Teaching Laboratory Manager

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge qualifications and experience for the the normal course employees will be hired transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
This position provides leadership and management for the day-to-day delivery of the chemistry undergraduate laboratory program as well as for the teaching assistants (TAs) staff and technicians. The position plans and develops laboratory course components for undergraduate chemistry courses in conjunction with instructional faculty and is responsible for the operation and development of chemistry teaching laboratory facilities. The position works collaboratively with the Department of Chemistry to enhance and promote the quality of instruction and the pedagogy of the laboratory program.

This position collaborates with faculty and instructors to design and deliver lab-based teaching activities and contributes to the development of new lab modules. This position is responsible for overall day-to-day teaching lab management ensuring safe working conditions and compliance with all relevant protocols and policies and thus requires proficient knowledge of the regulatory requirements for operating teaching laboratories. The position is responsible for ensuring that all tasks are performed in a safe manner consistent with laboratory protocols and are completed on time to such a pedagogical standard that the delivery of the laboratory program is not compromised. They provide technical support and guidance to teaching assistants during lab sessions as well as deliver training modules to teaching assistants on a regular basis each term.

This position liaises with external vendors service professionals and colleagues from other departments to foster cross-unit relationships thereby enhancing lab operations and knowledge exchange.

This position will assist in training teaching assistants and junior technicians and will help with hiring and oversee the work of undergraduate and Work Learn students. The position may be assigned lab-related teaching duties.

Organizational Status
This position reports directly to the Department Head Chemistry Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (IKBFoS). The position manages laboratory technicians and interfaces with laboratory coordinators and directly oversees or manages the hiring training and management of teaching assistants.

Work Performed
Educational Program Leadership and Development:

• Advises on course design and collaborates with instructors and faculty to develop and execute learning initiatives and teaching resources; provides pedagogical support for all lab-based educational programming which includes coordinating lab space and resource allocation.

• Collaborates with instructors to develop learning materials tailored to learners needs.

• Develops and implements program assessment and development tools to improve laboratory content and delivery and pedagogical program objectives.

• Works collaboratively with faculty at UBC as well as other institutions in developing pedagogical tools and long-range planning to enhance the delivery of the undergraduate program.

• Helps ensure that lab activities are current relevant and appropriate by staying up-to-date with the latest developments in hands-on chemistry education and uses their judgement to apply these techniques and potential equipment upgrades to the chemistry undergraduate courses.

• Designs and writes course materials including laboratory manuals teaching assistant manuals safety and pedagogical guidelines for teaching assistants and material for the laboratory course Canvas pages.

• Delivers guest lectures in undergraduate chemistry courses

• Assists in developing outreach programs and developing grade-level lessons for each grade level based on the provinces projected learning objectives.

• Provides general day-to-day support related to educational programming as required.

• Participates in teaching and curriculum-related committees.

• Serves as a key member of the Schools Local Health & Safety committee.

Managing Operation of the Teaching Laboratories:

• Develops and disseminates prototyping and hands-on teaching resources for all educational programs offered by the Department of Chemistry. This includes guidance documents Safe Operating Procedures and training and informational workshops for faculty staff and students.

• Develops and implements comprehensive administrative policies procedures and protocols to ensure optimal operation of the laboratories.

• Maintains certification and training in all relevant safety and licensing courses including as needed radioactive sealed source laser safety chemical safety and maintains all relevant laboratory safety and training records.

• Provides input for scheduling labs in the course scheduling process and assists with enrollment by determining which lab sections should be opened and when to open additional sections.

• Develops work plans and timelines to staff the teaching labs with both technicians and TAs.

• Makes recommendations as to appropriate equipment to acquire for teaching purposes.

• Ensures procurement and maintenance of lab instrumentation.

• Manages all day-to-day operational activities of the Department of Chemistrys teaching laboratory spaces which contain highly specialized teaching equipment and resources.

• Manages and controls internal and external usage of teaching labs equipment and resources advising instructors and faculty on these resources and invoicing parties as necessary.

• Communicates with students instructors and teaching assistants to solve day-to-day problems involving resource availability and allocations (software tools equipment etc.) lab and teaching space scheduling and optimization of facility use.

• Reports concerns about lab safety staff or students to the Department Head Chemistry Undergraduate Advisor or the Associate Dean Students or UBC Centralized Accident/Incident Reporting System (CAIRS) as appropriate.

Coordinating Laboratory Courses:

• Serves as a liaison and manages relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders both internal and external to the Department including partner departments facilities Health and Safety vendors and equipment maintenance professionals.

• Trains and manages graduate and undergraduate TAs. Documents that everyone working in labs has received appropriate safety training including UBC Chemsafe/WHMIS certification.

• Organizes and conducts meetings with TAs to ensure that TAs understand and can guide students through all lab procedures use of any equipment proper waste disposal and all relevant safety issues.

• Connects and meets with vendors technicians and sales representatives to coordinate the purchase and maintenance of all teaching labs equipment.

• Manages and supplies a Chemistry store with consumables that are used across all the Faculty.

• Identifies feedback mechanism and collects data and feedback from course participants lecturers and other relevant parties

Carries out any other related duties as necessary.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in carrying out the responsibilities of this position could lead to unsafe laboratory conditions which will jeopardize the safety of students teaching assistants and faculty. The position is in the undergraduate laboratories so pedagogic integrity and curriculum adherence must be maintained daily. Failure to do so will jeopardize the learning outcomes of undergraduate students.

Supervision Received
This position operates under the academic direction of the instructional faculty and the administrative direction of the Department Head.

Supervision Given
This position manages laboratory technicians Teaching Assistants and other instructional personnel involved in the academic and technical support of the undergraduate laboratory.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as Chemistry. M. Sc. or Chemistry is preferred.

• Proficient knowledge of UBC and regulatory requirements for safety waste disposal laser use and sealed radioactive sources in chemistry laboratories.

• Excellent critical thinking and judgement skills.

• Experience with effective instructional design and techniques is an asset.

• Knowledge of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and best practices for laboratory safety are an asset.

• Verbal and written fluency with English is required for this position.

• Effective oral and written communication interpersonal project management and organizational skills.

• Effective supervisory and time management skills

• Ability to exercise tact and discretion.

• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with leadership and partners as well as all others involved in the delivery of educational initiatives.

• Ability to prioritize work show initiative and meet deadlines

• Ability to design and implement new systems/programs to optimize efficiency and workflows

• Able to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

• Ability to work some evenings weekends and/or occasional early mornings as required for program delivery.