Laboratory Technician, Horticulture

evaluation and improvement of all services. We believe in a high-quality education focused on learning and an inclusive, culturally-relevant environment that meets the diverse needs of all our students and staff.

Equity is parity in student educational outcomes; it places belonging for students of color and disproportionately impacted students at center focus. Our prized and emerging equity efforts include Puente, Umoja, ConnectUp, Brother 2 Brother, Sister 2 Sister, Black Student Union, Presidential Task Force on Systemic and Institutionalized Racism, the Presidential Speaker Series, Black Education Association, UndocuAlly Taskforce, curriculum reviews and a linguistic justice curriculum.

Located in Livermore, Las Positas College is becoming an institution that reflects the diversity in California. We are a learning-centered institution focused on excellence and student success, and are fully committed to supporting all Tri-Valley residents in their quest for education and advancement.

Joining Our College Community
We seek equity-minded applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to an educational community. We look for applicants who:

• Value and intentionally promote diversity and consciousness of difference
• Demonstrate cultural humility and an ongoing desire to improve cultural competence
• Are dedicated to addressing issues of social justice
• Accept their shared role and responsibility in addressing opportunity and achievement gaps experienced by students
• Have experience and success in closing student equity gaps and engaging in equitable practices, or are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about implementing practices that achieve these goals
• Actively seek to identify, disrupt, and remove institutional and/or systemic barriers that adversely impact historically marginalized communities
• Empower the underrepresented and underserved
• Foster students potential to become global citizens and socially responsible leaders
• Believe that all people have the right to an education and work environment free from fear, harassment, or discrimination.

The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District is seeking a Laboratory Technician, Horticulture for Las Positas College in Livermore, California.

Under general supervision, provide difficult instructional support assistance at the paraprofessional level to students and faculty to ensure effective and efficient teaching/learning in the area of assignment; assist in the preparation of materials and demonstrations for an assigned instructional area; operate and demonstrate use of specialized equipment, supplies, and materials; provide assistance to students within the assigned subject area; ensure that instructional laboratory facilities, instruments, and equipment are effectively, efficiently, and safely maintained; and may provide lead direction to student assistants.

Positions in the Laboratory Technician Class may be assigned a variety of assignments from those duties listed within the REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES section or a combination of those and other related work functions. Even though the same general level of difficulty and responsibility is found within each position, positions assigned to different disciplines are not interchangeable and each position has its own particular qualification requirements even though they are derived from a general minimum qualifications section. Each position is a separate and distinct classification as defined in Section 88001 of the Education Code of the State of California.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Laboratory Technician is the journey level technical support position with responsibility for providing assistance to students and faculty within any of the labs in the District. Positions in the Laboratory Technician class are distinguished from the Laboratory Coordinator and Senior Laboratory Technician by the level of responsibility assumed. In comparison to the Laboratory Coordinator, positions at this level do not coordinate multiple and diverse labs and do not oversee the activities/assignments of other Laboratory Technicians. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. In comparison to the Senior Lab Technician, positions in this class have limited involvement in budget activities and ordering of supplies and equipment, and do not provide lead supervision over other Laboratory Technicians.

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Assist instructors in developing instructional materials within the assigned subject matter; prepare study sheets, visual instructional aides, sample exercises and exams, and laboratory experiments; may assist in maintaining related records.
2. Prepare for laboratory demonstrations; set up and assist students in the use of a variety of laboratory tools, equipment and instruments; ensure student compliance with laboratory policies, procedures and safety precautions; demonstrate proper care and cleaning procedures for laboratory tools and equipment.
3. Provide assistance to students on a variety of laboratory and course related matters; review student work in progress and assist in resolving problems.
4. Maintain a clean and safe learning environment; clean floors, table tops, desks and furniture; perform routine and minor repairs on laboratory equipment; maintain, clean and test assigned equipment; ensure safety of laboratory and stocks; perform security inspection.
5. Maintain and perform routine maintenance and lubrication of equipment as necessary and ensure all power equipment supporting the living organisms is operable.
6. Maintain proper storage of hazardous waste; monitor and dispose of chemicals and chemical waste; maintain and file appropriate material safety data sheets.
7. Care for living plants, animals and cultures as assigned; follow procedures for the care of living organisms including procedures for handling contamination, disease, or pests.
8. Prepares displays on bulletin boards.
9. Participate in the ordering and maintenance of supplies, materials and equipment; store, discard and rotate materials according to standard procedures; receive, assemble and test new equipment.
10. Respond to inquiries and requests for information; answer phones; relay messages for faculty and staff.
11. May assist in the design and implementation of new laboratory equipment.
12. Train and provide work direction to student workers as assigned.
13. Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Education and Experience

Any combination of the following would provide a typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities.

