Assistant Lab Manager

Agupdate; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 44,600 - 53,530; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement contributions

Tuition assistance

Partner benefits

Job summary

Lehigh University is seeking a full-time Lab Manager in the Chemistry department to teach and supervise undergraduate laboratory sections and ensure safety and compliance. The role includes preparing stock solutions, managing equipment, and coordinating with graduate TAs to maintain consistent grading standards.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Chemistry (Master’s preferred), 3–5 years of hands-on lab experience, and the ability to coordinate multiple sections and evening/weekend hours as

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or a closely related discipline.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of related work experience.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in general or organic chemistry through coursework, research, or professional roles.
• Confidence explaining chemical concepts to undergraduate students at varying levels of preparation.
• Solid working knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and chemical handling requirements.
• Organizational ability to manage preparation demands across multiple concurrent lab sections.
• A team-oriented approach that fits Lehigh Chemistry’s collaborative, Lab Manager-directed model.
• Flexibility, with a moderate requirement for evening and/or weekend hours depending on class schedules.

Responsibilities

• Teach and supervise in-person undergraduate laboratory sections under the direction of the course Instructor of Record, with section numbers varying by semester based on departmental needs.
• Serve as the primary Instructor of Record for assigned laboratory courses—handling all teaching and grading responsibilities—and act as a backup Instructor of Record when necessary.
• Provide essential instructional coverage when graduate teaching assistants are unavailable and serve as the on‑call “responsible qualified adult” for laboratory sections as needed.
• Prepare stock and unknown solutions as needed on a daily basis.
• Distribute and arrange the equipment and chemicals needed for each section’s experiment.
• Collaboratively assess future needs for laboratory inventory, supplies, and equipment to ensure optimal stock levels and preparedness.
• Facilitate purchase orders for chemicals, supplies, and equipment, and assist with efficient receiving, logging, and stocking of all deliveries.
• Assist in monitoring the proper collection of laboratory chemical waste and support preparations for its periodic pick‑up and disposal.
• Assist in maintaining a high level of undergraduate instruction and supervision by graduate TAs, while ensuring uniform grading standards across multiple course sections.
• Provide immediate assistance in addressing and managing classroom or laboratory accidents, emergencies, and unexpected operational problems.

Skills

Lab supervision

3–5 years experience

Chemistry knowledge

Student instruction

Lab safety

Organization

Evening/weekend availability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits.

Lehigh University's Department of Chemistry combines serious research credentials with a genuine commitment to undergraduate education. If you find equal satisfaction in guiding a student through their first organic reaction and in making sure the right reagents are on the bench before anyone walks through the door, this role was built for you.

This position is a Grade 8 – 37.5 with an approximate salary range of $44,600–$53,530 and is subject to change based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Teach and supervise in-person undergraduate laboratory sections under the direction of the course Instructor of Record, with section numbers varying by semester based on departmental needs.
• Serve as the primary Instructor of Record for assigned laboratory courses—handling all teaching and grading responsibilities—and act as a backup Instructor of Record when necessary.
• Provide essential instructional coverage when graduate teaching assistants are unavailable and serve as the on‑call “responsible qualified adult” for laboratory sections as needed.
• Prepare stock and unknown solutions as needed on a daily basis.
• Distribute and arrange the equipment and chemicals needed for each section’s experiment.
• Collaboratively assess future needs for laboratory inventory, supplies, and equipment to ensure optimal stock levels and preparedness.
• Facilitate purchase orders for chemicals, supplies, and equipment, and assist with efficient receiving, logging, and stocking of all deliveries.
• Assist in monitoring the proper collection of laboratory chemical waste and support preparations for its periodic pick‑up and disposal.
• Assist in maintaining a high level of undergraduate instruction and supervision by graduate TAs, while ensuring uniform grading standards across multiple course sections.
• Provide immediate assistance in addressing and managing classroom or laboratory accidents, emergencies, and unexpected operational problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or a closely related discipline
• Master’s Degree preferred
• 3–5 years of related work experience
• Hands‑on laboratory experience in general or organic chemistry through coursework, research, or professional roles
• Confidence explaining chemical concepts to undergraduate students at varying levels of preparation
• Solid working knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and chemical handling requirements
• Organizational ability to manage preparation demands across multiple concurrent lab sections
• A team‑oriented approach that fits Lehigh Chemistry’s collaborative, Lab Manager‑directed model
• Flexibility, with a moderate requirement for evening and/or weekend hours depending on class schedules

Why Lehigh?

Lehigh occupies a distinct space — a research university where undergraduate teaching still carries genuine weight across the faculty and staff community. In the Chemistry department, the teaching laboratories are central to the student experience each semester, and the people running them are recognized for it. As a full‑time staff member at Lehigh, you’ll access a strong benefits package that includes retirement contributions, tuition assistance for continued learning, and a campus embedded in a Bethlehem community that the university actively invests in. This is a role with real visibility and a collegial team that takes the lab environment seriously.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh’s Accommodations Specialist.