Lab Safety & Equipment Manager, Department of Biology

Wake Forest University•Winston Salem, NC

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lab Safety & Equipment Manager is responsible for the safety, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability of teaching and research laboratory spaces within the Department of Biology. This position serves as the department's primary point of contact for building and laboratory safety, animal research protocol compliance, and new laboratory setup, and performs routine maintenance and coordination of shared instructional and research equipment. The role works closely with the Department Chair, Faculty, Staff, University Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Facilities to ensure that all laboratory spaces meet safety standards and remain in good working order. This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, environmental health & safety, or a related field, with two to five years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of laboratory safety regulations and standards (OSHA laboratory standard, ANSI Z358.1, chemical hygiene planning).
Demonstrated ability to perform routine maintenance on scientific instrumentation, or aptitude to be trained on department equipment.
Strong organizational skills and experience maintaining compliance documentation and recordkeeping systems.
Effective communication skills and ability to serve as a liaison across departmental, university, and external (vendor, regulatory) stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience with IACUC processes or animal research compliance in an academic or research setting.
Experience coordinating laboratory construction, renovation, or setup projects.
Certification or training in laboratory safety, hazardous materials handling, or biosafety.
Experience working in a higher education or research institution.

Responsibilities

Serve as the department's building and lab safety coordinator, conducting routine inspections of teaching and research labs, prep rooms, and shared spaces for compliance with OSHA, ANSI Z358.1, and university EHS standards.
Assist PIs to maintain chemical hygiene plan documentation, chemical inventories, hazardous waste pickup scheduling, and safety data sheet (SDS) accessibility.
Track and document testing of eyewash stations, safety showers, fume hoods, and other relevant safety systems; coordinate corrective action with EHS when deficiencies are identified.
Coordinate department-level emergency preparedness planning, including evacuation procedures, spill response, and incident reporting.
Coordinate with EHS to develop and deliver safety training and onboarding materials for faculty, staff, graduate teaching assistants, and students working in laboratory spaces.
Serve as departmental liaison to the IACUC for teaching- and research-related animal use, coordinating protocol submissions, renewals, and amendments with faculty and graduate students.
Assist PIs to maintain training records and certifications for personnel working with live animals, ensuring compliance with institutional and federal (USDA/PHS) requirements.
Coordinate facility-level compliance for animal housing and care spaces used in coursework, including inspection readiness and recordkeeping.
Perform or schedule light/routine maintenance, calibration, and cleaning of shared instructional and research equipment (e.g., autoclaves, balances, microscopes, incubators, water baths, centrifuges, pH meters).
Maintain a preventive maintenance schedule and equipment log for department-owned instrumentation to reduce breakdowns and extend usable life.
Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment service vendors, coordinating repair calls, warranty service, and service contracts; track recurring issues to inform repair-versus-replace decisions.
Maintain an inventory of departmental equipment, consumables, and safety supplies, and support budget planning for equipment replacement.
Act as the department's primary liaison to University EHS, Facilities, and the IACUC on all matters of laboratory safety and compliance.
Coordinate the safety-related setup of new or renovated laboratory spaces, including utility and ventilation review, safety equipment installation (eyewash/shower, fume hoods, fire suppression), signage, and initial safety inspection sign-off.
Advise faculty and staff on safe layout, storage, and equipment placement when establishing new research or teaching labs.
Represent the department on university safety committees as needed and communicate policy or regulatory updates to department faculty, staff, and TAs.
Maintain accurate records of inspections, trainings, certifications, and maintenance activity for audit readiness.
Support the Instructional Lab Manager and faculty with safety-related aspects of course lab planning as needed.
Other duties as assigned by the Department Chair.