Instructional Support Technician III

CSU Careers • Turlock, CA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

Full-time position available on or after March 2, 2026 in the Chemistry Department. Under general supervision, the Instructional Support Technician III provides comprehensive instructional support services for the chemistry department including support for laboratories, faculty and student research, and graduate programs. This position has responsibility for maintaining specialized materials, equipment, and facilities, including those requiring 24-hour care or environmental controls.

Requirements

• Education : Equivalent to two years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a discipline related to the area to which assigned may be substituted for one year of the required experience; OR Equivalent to four years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a discipline related to the specialty area to which assigned may be substituted for two years of the required the experience. OR Experience : Equivalent to four years of experience providing instructional support services for a related unit or discipline or in producing materials or supplies or repairing equipment in a discipline related to specialty area to which assigned.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry.
• Experience in chemistry laboratory safety and hazardous waste.
• Previous experience as an academic Instructional Support Laboratory (ISL) technician at a CSU campus or similar academic lab environments.
• Knowledge of principles and methods related to performing support services.
• Knowledge of the principles, information, methods and techniques related to the discipline to which assigned.
• Knowledge of the materials and supplies related to the curriculum, their characteristics, and uses.
• Ability to plan, organize, and schedule work.
• Ability to operate and repair technical and scientific equipment.
• Ability to coordinate support service to meet a comprehensive variety of needs.
• Ability to develop off-campus resources related to the discipline for obtaining materials or equipment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and provide comprehensive instructional support for laboratory-based courses in chemistry.
• Assist faculty in designing lab activities that align with course objectives and available materials while consulting on safety and waste management, and laboratory implementation.
• Prepare, set up, and dismantle instructional labs, including media, specimens, chemicals, or technical equipment.
• Provide technical assistance to students and faculty during labs and instructional activities
• Enforce safety standards and ensure compliance with CSU, OSHA, and local regulatory protocols.
• Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), chemical hygiene plans, and safety logs.
• Train students and staff on safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials and equipment use.
• Manage the Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) procedures, including: Maintenance of all chemical inventories, stockroom and faculty research spaces, including annual certification in RSS; perform risk assessments for lab courses using RSS and assist faculty with risk assessments for their lab spaces; conduct regular lab inspections and provide or assist with remediation for any findings.
• Act as the chemistry department safety coordinator and as liaison with faculty and Risk & Safety.
• Maintain current and accurate standard operating procedures following applicable regulations, guidelines, and best practices.
• Vet and share safety training materials with faculty for their instructional labs.
• Manage compliance with training and maintain training records.
• Review faculty request for chemical purchases and if materials require campus approval for purchase, prepare proper paperwork and supporting documentation.
• Collect, characterize, label, and prepare documentation for the department’s chemical waste generated in both student labs and faculty research spaces.
• Ensure the completion of weekly eye wash checks.
• Assist faculty with incident reports.
• Assist faculty and students with individual research and graduate-level projects, ensuring technical needs are met.
• Prepare or modify equipment setups and materials for unique experiments or demonstrations.
• Provide ongoing monitoring or support for long-term research activities, including weekend or after-hours coverage if necessary.
• Develop lab schedules in coordination with faculty and academic programs.
• Maintain detailed records of supply usage, equipment service history, and budgetary expenditures.
• Support budget planning by tracking costs and identifying resource needs.
• Coordinate service contracts, vendor interactions, and procurement workflows.
• Acquire, organize, and maintain a wide range of instructional materials, including rare or specialized items.
• Maintain inventories, track usage trends, and reorder materials to ensure consistent availability.
• Ensure proper storage, labeling, and disposal of materials, including hazardous or perishable substances.
• Develop specifications and sourcing strategies for purchasing new or replacement equipment.
• Oversee maintenance schedules and arrange repair of complex scientific equipment.
• Provide routine troubleshooting and minor repairs of laboratory instruments and tools.
• Maintain and monitor systems that require 24-hour support, such as refrigeration, environmental control, or live specimen habitats.
• Coordinate support from campus technical services when needed.
• Train and oversee student assistants and/or entry-level lab staff.
• Provide guidance on lab procedures, safety practices, and use of materials or equipment.
• Assign tasks and monitor completion to ensure consistent lab support across all instructional areas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, outstanding vacation, health, dental, and vision plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees