Lab Technician

Austin Community College • Austin, TX

40d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lab Technician – Fire Training Academy provides technical, operational, and instructional support for training facilities, simulators, equipment, and vehicles at the Austin Community College Fire Training Academy (ACCFTA). This position is responsible for ensuring training infrastructure is maintained, operated safely, and available to support high-quality instructional delivery in accordance with institutional policies and applicable safety standards.

Requirements

• Knowledge of technical training equipment, vehicles, tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Principles of safe operation, storage, and maintenance of training simulators and instructional equipment.
• Safety practices applicable to hands-on and live-fire training environments.
• Inventory management, equipment tracking, and preventative maintenance practices.
• Applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations related to training operations.
• Principles of effective customer service and collaboration in an academic environment.
• Knowledge of specialized discipline depending on the area of assignment.
• Laboratory tests and experiments policies and procedures.
• Hazardous material/waste handling and disposal.
• Laboratory safety practices.
• Ability to follow and enforce established safety procedures and operational guidelines.
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Ability to remain calm and respond appropriately to emergent or safety-related situations.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare clear, concise reports.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Maintaining an established work schedule.
• Effectively using organizational and planning skills, including the use of attention to detail and follow-through.
• Effectively using interpersonal and communication skills, including the use of tact and diplomacy.
• Maintaining confidentiality of work-related information and materials.
• Effectively working with a multicultural student body.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Understanding and following instructions precisely.
• Handling lab materials precisely and accurately.
• Use a variety of spreadsheet, word processing, database, and presentation software.
• Use related laboratory software applications.
• Ability to use electronic inventory, maintenance, and reporting systems.
• Two years related work experience.
• Experience working in a hands-on, safety-sensitive environment.
• Associate degree
• Valid Texas Driver’s License and reliable transportation.
• 40 hours per week, as assigned.
• Availability for flexible scheduling, including evenings or weekends as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting simulation-based or technical training environments.
• Experience in maintaining complex equipment, vehicles, or instructional facilities as well as proper documentation for the above.
• Three (3) years of related experience in technical operations, training support, facilities maintenance, equipment management, or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Organizes, plans, and prioritizes laboratory activities for designated area.
• Performs clerical duties including operating a computer, maintaining records and files, and compiling data and reports as required.
• Maintains an inventory of supplies and materials.
• Collects data, records, and other information and submits reports as required.
• Coordinates, operates, and monitors lab facilities and activities.
• Directs and organizes preparation of lab materials, supplies, workstations, equipment, computers, and other media to ensure efficient lab operations.
• Organizes, plans, and prioritizes the overall coordination of laboratory activities for designated area; adapts and applies laboratory methods, practices, and techniques common to designated area.
• Directs or performs the preparation of student experience and demonstrations, performing routine and analytical work; pilots new labs to be considered.
• Implements new or modified laboratory policies and procedures.
• Ensures safe laboratory conditions including safe and secure handling and storage of supplies and equipment,.
• Recommends, implements, and maintains safety standards and departmental policies and procedures to comply with federal, state, and local hazardous materials, health and safety hazardous waste regulations, and other applicable regulations.
• Initiates purchase requisitions, controls expenditures, prepares cost estimates for budget recommendation and submits justifications and requests for capital outlay items.
• Prepares specifications and analyzes bids for purchases.
• Operates, installs, maintains, and trouble-shoots equipment.
• Sets up, configures, and calibrates new equipment.
• Writes instructions and standard operating procedures for equipment operation.
• Performs routine maintenance and repair.
• May assist students in use of lab equipment and facilities.
• May be assigned special projects or assignments based on the unique needs of the assigned lab.
• May schedule, train, and monitor the work of lab assistants and other staff.
• Support the operation, maintenance, and safe use of training simulators, Liquid Propane Gas, along with fire training props, vehicles, and associated equipment at ACCFTA.
• Ensure all training props, tools, and equipment are used and maintained in compliance with College policies, ACCFTA standard operating procedures, and applicable safety requirements.
• Provide technical guidance and instructional support to faculty, staff, and students regarding proper use of training props, tools, vehicles, and equipment.
• Perform routine inspections, maintenance, and minor repairs of training props, including flashover simulators, search and rescue props, confined-space/small-opening props, arson lab facilities, and Liquid Propane Gas car and dumpster fire props.
• Maintain accurate inventory records of training equipment, supplies, and materials assigned to ACCFTA.
• Ensure proper storage, organization, security, and readiness of all training equipment, tools, vehicles, and facilities.
• Assist with the coordination of preventative maintenance, servicing, and repairs of training equipment and vehicles.
• Maintain documentation related to equipment inspections, maintenance, PPE, and respiratory protection systems, and submit reports as required.
• Provide on-site technical oversight during training activities to support safe operations and effective use of facilities.
• Assist with scheduling, setup, breakdown, and support of training activities and special events as assigned.
• Depending on area of assignment, may require Hazard Communications Training.

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, retirement plans, and AD&D.
• ACC does not participate in Social Security.
• ACC participates in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP-Faculty and Administrators Only).
• Hourly employees participate in the ACC Money Purchase Plan (ACCMPP) as a retirement program required by federal law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree