Lab Coordinator II, Mechanical Engineering

Job No: 502636

Work Type: Staff

Location: Newark, DE

Categories: Research & Laboratory, Full Time

Pay Grade: 30E

Context of the Job:

Under limited direction of the Mechanical Engineering Business Administrator II and the Department Chair, the Lab Coordinator II is assigned to and responsible for the departments physical plant space including research and instructional laboratories. Mechanical Engineering has a current student enrollment of 140+ graduate students and 600 undergraduate students. The Lab Coordinator II oversees and maintains laboratory and building facilities for instruction, research, and office use including assisting in the construction design, fit-out and startup of the highly-specialized, faculty research and undergraduate instructional laboratories to ensure the projects are on time and within budget; ensuring the effective maintenance, security, and operation of the physical plant and individual research and instructional laboratories in a safe and environmentally sound manner and within budget; identifying, enhancing and following specific processes and procedures to maximize the efficiencies of the research activities conducted in the laboratories; assisting faculty with coordinating and planning laboratory exercises, testing equipment, experiments, exercises, and demonstrations; providing technical guidance to faculty and research assistants concerning pre- and post-experiment preparations and processes; exercising independent judgment and discretion as well as the utilization of advanced technical and operational skills; establishing and maintaining a coordinating role between the Department and UD Facilities Maintenance & Operations and UD Facilities Project Planning & Delivery groups; serving as the liaison with the other lab coordinators in the College of Engineering; and central safety administrator for the Department requiring interactions with other campus units outside the College of Engineering to develop and maintain safe working and teaching environments.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees all aspects of laboratory operations. Develops and implements policies, procedures, and standards for lab operations to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and quality control of all laboratories and compliance with federal, State, and University policies, regulations and standards.
• Oversees maintenance, repairs, and operations of the physical plant space for the Mechanical Engineering Department.
• Liaises with all UD Facilities Maintenance & Operations and UD Facilities Project Planning & Delivery departments on specific maintenance and laboratory improvement projects, including coordination of utility installation and reviewing plans and construction progress. Coordinates activities of outside vendors and contractors during these projects.
• Manages physical space for the department, which includes desk/office assignments, lab assignments, and equipment placement and storage.
• Acts as the faculty and research student resource for day-to-day lab operations and for research experimental set ups.
• Assists faculty in developing instructional materials and laboratory instruments and hardware and providing lab instruction for graduate students.
• Provides direction to graduate students in safe and efficient laboratory practices.
• Provides design, fabrication, and maintenance assistance to faculty, staff, graduate students, and visiting scientists.
• Trains new lab members in all aspects related to proper lab techniques and safety standards and procedures.
• Participates in evaluation and selection of major new, specialized equipment and in the acceptance and review of received equipment.
• Coordinates installation and setup of research laboratory equipment, oversees initial use, and maintains equipment in safe working order. Interfaces with outside vendors and other research organizations.
• Initiates contracts with lab equipment brokers for capital recovery of surplus laboratory equipment and coordinate equipment sales with UD Procurement. Responsible for department equipment inventory.
• Serves as the Chair of the Department Safety Committee.
• As such, oversees overall laboratory safety compliance, lab orderliness, and lab cleanliness.
• Maintains liaison with UD Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to keep Mechanical Engineering research and instructional laboratories current regarding safety compliance, conducts quarterly lab safety inspections, is the safety resource for the department, purchases and stocks basic safety equipment needed on a routine basis.
• Distributes hazard alerts and maintains incident reports. Coordinates formal and informal hazard reviews of all research and instructional laboratory equipment and procedures. Plans, trains, and maintains equipment for emergency preparedness.
• Responds to and resolves laboratory safety emergencies.
• Develops and delivers general and safety orientation programs for all departmental employees, i.e., faculty, researchers, scientists, staff, and students of the facility that includes safety rules, physical plant overview, emergency evacuation instructions, etc.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in a related technical, scientific, or engineering discipline and three to four years of technical/administrative experience in laboratory operations or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in research laboratory management.
• Requires the ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments, to analyze and solve problems, to communicate effectively, (verbally, written, and electronic), and to prioritize, plan, and organize work.
• Ability to plan and implement short- and long-range goals.
• Requires demonstrated leadership skills, effective interpersonal skills, customer service skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and rapidly changing technical environment.
• Must possess knowledge of basic building operating systems, facilities maintenance, custodial principles, procedures, and standards, mechanical and electrical equipment and instruments, and digital and analog electronic systems.
• Experience with mechanical testing equipment and systems (Instron, MTS) is desirable.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems. Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize work.
• Ability to plan and implement short- and long-range goals.
• Extensive knowledge of safety practices in research labs on the industrial/academic level and the skills and familiarity with training methods for safe laboratory practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft suite of software, Matlab, LabView, or equivalent engineering software.
• Working knowledge of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) both hardware and software.
• Ability to work with data acquisition systems.