Instructional Support Specialist

California State University, Fresno•Fresno, CA

21h•$5,044 - $7,348•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Jordan College Dean, the specialist position has two sets of primary duties, as well as ancillary duties. First, as an Embedded Safety Professional, with the goals of easing the administrative burden placed on faculty researchers, and harmonizing research facility management in the Jordan College, the individual in this position works with personnel in JCAST research facilities toward the identification, creation and implementation of the necessary policies and procedures from the standpoint of OSHA regulatory compliance, equipment management, equipment training, chemical storage, risk management and researcher onboarding. The facilities supported by this set of duties include the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC), Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC), the Graduate Laboratory and the Food and Agriculture Research Center (FAR). This position is housed in JARC and works with technicians and other staff at said facilities. The second set of this position’s primary duties is to be the primary agent of JARC and manage the facility’s daily use by Fresno State personnel, including researchers in JCAST, Lyles College of Engineering, College of Science and Mathematics, as well as third party entities. Specifically, these duties include directly overseeing and implementing policies and procedures in JARC, directly overseeing the onboarding process of researchers, leading tours of the building for visitors, managing hundreds of pieces of equipment in the equipment management system while assuming custodianship of most of them, and advising the JCAST dean on matters related to space allocation. The ancillary duties of this position include providing comprehensive instructional support services for laboratory sections of undergraduate courses in the departments of Industrial Technology, Plant Science, Animal Science, Food Science and Nutrition and Viticulture and Enology, and for the inter-departmental, graduate Lab Techniques course, as well as facilitating research in the Graduate Laboratory. These duties are generally activated when the primary instructional support technicians responsible for these duties are unavailable or need support. The specialist is expected to serve as a liaison between external stakeholders and principal investigators and technicians wishing to perform joint research in JARC.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree.
Equivalent to 4 years of experience in the field of health and safety.
5 years of experience in laboratory management or 10 years of lab-based research experience.
Knowledge of applicable codes, including but not limited to: California Code of Regulations, Federal Code of Regulations, California Building Code, California Fire Code, NIH Guidelines for genetically modified organisms, and biohazard use authorization, CDC guidelines on Biosafety in Biomedical Laboratories, among others.
Knowledge of theories, principles, and methods in the field of health and safety.
Knowledge of agricultural research practices, techniques and protocols related to laboratory research, particularly in a university setting.
Ability to proactively create, and subsequently adjust, policies and procedures.
Ability to exercise substantial judgment and consult with stakeholders when situations arise that are not clearly addressed in the existing policies and procedures.
Ability to build and maintain complex relationships within a multi-organizational structure that introduces a new model for laboratory use to this campus.
Ability to influence and communicate with high level and diverse contacts inside and outside of the CSU system.
Ability to consider and evaluate the impacts of recommended changes on implemented policies.
Ability to develop a network of resources on and off campus related to the field.
Ability to develop performance indicators to measure program effectiveness.
Ability to repair laboratory equipment, train others to repair laboratory equipment, and liaise with external repair contractors.
Ability to persuade PIs, management and other stakeholders of the value of complying with the program.

Nice To Haves

Certified Safety Professional.
Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician.

Responsibilities

Identify, create, and implement necessary policies and procedures for OSHA regulatory compliance, equipment management, equipment training, chemical storage, risk management, and researcher onboarding in JCAST research facilities.
Manage the daily use of the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC) by Fresno State personnel, researchers from various colleges, and third-party entities.
Oversee and implement policies and procedures within JARC.
Oversee the onboarding process of researchers.
Lead tours of the JARC building for visitors.
Manage hundreds of pieces of equipment in the equipment management system and assume custodianship of most of them.
Advise the JCAST dean on matters related to space allocation.
Provide comprehensive instructional support services for laboratory sections of undergraduate courses in Industrial Technology, Plant Science, Animal Science, Food Science and Nutrition, and Viticulture and Enology.
Provide instructional support for the inter-departmental, graduate Lab Techniques course.
Facilitate research in the Graduate Laboratory when primary instructional support technicians are unavailable or need support.
Serve as a liaison between external stakeholders and principal investigators and technicians wishing to perform joint research in JARC.