Chemistry Laboratory Support Technician

Classification:  Instructional Support Technician II - 11/12 - Non-exempt
Hours:  Full-time / 40 hours per week 
FLSA:  Non-exempt 

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range:  $4,114 to $4,401 per month
CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

This is an 11-month position with the month of July off.

Scheduling options include 11 months of work paid over a 12 month period.

Priority Screening Date:  November 20, 2023
Recruitment Status:  Extended

ABOUT CSUMB

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California's Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation's largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. 

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students' lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB's sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

The university's Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

PURPOSE:

Under the general supervision of the Dean, College of Science, with daily oversight by the Chair of the Department of Biology & Chemistry the department's instructional support team, the Chemistry Laboratory Support Technician shall provide comprehensive services in support of Chemistry and related laboratory activities for the academic programs within the department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Prepare, set up, and clean up materials, equipment, and lab classrooms in support of labs in chemistry and physics.  Proactively plan ahead to meet multiple timelines for procurement of materials and testing of upcoming lab activities.  Maintain detailed records of lab work and class preparation. Support other science lab course offerings in agricultural plant and soil science and biology as needed.
2. Maintain, clean and organize materials, chemicals, and lab spaces. Accurately and regularly update multiple inventory databases.
3. Organize and update safety information as needed for laboratory classes. Prepare and label lab materials and wastes for storage and disposal, acting in compliance with guidelines and regulations. Maintain cleanliness and safety of lab spaces.  Share safety information with faculty, and train student workers in safety aspects of all lab procedures.
4. Troubleshoot, maintain, and repair standard chemistry and related lab equipment such as GC, IR, pH meters, spectrophotometers, and other instrumentation, including computer interfaces for data collection.
5. Provide training as necessary for faculty and staff in the use of specialized instrumentation and scientific procedures, including safety aspects. Assist with tracking shared equipment.
6. Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of: the principles, techniques, and requirements of supporting university-level Chemistry Laboratory instruction; the methods, materials, and equipment integral to the discipline and curriculum.

Ability to: proactively plan, prioritize, organize and schedule activities to meet both short-term and long-term deadlines; pay attention to detail and follow verbal and written instructions; operate, adjust, trouble-shoot and perform simple maintenance of scientific instrumentation; work both independently and interdependently in a rapidly evolving setting; read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of the position; communicate verbally and in writing in a cooperative, professional, and tactful manner within a diverse team of students, faculty, support staff, and related community organizations. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Equivalent to three years of experience providing instructional Laboratory Support services for college chemistry or related discipline; or in preparing laboratory materials and performing procedures for chemistry or a related discipline in an industrial setting.

OR the equivalent to two years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment in a chemistry-related discipline may be substituted for one year of the required experience;

OR the equivalent to four years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment in a chemistry-related discipline may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS REQUIRED:

Thorough knowledge of office systems and ability to use a broad range of technology systems and packages including word processing, spreadsheet, and database. 

Ability to: adjust, trouble-shoot, and perform simple maintenance of scientific instrumentation related chemistry and other science courses; pay attention to detail and follow verbal and written instructions; work both independently and interdependently in a rapidly evolving setting; read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of the position; communicate verbally and in writing in a cooperative, professional, and tactful manner within a diverse team of students, faculty, support staff, and related community organizations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Chemistry or related discipline with upper division laboratory coursework in chemistry or closely related discipline with least two (2) years of experience as a laboratory technician where duties included direct responsibility for preparing labs for college courses in general and organic chemistry.  Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting lab instrumentation used in college-level chemistry and physics courses.  Experience preparing reagents and handling chemicals and hazardous waste safely. Experience training others in scientific procedures and use of instruments.  Extensive experience with Microsoft Professional Suite especially with Excel and Access, or equivalent programs. 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & POSITION DESIGNATIONS:

• A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with CSUMB.  Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.
• The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
• This position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to victims of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence, and stalking as required by CSU Executive Order 1095.
• This position has been designated as a sensitive position with:
  • responsibility for the care, safety and security of people (including children and minors), animals and CSU property;
  • access to controlled or hazardous substances;
  • access to and responsibility for detailed personally identifiable Level 1 confidential information about students, faculty, staff or alumni that is protected, personal or sensitive as defined in the CSU Information Security Data Classification Standards; and
  • responsibility for operating commercial vehicles, machinery or equipment that could pose environmental hazards or cause injury, illness, or death.
• This position is required to comply with confidentiality requirements outlined in the Department of Education's Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California's Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
• Work schedule may require some evenings and/or weekend work.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment with standard equipment and tasks.  The position requires working at a computer and desk for extended periods of time.  May require travel between campus offices and off-campus locations. 

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.  

BENEFITS/PERKS: 

CSUMB offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, dental and vision plans; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS); and 15 paid holidays a year. For more information, visit Employee Benefits Summary. As a perk, the University Corporation at CSU Monterey Bay provides access to affordable campus housing based on availability; visit Schoonover Employee Housing for more information.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application prior to the priority screen date found at Careers at CSUMB. Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.

CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Human Resources at (831) 582-3389 or emailing humanresources@csumb.edu. All employees must be eligible for employment in the U.S.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics, you can view the notice of availability and access the Cal State University, Monterey Bay annual security and fire safety reports at https://csumb.edu/clery/asr-and-fsr-notices-availability/.

CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.