Lab Assistant

School District #75 (Mission); Mission; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Public School District seeks a dedicated Science Lab Assistant to support science teaching by maintaining an organized storage and preparation area, preparing classroom solutions, and ensuring safe handling of chemicals and equipment.

Under the Science Department Head and School Administrator, you will supervise student helpers, manage inventory, order supplies, and assist with local science fairs while upholding confidentiality and professional conduct across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Secondary school graduation with biology and chemistry coursework.
• Two years of post-secondary science coursework in biology and chemistry, or equivalent.
• WHMIS certification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain science equipment, storage and preparation area in good order.
• Manage storage and handling of chemicals, track expiration dates, dispose of chemicals safely.
• Prepare science equipment and solutions for class experiments, ensuring correct molar concentrations.
• Before class, pre-test experiments to ensure they work.
• Ensure equipment is clean and in good working order; perform minor repairs.
• Prepare purchase requisitions, research best prices, and manage inventory.
• Maintain department clerical tasks such as photocopying, filing.
• Liaise with science sales reps and teachers; attend department meetings as required.
• Demonstrate professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical behavior.

Skills

Chemical handling

Lab safety

Inventory management

Equipment knowledge

WHMIS

Education

Biology & chemistry coursework

Science coursework (2 years)

WHMIS certification

Job description

Career Opportunity

Lab Assistant

$33.39 per hour / 40 hours per week / 10 months per year

Il stl’i kw’els spipetstexw kw’eset ite xwelmexwelh stexwlaq temexws ye Stó:lo mestiyexw.

Mission Public School District is located on the Traditional, Ancestral, Unsurrendered, and Shared territories of Stó:lo people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial.

Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lo ancestors. The place from where Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect) originates is Leq’á:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial.

Le Conseil scolaire de Mission est situé sur les terres traditionnelles, ancestrales, non cédées et partagées du peuple Stó:lo, des Premières nations, Leq'á:mel, Sema:th, Matheqwí, Sq'éwlets et Qwó:ltl'el, peuples de cette terre depuis des temps immémoriaux.

Our Vision

Mission Public School students are educated global citizens who embrace diversity and are prepared for the future.

Our Mission

Mission Public School District is committed to a safe, equitable, diverse, and inclusive educational system for ALL students. Mission students benefit from our diverse community, skilled staff, natural environment, and local history. We are dedicated to honouring student voice and empowering our students to reach their potential.

Our Values

• Working Together
• Lifelong Learning
• Thinking Beyond Today
• Doing the Right Thing

Why Mission?

Mission Public Schools benefits from being a medium-sized district with rural and urban schools. We are large enough to provide a variety of programs and services, and small enough to build meaningful relationships with our students, parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

The school district is focused on following the school's strategic plan which sets the direction for the organization and supports student learning. Click Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan to learn more about the strategic plan and related priorities. We are committed to forming safe and inclusive workspaces and schools. To learn more, review our policy for Safe Caring and Respectful Workplaces.

About Mission

Mission, British Columbia is nestled on a southern coastal mountain slope, overlooking the lush valley of the mighty Fraser River. Ideally situated, Mission is located an hour east of Vancouver and just a 15-minute drive from the U.S. border. Mission was originally inhabited by the Sto:lo First Nations people, and today this rapidly growing and dynamic centre is home to a population of some 38,000 residents. Come see why Mission is "the Jewel in the Valley".

STAFFING BULLETIN FOR 2026/2027 SCHOOL YEAR

Posting Date: October 6, 2026

Closing Date: October 15, 2026 @ 4:00pm

Summary

This is work of a support nature, assisting science teachers by maintaining an organized science storage and preparation area. Under the direction of the Science Department Head, and with the general supervision of the School Administrator, the Science Lab Assistant (SLA) prepares science equipment and materials for class use including making up solutions to specified molar concentrations when necessary. The SLA handles chemicals and equipment in a safe manner and ensures that chemicals are stored appropriately, following departmental guidelines.

Initially, assignments and duties are outlined in detail by the Department Head in conjunction with the School Administrator, and closely checked, but as the SLA becomes familiar with the program and routine, some independence of judgement is exercised, within established guidelines. Work involves a choice of methods or procedures or sequence of operations. The SLA works with a minimum of supervision on a daily basis and is responsible for organizing the workflow to meet science class timelines.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• maintain science equipment, material storage and preparation area in good order
• maintain the storage and handling of chemicals, manage expiration dates, follow general and departmental guidelines for mixing chemicals, disposing of chemicals and cleaning up spills
• prepare science equipment and material for class experiments by measuring and dispensing chemicals, making solutions of required molar concentrations, prepare specimens
• prior to class "pre-test" experiments to ensure science experiments work
• ensure equipment and materials are clean and in good working order; make minor repair to equipment e.g. balances and microscope
• prepare purchase requisitions for supplies and equipment as required, research to ensure best prices, receive inventory and put inventory away
• purchase miscellaneous supplies locally
• maintain inventory of equipment and supplies
• maintain clerical aspects of department including photocopying, collating and filing
• use equipment such as ammeter, voltmeter, balances, Bunsen burner, sterilizer, pH meter, spectrophotometer, deionizer, oscilloscope, computer, photocopier, etc.
• assists with the preparation for local science fairs
• supervise student volunteer(s) in the lab prep area
• liaise between scientific sales representative(s) and science teacher(s)
• attend Science Department meetings as required
• maintains professionalism, ethical behavior and confidentiality
• perform other related duties as may reasonably be expected of a person in this position

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of chemical storage, handling techniques and safety practices; ability to prepare solutions to specified molar concentrations
• Working knowledge of laboratory equipment and materials
• Ability to perform minor equipment repair readily learned on-the-job; may include researching how to maintain, and equipment repairs
• Proficient computer skills - knowledge of a variety of software applications such as Microsoft Office
• Basic clerical skills to maintain inventory, budget records and to prepare requisitions, etc
• Good organizational skills to prioritize tasks and prepare experiments and labs for a number of classes at multiple locations, on a given day
• Good communication skills to work with and assist a number of science teachers
• Ability to work cooperatively with others including both department and other school district staff
• Ability to work at multiple locations during the workday and work week
• Working knowledge of healthy and safe work practices in accordance with WorkSafe BC Regulations for Workers and the ability to instruct others

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of Mission Public School District policies and procedures

Required Qualifications:

• Secondary school graduation supplemented by courses in biology and chemistry
• Two years of post-secondary science course work in biology and chemistry or an equivalent combination of training and experience in a laboratory
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Identification System (WHMIS) certified

Required Experience:

• Over one (1) year of experience working in a laboratory