Laboratory Coordinator

San Mateo County Community College District; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The College of San Mateo, part of the San Mateo County Community College District, seeks a Lab Coordinator for Physics/Geology to organize and maintain laboratory operations and safety for courses and demonstrations.

The role involves leading lab staff and student assistants, managing inventories, coordinating equipment usage, and assisting faculty with purchases and safety training. A Bachelor's degree in the discipline and relevant laboratory experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in the discipline or equivalent experience
• Experience with laboratory techniques
• Knowledge of applicable safety policies and procedures
• Experience organizing and maintaining online and manual records and reports
• Experience directing the work of others

Responsibilities

• Sets up, schedules, and coordinates use of laboratory and demonstration equipment for various courses
• Ensures laboratory environment is in compliance with safety procedures and State and Federal regulations
• Prepares and maintains advanced lab equipment and materials specific to discipline/course syllabus
• Creates and maintains an inventory of lab supplies using a computer database and restocks supplies as needed
• Recommends and assists faculty in the purchase of new equipment as needed; researches vendors, pricing, delivery timelines, and selects vendors as appropriate; orders new equipment, supplies, and materials as needed
• Communicates with department faculty regarding scheduling labs and the use of equipment and supplies
• Supervises student assistants as needed
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Skills

Laboratory safety procedures

Laboratory operations

Data entry/records management

Team leadership

Communication

Equipment maintenance

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in a laboratory science

Tools

Inventory software

MS Excel

Job description

Campus: College of San Mateo

Emphasis: Physics/Geology

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Schedule: 60

Grade: 30

Bargaining Unit: CSEA

Months Per Year: 12

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Mandated Reporter: Yes

Campus Security Authority: No

This is technical work involved in organizing, coordinating, and maintaining supplies, equipment, and instructional support services for a college laboratory. Under general supervision, the employee uses subject-matter knowledge to set up the laboratory, demonstrates safe use of biologicals and chemicals, supplies and equipment, stores and disposes of a variety of supplies, and assists faculty in maintaining laboratory operations. Public contact is extensive, primarily involving faculty and students for the purpose of providing safety and procedural information concerning laboratory operations and supplies. A moderate to high degree of independent judgment and creativity is required to apply safety and other policies and procedures related to laboratory equipment and other supplies, and to resolve frequent minor and occasional major problems that arise. Consequences of errors in judgment could be costly in student and employee safety, employee time and money; however, clearly prescribed procedures and other controls limit the risk of serious errors. The Lab Coordinator position is distinguished from the Lab Technician position by responsibilities for leading the work of teams or individual staff and/or assisting supervisory staff as the designated technical resource for resolution of more complex operational issues. The Lab Coordinator can lead the work of other staff and student assistants as assigned and can perform the routine functions of the Lab Technician.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Sets up, schedules, and coordinates use of laboratory and demonstration equipment for various courses
• Ensures laboratory environment is in compliance with safety procedures and State and Federal regulations
• Prepares and maintains advanced lab equipment and materials specific to discipline/course syllabus
• Creates and maintains an inventory of lab supplies using a computer database and restocks supplies as needed
• Recommends and assists faculty in the purchase of new equipment as needed; researches vendors, pricing, delivery timelines, and selects vendors as appropriate; orders new equipment, supplies, and materials as needed
• Communicates with department faculty regarding scheduling labs and the use of equipment and supplies
• Supervises student assistants as needed
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Knowledge Of

Employment Standards (acquired through education, training, and/or experience)

• Technical laboratory operational procedures, protocols, equipment, materials and supplies related to a specific discipline or subject matter, biological and chemical hygiene safety and control measures, preparation of laboratory experiments in a teaching environment
• Required laboratory policies, procedures, and regulations related to subject-specific occupational safety, cleanliness, and sanitation

Skill In

• Oral communication, including giving clear and concise instructions
• Organizing, sorting, categorizing, and accurately retrieving a variety of materials, supplies, and equipment
• Training and leading the work of others
• Working accurately and safely under deadline pressure
• Scheduling, coordinating, and performing specialized and technical duties to assure efficient laboratory operations
• Following detailed oral and written instructions
• Using spreadsheets and a variety of other computer software to track, format, and report financial, statistical, and other detailed data
• Communicating respectfully and sensitively with people from diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds
• Detailed electronic and manual record-keeping

Ability To

• Work effectively as part of a team

Job Requirements

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of a Bachelor's degree in the specific discipline or subject matter
• Experience in laboratory techniques specific to discipline/course syllabus
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable regulatory and other safety policies and procedures
• Successful training and experience in laboratory operations including research and implementation of state-of-the-art equipment, supplies, and materials
• Experience with the organization and maintenance of online and manual records and reports
• Experience with computer data entry, modification and retrieval, and use of a variety of software to produce routine reports, memoranda, and other written materials
• Skill in directing the work of others
• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff

Additional Information

Physical/Other Requirements

This classification requires standing for extended periods of time, bending, stooping, pulling, pushing, reaching overhead, moving objects of moderate weight, kneeling; exposure to biologicals and chemicals, fumes, dust, and odors; in order to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

Benefits include paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents. Additional paid benefits include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. Classified employees participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California. Optional tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 retirement plans are also available.

EEO Statement

San Mateo County Community College District is an Equal Opportunity, Title IX, and Section 504 employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law. We seek to employ individuals who reflect our community's diversity of cultures, languages, and abilities.

Our EEO Plan, grounded in Title 5 regulations, is developed and monitored by an EEO Advisory Committee, reviewed at least every three years, and supported by regular training for all members of selection and screening committees. We collect and analyze recruitment and retention data to measure progress and identify barriers.

Annual Security Report

San Mateo County Community College District's (SMCCCD) 2025 Annual Security Report (ASR), required by the Clery Act, includes statistics for the previous three years (2022-2024) concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by SMCCCD; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from SMCCCD. The 2025 Annual Security Report also outlines various campus safety and security policies concerning crime reporting, prevention and response to sexual and gender violence, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, emergency response and evacuation procedures, and other matters. The Annual Security Report also includes important tips to help every community member remain safe and avoid becoming a victim of crime. The 2025 Annual Security Report is now available on the Public Safety website. You can also obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Department of Public Safety at the District Office or any of the three Campuses [phone]. The report includes information about criminal activity on our campuses, emergency procedures, and resources.

Closes

09/03/2026