Job No. 158953
- Job Title:
- Academic Lab Manager II - Department of Chemistry
- Employer:
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West Virginia University
- Location:
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Morgantown , WV
- Posting Date:
- 07-Jul-2026
- Description:
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Description
The Department of Chemistry in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Academic Lab Manager II.
About the Opportunity
Under the direction and supervision of the Academic Laboratory Manager III, the employee must organize, coordinate, and supervise the day-to-day operation of the chemistry laboratories in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry. The employee will oversee and participate in various critical operations in the laboratory preparation facilities and will assist faculty in the development and testing of new experiments.
We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
37.5-hour work week
13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
Wellness programs
What You'll Do
Laboratory Management
Prepares chemicals, solutions, and materials used in the chemistry laboratories and by faculty who perform lecture demonstrations.
Dispenses the solutions, labels containers, and delivers all chemicals and solutions prior to the beginning of each laboratory session.
Manages specific areas of the Chemistry Preparatory Facilities as assigned by the supervisor, maintaining quality and consistency of laboratory chemicals to ensure that teaching laboratory sections operate seamlessly and consistently.
Ensures work areas are hazard- and obstruction-free, and regularly reevaluates location of storage, equipment and personnel to optimize laboratory spaces.
Assists faculty members and colleagues with the development and testing of new teaching lab experiments.
Works with colleagues to solve problems associated with specific experiments and makes recommendations for changes based on literature reviews, as necessary.
Pre-runs proposed experiments to determine efficacy, checks for inherent safety techniques, and determines the time needed for the experiment to be performed by undergraduate students.
Understands the risks of handling chemicals and exercises good practices in their storage and usage.
Responds to requests from Teaching Assistants and effectively delivers the supplies to the laboratories. Maintains a working knowledge of appropriate concentration of solutions in units such as molarity, normality, molality, and percent and prepares them accurately.
Maintains a working knowledge of laboratory equipment used in undergraduate chemistry courses including balances, pH meters, mel-temps, gas chromatographs, refractometers, centrifuges, digital thermometers, etc.
Oversees and participates in the distribution and maintenance of equipment and glassware/supplies, located in the stockroom, used in the laboratories by relocating, repairing, or coordinating repairs with appropriate personnel.
Coordinates chemistry laboratory functions with faculty members and supervisor to ensure materials, supplies and equipment are readily available.
Oversees the storage of chemicals in the Chemistry Prep Facilities according to OSHA regulations and their corresponding SDS documentation.
Assists in maintaining a working inventory of chemicals and supplies needed for the Chemistry Prep Rooms and prepares new orders through Mountaineer Marketplace when necessary.
Maintains good housekeeping in assigned areas and participates in routine summer and winter laboratory cleaning, as requested.
Stocks gloves, towels, and other items, as needed.
Coordinates and oversees demonstration events involving on-site participation during working hours, or eventually during evenings or weekends, as needed.
Participates on departmental committees, as requested.
Safety and Supervisory Responsibilities
Complies with Federal, State, University, and departmental safety practices and regulations.
Exercises acceptable safety practices and monitors the Prep Room/Stockroom areas for potential hazards.
Supervises and monitors student workers’ performance, ensures they are equipped with the proper supplies, and ensures tasks are completed accurately and on time.
Trains student workers in handling, dispensing, storing and transporting chemicals for laboratories and ensures adherence to safety measures.
Observes laboratory operations to ensure student compliance with safety regulations and reports concerns and non-compliance to supervisor and faculty member in charge.
Completes first-aid and CPR training and maintains certification to be prepared to administer first aid to students or employees.
Inspects safety showers and eyewash stations four times per year, or as requested by the supervisor.
Coordinates and participates in Graduate Teaching Assistant meetings to discuss upcoming experiments and special safety concerns.
Trains and cross-trains with Chemistry Prep Laboratory Staff to remain knowledgeable about current best practices.
Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal Responsibilities
Determines preliminary hazard parameters for chemical waste, removes chemical waste from laboratories and submits removal requests with WVU EH&S.
Creates and maintains labels for liquid and solid waste containers for collection, storage, inventory, and disposal.
Assures that hazardous waste collection and requests for disposal are in compliance with EH&S and federal disposal rules and regulations.
Completes the mandatory EHS hazardous waste training annually.
Completes weekly Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s (RCRA) 90-day Waste Container Checklists.
Oversees laboratory clean-outs and ensures chemicals, solutions, and other hazardous materials are properly labelled.
Chemical and Equipment Inventory Management
Oversees central receiving of Research Materials Management System (RMM) in coordination with EH&S Chemical Inventory Specialist, and of other shipments.
Completes New Equipment Acquisition forms and tags new equipment under the direction of WVU’s Asset Management Group.
Maintains a working inventory of chemicals and supplies in prep rooms, laboratories, and stockrooms, communicates inventory levels and requests ordering of replenishments.
Receives glassware and supplies inventory and replenishes the stockroom inventory.
Coordinates storage and/or removal of surplus equipment/instruments.
Oversees gas cylinder inventory, liquid nitrogen tank levels, tracks usage, submits requests for refills, and performs yearly audits with Airgas and WVU Purchasing.
Assists in completing a bi-annual inventory of major assets in collaboration with WVU Inventory Management.
Serves as contact for symposia poster board reservations.
Oversee the departmental lab coat cleaning services. Accept custody of delivery weekly and coordinate with groups for collection of clean lab coats.
Online-Lab Content Support
- Contact information:
- West Virginia University
- Morgantown, WV 26506
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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