AWI Laboratory Technical Manager

Paul Smith's College•Paul Smiths, NY

16d

About The Position

The Laboratory Technical Manager is a mid-level position with the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), a program of Paul Smith’s College. AWI’s mission is to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support the health and well-being of people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences for students. AWI’s Environmental Research Laboratory is certified under the NYSDOH Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP). The manager is responsible for day-to-day environmental laboratory analysis, serves as an ELAP Technical Director, and supervises Laboratory Analysts. The position supports the Laboratory Director in maintaining the laboratory’s quality assurance system and standards, developing and maintaining methods and procedures, overseeing staff and equipment, ensuring accurate and timely analysis and reporting, and contributing to research and project development.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Limnology, Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Sciences, chemistry, physical or biological sciences, engineering, or a related field.
At least 24 college semester credit hours of chemistry coursework.
At least three years of work experience in environmental analysis in a NELAC/ELAP-certified laboratory; a Master of Science in a relevant field may substitute for one year of experience.
Understanding of laboratory QA/QC practices and method development.
Experience with analysis of specific conductance, pH, phosphorus, nitrate, ammonia, alkalinity, anions, color, CDOM, chlorophyll-a, total nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, ICP metals, and microcystins.
Understanding of various types of laboratory instrumentation.
Ability to calibrate and operate laboratory instruments, including ICP-OES, FIA, IC, TOC/N, and pH/Cond instruments.
Experience training and supervising staff.
Strong communication skills.
Knowledge of water sampling techniques and equipment.
Proven ability to multitask and excellent problem-solving skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, work independently, and work with diverse individuals and groups to form a safe and inclusive campus community.
Ability to regularly lift up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and carry light-to-moderate items such as trays of water sample bottles, glassware, laptops, and reagent bottles.
Ability to bend, stoop, and kneel; climb staircases; spend extended periods on one’s feet; reach overhead or below knee level; and perform precise manual work with laboratory equipment and a laptop.
Clear and legible penmanship.
Good vision, including color vision, with corrective lenses as necessary, and good hearing with assistive devices as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the geography of the Adirondack region.
Driver’s license and driving record acceptable to the College’s insurance carrier.

Responsibilities

Serve as a Technical Director under the NYS Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP).
Assist the Laboratory Director in overseeing and maintaining the Environmental Research Laboratory Quality Assurance Management System to NYS DOH ELAP standards, including reviewing analytical runs and data packages.
Develop, maintain, and improve laboratory methods; create and update standard operating procedures as needed.
Oversee laboratory document control.
Supervise Laboratory Analysts day to day and ensure their training and work quality; help develop initial and ongoing training programs.
Assist with hiring laboratory employees as needed.
Oversee Laboratory Analyst personnel files and the ethics and data integrity program.
Oversee and support maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment, laboratory cleanliness, and workspace efficiency.
Assist with analytical and instrument troubleshooting and analytical scheduling to ensure sample holding times are met.
Initiate corrective action and participate in root cause analysis.
Conduct laboratory analysis; ensure results are accurate, investigate irregularities, prepare data for final review, and ensure analysis and reporting are completed on time.
Assist in maintaining the laboratory information management system (LIMS).
Support annual quality assurance audits, staff demonstrations of capability, laboratory proficiency testing, and the laboratory corrective action system.
Contribute data to annual reports, research publications, and presentations.
Contribute expertise to new project development.
Perform other related duties as assigned.