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by two years of college level course work in the assigned instructional field.

Experience:
Two years of increasingly responsible experience working with materials and equipment in assigned instructional field.

Minimum Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

1. Operational characteristics of laboratory apparatus, equipment and materials pertaining to assigned laboratory and subject area.
2. Theories and applications of the assigned subject matter.
3. Principles and practices of laboratory operations.
4. Proper methods of storing equipment, materials and supplies used within the assigned laboratory.
5. Standard federal and state laws that affect safety and health with particular reference to the assigned laboratory activities.
6. Emergency first aid procedures.
7. Operation, maintenance, repair, and calibration of technical equipment.
8. Principles and methods of preventive maintenance.
9. Methods, materials, practices and tools of equipment repair.
10. Principles and procedures of record keeping and filing.
11. Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
12. Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
13. Basic inventory and purchasing processes and procedures.

Ability to:

1. Assist in the preparation of instructional materials and demonstrations for an assigned subject area.
2. Correctly and efficiently set up laboratory equipment and materials used in exercises and experiments.
3. Operate and demonstrate the proper use of specialized equipment, tools, supplies and materials.
4. Provide assistance to students on matters related to assigned laboratories.
5. Apply the techniques of precise measurement and notation.
6. Perform mathematical calculations and take measurements with accuracy and precision.
7. Safely store, label, re-stock, and dispose of chemicals and hazardous waste according to established procedures.
8. Analyze laboratory procedures and make constructive suggestions for improvement.
9. Safely and effectively maintain and repair a variety of equipment related to assigned subject matter.
10. Operate, understand the mechanical function of and perform routine maintenance and repairs on laboratory equipment within assigned area.
11. Maintain the cleanliness of assigned laboratory.
12. Interpret and apply department policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
13. Ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
14. Maintain an adequate inventory of materials for instructional programs.
15. Perform routine record keeping and report writing duties
16. Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
17. Supervise student assistants.
18. Work independently and collaboratively.
19. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
20. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
21. Work with and exhibit sensitivity to and understanding of the varied racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, academic, socio-economic, and disabled populations of community college students.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Knowledge of horticultural practices for ornamental and/or crop plant species.
2. Experience with greenhouse, shade house, nursery, or landscape maintenance operations, including routine plant care and facility upkeep.
3. Familiarity with irrigation systems and the safe operation and maintenance of horticultural hand and power tools.
4. Ability to support instructional activities through the preparation of materials, equipment, and horticultural learning environments.

Job Work Schedule

20 hours/week, Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., hours may vary depending on department needs, occasional evening and Friday and weekends required as needed, 12 months/year.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:
Work is performed primarily in a laboratory setting; exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, solvents, noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, noxious odors, and gases; work in or with water.

Physical:
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a laboratory setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate laboratory and office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to verbally communicate to exchange information; may require the wearing of safety glasses or goggles and rubber or plastic gloves.

EEO Statement

It is the policy of this District to provide equal opportunity in all areas of employment practices and to assure that there shall be no discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, ancestry, age, marital status, race, religious creed, mental disability, medical condition (including HIV and AIDS), color, national origin, physical disability, family or sexual preference status and other similar factors in compliance with Title IX, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, other federal and state non-discrimination regulations, and its own statements of philosophy of objectives. The District encourages the filing of applications by both sexes, ethnic minorities, and the disabled.

Posting Number
AS858P

Open Date
10/15/2026

Close Date
11/05/2026

Open Until Filled
No

Special Instructions to Applicants

The Board of Trustees has updated Board Policy 7330 to incorporate information on COVID vaccination requirements, which are currently suspended. Accordingly, employee(s) must comply with the Board Policy found at: http://districtazure.clpccd.org/policies/files/docs/BP7330.pdf.

Notification to Applicants

The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District reserves the right to close or not fill any advertised position

Instructions for Personal Qualifications Statement

The purpose of the personal qualifications statement is for you to provide information on how your education and experience relate to the requirements and duties of the position. There is no form to complete. Applicants are requested to provide their personal qualifications statement by uploading a document, the same way as you do for your cover letter.