Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

11h

About The Position

The Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories provides operational, administrative, instructional, and programmatic leadership for the Department of Engineering Education’s undergraduate laboratories and project-based learning environments. The role leads strategic and day-to-day management of spaces and resources, including the Frith First-Year Maker Space, Interdisciplinary Education Lab, and inVenTs Design Studio, ensuring that facilities, equipment, personnel, instructional resources, technology, safety protocols, and processes support undergraduate engineering education, interdisciplinary project-based learning, student engagement, and faculty-led educational activities. The Manager also contributes to student-success, program-improvement, assessment, and interdisciplinary-collaboration initiatives. The Manager recruits, selects, trains, supervises, schedules, coaches, and evaluates laboratory assistants, graduate students, and other laboratory personnel. They set operational priorities, assign work according to employee capabilities and program needs, and establish processes that maintain continuity of laboratory services. The position develops and delivers relevant equipment and laboratory training for personnel. Serving as the primary departmental liaison with Environmental Health and Safety, facilities personnel, equipment suppliers, and University partners, the Manager helps ensure laboratory operations meet departmental needs and comply with University policies and procedures. The role handles purchasing, inventory, equipment maintenance, asset tracking, service agreements, and resource planning in coordination with the department business office. The Manager evaluates laboratory needs and recommends equipment, technology, space, staffing, and resource allocations, while staying current on equipment and technologies for laboratory applications. The Manager represents the Department of Engineering Education with College and University stakeholders, committees, industry representatives, donors, and students. The position requires exceptional organizational skills and adaptability to changing priorities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in engineering, technology, science, or a related discipline; or a bachelor’s degree with experience equivalent to a master’s degree.
Significant experience managing or coordinating complex laboratory, maker-space, instructional, technical, or other hands-on educational operations.
Demonstrated experience supervising, training, scheduling, and/or developing student or professional employees.
Demonstrated experience managing equipment, materials, inventory, purchasing, or operational record keeping.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement operational procedures, training protocols, and safety practices.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities simultaneously.
Demonstrated success applying strong organizational skills in a large technical environment.
Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, solve problems, and make operational recommendations.
Experience with 3D printing, CAD, prototyping, or related engineering technologies.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to adapt quickly to new priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating machining, fabrication, electronics, or similar equipment.
Experience with laboratory information systems, learning management systems, hardware/data networks, or related technology.
Experience with vendor negotiation and resource planning.
Experience developing, documenting, or supporting educational programs, laboratory exercises, training materials, or experiential learning opportunities.
Experience building partnerships across departments, colleges, industry, or external organizations.
Working knowledge of Virginia Tech or other higher education administrative systems and policies.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic and day-to-day management of departmental instructional and experiential learning spaces and laboratory resources.
Ensure facilities, equipment, personnel, instructional resources, technology, safety protocols, and processes support undergraduate engineering education and related activities.
Contribute to student-success, program-improvement, assessment, and interdisciplinary-collaboration initiatives.
Recruit, select, train, supervise, schedule, coach, and evaluate laboratory assistants, graduate students, and other laboratory personnel.
Set operational priorities, assign work, and implement processes to ensure continuity of laboratory services.
Develop, monitor, and deliver equipment and laboratory training for personnel.
Serve as the primary departmental liaison with Environmental Health and Safety, facilities personnel, equipment suppliers, and University partners.
Coordinate laboratory operations to meet departmental needs and comply with applicable University policies and procedures.
Manage purchasing, inventory, equipment maintenance, asset tracking, service agreements, and resource planning in coordination with the department business office.
Evaluate laboratory needs and recommend equipment, technology, space, staffing, and resource allocations.
Stay current on equipment and technologies available for laboratory applications.
Represent the Department of Engineering Education with College and University stakeholders, committees, industry representatives, donors, and students.