitor laboratory supply inventories and coordinate replenishment to support scheduled instructional and research activities. Initiate and process purchasing tr…