Instructional Specialist

California State University, Fresno; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

CalPERS retirement

Paid holidays

Education fee waiver

Job summary

California State University, Fresno is seeking an Embedded Safety Specialist to support the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The role focuses on OSHA compliance, equipment management, and researcher onboarding at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC) and affiliated facilities.

The position involves managing daily facility use by Fresno State personnel and coordinating policies, onboarding, and tours.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of applicable codes and guidelines (CCR, CFR, NIH, CDC, biosafety).
• Theories, principles and methods in health and safety.
• Agricultural research practices in a university setting.
• Ability to create and adjust policies; consult with stakeholders.
• Build relationships within a multi-organizational structure.
• Influence high-level contacts and evaluate policy impacts.
• Develop resources and performance indicators for programs.
• Repair and train others to repair lab equipment; liaise with contractors.
• Persuade PIs and management of program value.

Responsibilities

• Oversee policies for JARC, OSHA compliance, and equipment management.
• Manage onboarding for researchers and space allocation; lead tours.
• Provide instructional support for laboratory courses and facilitate research.

Skills

Policy development

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Health and safety knowledge

Laboratory safety

Communication

Project coordination

Risk assessment

Tools

Lab equipment management

Job description

The anticipated salary hiring range is $5,044 - $5,353 per month (Steps 1 - 4), commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The salary range for this classification is $5,044 - $7,348 per month.

• This is a full-time (equivalent to 40 hours per week), probationary, non-exempt position.

The CSU system provides a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), sick and vacation time, and 15 paid holidays a year. Eligible employees are also able to participate in the fee waiver education program. A summary of benefit information can be found here.

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Jordan College Dean, the specialist position has two sets of primary duties, as well as ancillary duties. First, as an Embedded Safety Professional, with the goals of easing the administrative burden placed on faculty researchers, and harmonizing research facility management in the Jordan College, the individual in this position works with personnel in JCAST research facilities toward the identification, creation and implementation of the necessary policies and procedures from the standpoint of OSHA regulatory compliance, equipment management, equipment training, chemical storage, risk management and researcher onboarding. The facilities supported by this set of duties include the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC), Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC), the Graduate Laboratory and the Food and Agriculture Research Center (FAR). This position is housed in JARC and works with technicians and other staff at said facilities.

The second set of this position’s primary duties is to be the primary agent of JARC and manage the facility’s daily use by Fresno State personnel, including researchers in JCAST, Lyles College of Engineering, College of Science and Mathematics, as well as third party entities. Specifically, these duties include directly overseeing and implementing policies and procedures in JARC, directly overseeing the onboarding process of researchers, leading tours of the building for visitors, managing hundreds of pieces of equipment in the equipment management system while assuming custodianship of most of them, and advising the JCAST dean on matters related to space allocation.

The ancillary duties of this position include providing comprehensive instructional support services for laboratory sections of undergraduate courses in the departments of Industrial Technology, Plant Science, Animal Science, Food Science and Nutrition and Viticulture and Enology, and for the inter-departmental, graduate Lab Techniques course, as well as facilitating research in the Graduate Laboratory. These duties are generally activated when the primary instructional support technicians responsible for these duties are unavailable or need support. The specialist is expected to serve as a liaison between external stakeholders and principal investigators and technicians wishing to perform joint research in JARC.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge of:
• Applicable codes, including but not limited to: California Code of Regulations, Federal Code of Regulations, California Building Code, California Fire Code, NIH Guidelines for genetically modified organisms, and biohazard use authorization, CDC guidelines on Biosafety in Biomedical Laboratories, among others.
• Theories, principles, and methods in the field of health and safety.
• Agricultural research practices, techniques and protocols related to laboratory research, particularly in a university setting.
• Skill/Ability to:
• Proactively create, and subsequently adjust, policies and procedures.
• Exercise substantial judgment and consult with stakeholders when situations arise that are not clearly addressed in the existing policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain complex relationships within a multi-organizational structure that introduces a new model for laboratory use to this campus.
• Influence and communicate with high level and diverse contacts inside and outside of the CSU system.
• Consider and evaluate the impacts of recommended changes on implemented policies.
• Develop a network of resources on and off campus related to the field.
• Develop performance indicators to measure program effectiveness.
• Repair laboratory equipment, train others to repair laboratory equipment, and liaise with external repair contractors.
• Persuade PIs, management and other stakeholders of the value of complying with the program.

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to 4 years of experience in the field of health and safety.
• 5 years of experience in laboratory management or 10 years of lab-based research experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Safety Professional.
• Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician.

Department Summary

The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State is shaping the future of one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions by developing global decision-makers in food and agriculture.

We accomplish this by encouraging, equipping, and enabling faculty, staff, and students to create innovative, scientifically sound, and sustainable solutions to agri-food, technological, and environmental challenges in California, our nation, and the world.

Applications received by October 4, 2026 will be given full consideration by the search committee.

California State University, Fresno is one of 22 campuses in the California State University System. The University's mission is to boldly educate and empower students for success through our values of Discovery, Diversity and Distinction. The current student population is more than 25,000, including a large percentage of students with diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. The University serves the San Joaquin Valley while maintaining deep involvement with the state, nation, and across the globe. Fresno State is a tobacco-free, smoke-free and vapor-free campus.

Metropolitan Fresno, with a multi-ethnic population of over 527,000, is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. The campus is within driving distance of Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Monterey Peninsula, beaches, sailing, lakes, and numerous ski resorts. Fresno boasts one of the most reasonable housing markets in California and offers a wide array of locally grown fruits and produce.